We are in July, and hurricane season is in full swing. You have probably seen the push from print and television news programs and government agencies, letting residents know how to prepare for the upcoming storms. But, do you know how to prepare for your horse?
2021 Hurricane Forecast
The official Atlantics hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) is a project that uses cutting-edge technology to help create hurricane probability models. These models are used to forecast the number of hurricanes expected in any given season.
In May 2021, the TSR predicted 18 named storms, nine of them hurricanes. They expect four out of the nine will be Category 3 or above. So far, there have been Five named storms: Tropical Storms Ana, Bill, Claudette, Danny, and Elsa.
Tropical Storm Elsa, which spent about three days as the season's first Category 1 Hurricane, has been downgraded back to tropical storm status. The storm is due to make landfall in Florida sometime in the week of July 5, and there is still time for it to regain its hurricane status.
How to Prepare Your Horse for the Season
Vaccinations - During the storm, it's possible for your horse to get injured or contract encephalitis from mosquitoes drinking from infected water. Make sure your horse's tetanus and encephalitis viruses vaccines.
Testing - States require a Coggins test in the case of an out-of-state evacuation. Make sure you have a health certificate as well to help when traveling.
Identification - A lost horse is the last thing you want to worry about when a storm is close. There are two forms of identification that will work to find your horse in case of a storm.
Permanent ID: Microchips, brands, etc.
Temporary ID: Non-toxic spray paint or tag that displays your contact information.
Photo or Video of Horse(s) - If you do lose your horse, it's good to have pictures or videos of your horse in a safe place (along with vaccination and other ownership records). This can help in any dispute during the storm's recovery process.
Disaster Plan
You should have a plan ahead of time for whether you shelter in place or evacuate to a safer location. Many factors go into each decision:
Evacuation
Have evacuation routes pre-planned
Have enough food and water ready for the trip
If possible, pre-plan with a ranch (or other location) to house your horse once you have evacuated.
Shelter In Place
Decide whether your horse will be in a barn or left outside.
Make sure the barn can withstand tropical or hurricane-force winds. If not, consider leaving your horse outside or evacuating.
If outside, make sure to remove debris from the surrounding area, protect your horse's eyes (like using a fly mask.
There are more factors to consider when you decide on the best path for you and your horse. Here are some resources for more comprehensive planning tips:
Saving the Whole Family by the American Veterinary Medical Association
Hurricane Preparedness for Horses by Markel Insurance
Disaster Preparedness and Response by LSU School of Veterinary Medicine
If you have any tips to add, please leave a comment down below!
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