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Emergency Preparedness:
Flooding and Livestock Safety

Disaster planning is important for all sizes of cattle operations.

Some low-lying flat areas and canyon regions experience flooding when snow melt in springtime or heavy rains in summer/fall fill rivers beyond their banks. Ranchers in those areas are usually prepared for floods because they’ve experienced these events before. In regions where flooding is less common, people are caught unprepared.


Ragan Adams, coordinator of Veterinary Extension Specialist Group for Colorado State University, says nearly every farm or ranch is subject to some sort of hazard or disaster, whether it be fire, flood, tornado, hurricane, blizzard, power outage, etc.


“Everyone should have an emergency plan for their operation that takes into account the most likely risk for their area,” Adams says. “The goals for each plan are similar, regardless of the hazard — to keep people and livestock safe.”


Emergency preparedness means a plan for keeping animals safe, fed and protected from the elements. Completely relocating animals may be impractical in large operations, so Adams suggests planning to move the stock to higher ground and locating a clean supply of water and feed. Preparing a shelter so animals can get out of the weather and having a backup generator for electricity outages, especially if pumping water, is also recommended.


For smaller producers she suggests having trailers available to move animals. Many ranchers rely on a network of neighbors to help them during an emergency, and Adams says that network is an important part of a preparedness plan.


“Smaller operations, especially hobby farmers, may not have experienced the hardships that cultivate thinking about the importance of preparedness and may not have the connections to help them in an emergency. Any type of livestock operation, however, needs provisions/plans in case of disaster. You fine-tune the plan to deal with whatever the emergency might be — such as too much snow, too much water, fire,” she explains.


In some of the larger operations in Colorado, producers had warnings about the flood a couple years ago and were able to get animals to higher ground.


Disaster preparedness ensures that production of the end product — in this case, beef — is uninterrupted. Adams cites the dairy industry as a good example in keeping milk production steady, even in times of disaster or disease.


Another important thing to think about after a flood is what to do about fields and pastures that were covered with water. After the flooding in Colorado, producers decided to wait and see what came up in the spring. If land is flooded, you can often get help and advice from your local extension service.


Following the Colorado disaster, Adams shared that Adrian Card, an Extension agent in Boulder, organized conferences for the affected ranchers and farmers. Soil scientists, seed company representatives and other experts were available to help answer questions and give advice. These events emphasized options farmers and ranchers have to manage their pastures after a flood.

 

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Editor’s Note: Heather Smith Thomas is a freelancer and cattlewoman from Salmon, Idaho.



 

 


 





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