Introduction
In part 1 of this post, we discussed keeping your livestock safe during events of extreme heat and smoke. But, what if the origin of that smoke is a little too close for comfort and you need to get your animals out of harm’s way? Most people don’t think about planning for an evacuation until it’s too late, but having a plan will greatly reduce stress and anxiety during a period that is already overflowing with it.
Evacuation Levels
First of all, how do you even know when you are supposed to evacuate? Oregon follows a 3-level evacuation alert system:
- Level 1 – Be ready: have your evacuation kit prepared
- Level 2 – Be set: closely follow the news and other fire reports for updates
- Level 3 – Go now!: you generally have a maximum of 30 minutes to evacuate
However, if you have livestock, level 2 is the same as level 3, go now. The reason being is that there is a 30-minute window to leave at level 3; there simply isn’t time to get your animals out in 30 minutes, so you have to do it at level 2.
What should be in your plan? There are three main components of a livestock evacuation plan: a prepared kit of materials and supplies, where to take your animals, and how to transport them.
Evacuation Kit
Your kit will consist of supplies you need for handling and caring for your animal’s specific needs; this will include things such as medications, supplements, halters, and leads. But you should also include anything you have to prove ownership of your livestock, as evacuations can sometimes get chaotic and animals can easily get mixed up. Make sure you have documentation of tags, ear tattoos, and photos of your animals; these can all be in digital form and stored in the cloud so it’s one less thing you have to physically take with you, but make sure you keep it updated throughout the year. Another tip is to get a bunch of luggage tags where you can write your name and contact information that can be attached to your animal’s existing tags.
Where to go?
Some properties are large enough, or have so many animals to make evacuation not feasible, that there may be safer areas on the property to move them to. These would be areas like irrigated fields, riparian areas, or even high ground in the event of flooding. Whatever you do, please DO NOT secure them inside a building or other enclosure where they have no means of escape.
But most people on small or medium size properties will need to get their herd off-site somewhere, and typically counties will open up fairgrounds as livestock evacuation sites. If your animals do go to a county fair site, it’s likely they will be housed in a stall or a very small outdoor area and right alongside other evacuated animals. So, there are biosecurity concerns and it’s not uncommon to hear about unwanted breeding happening.
Also it is common that food and hay are donated to the fairgrounds, but that means your animals may be suddenly eating a different diet which could result in health concerns. Often in these situations, people assume the volunteers will take care of their animals, but it is much better if you can be present there every day to make sure your animals are getting the care they need and you can be there to help others, too.
A better option would be to make arrangements with people in several different directions who may have space on their property to temporarily house your animals. This should be done well in advance of fire season, and you should be willing to serve that role for others, too. A group of three or four farms or ranches that can provide mutual aid and refuge would be ideal. Similarly, don’t just assume that the people at the other property will take care of the animals for you. Be present and communicate!
Moving your animals
In an ideal situation, you would have your own truck and trailer to transport your animals, but that is definitely not the case for everyone. Most people do have friends or neighbors who do, but remember, if they are nearby, they might be using them to evacuate their own animals. Just like arranging for locations to take your animals in areas far enough away that those properties are not subject to evacuation, hopefully some of those same farms and ranches will have hauling equipment to make available.
If you don’t have anything lined up in advance, it’s very possible that your area will have a volunteer effort organized where people show up with their own trucks and trailers to help out. If you are relying on that help, your animals will most likely be transported to the fairgrounds, and since they likely will be arriving there without you present, this is where the ID tags that have your contact information are vitally important.
Putting it all together
A livestock evacuation plan is not a document you create that then just sits on the shelf, it should be a living document that you revisit and update every year. If your animals are not used to getting on a trailer, some practice ahead of time with experienced neighbors is helpful. Major wildfires are likely to be a normal part of life in Oregon for the foreseeable future, but these steps will help you be prepared should the unfortunate event ever happen to you.