Farm Emergency Preparedness Planning Farm Emergency Preparedness Plan

Protecting your farm involves a number of considerations – family members, co-workers or employees, buildings, equipment, livestock, and crops. Planning ahead for all-hazard situations can help to minimize the impact and speed the recovery process for you and your farm.

Use this checklist to prepare your family before a disaster situation.

Farm Emergency Preparedness Plan [PDF]

Farm Emergency Contact Form [PDF]

Before a Disaster or Emergency

Gather information.

  • What disasters or hazards are most likely in your community? For your farm?
  • How would you be warned?
  • How should you prepare for each?

Know the warning signals for your area.

  • Learn the warning systems for your community.
  • Are you able to hear or see the appropriate warning from your farm?

Stay alert for emergency broadcasts.

  • Emergency Alert System broadcasts on radio or television
  • NOAA weather radio alerts
  • News sources – radio, television, internet

Put together an emergency supply kit for your family.

  • See ‘Family Emergency Supply Kit’ handout

Draw a farm site map and indicate:

  • Buildings and structures
  • Access routes (e.g., roads, lanes)
  • Barriers (fences, gates)
  • Locations of livestock
  • Locations of all hazardous substances
  • Electrical shutoff locations, etc.

Make a list of your farm inventory, include:

  • Livestock (species, number of animals)
  • Crops (acres, type)
  • Machinery and equipment (make, model #)
  • Hazardous substances (e.g., pesticides, fertilizers, fuels, medicines, other chemicals)

Keep a list of emergency phone numbers.

  • Your local and state veterinarian
  • County extension service
  • Local emergency management
  • Insurance agent

Make a list of suppliers or businesses providing services to your farm.

  • Livestock or milk transport, feed delivery, fuel delivery, etc.

Contact your insurance agent.

  • Review your insurance coverage.
  • Get additional coverage for “all-hazard” situations (e.g., flood, hail damage).

Stockpile supplies needed to protect the farm:

  • Sandbags and plastic sheeting, in case of flood
  • Wire and rope to secure objects
  • Lumber and plywood to protect windows
  • Extra fuel for tractors and vehicles
  • Hand tools for preparation and recovery
  • Fire extinguishers in all barns and all vehicles
  • A safe supply of food to feed livestock
  • A gas powered generator

Identify areas (e.g., higher elevation) to relocate your assets, if needed.

  • Livestock and horses
  • Equipment
  • Feed, grain, hay
  • Agrochemicals ( pesticides, herbicides)

Remove or secure any loose equipment or materials, such as lumber or fuel tanks.

Prepare farm employees.

  • Keep them informed of the farm’s emergency plan; review it with them regularly.
  • Identify shelter-in-place or evacuation locations.
  • Establish a phone tree with contact information for all employees.

Important Websites

Disaster Planning: Animals
Website with resources to learn how to protect your animals in disaster and emergency situations.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library
Emergency Preparedness and You
Website with information on preparing for disasters, including what to include in your emergency supply kit.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Family Emergency Plan
Downloadable templates to use for developing a Family Emergency Plan.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Ready.gov
Website of information and resources to help you and your family get prepared for disaster situations.
Federal Emergency Management Agency and Citizens Corps

Additional Preparedness Resources

Animals in Disasters: Awareness and Preparedness (IS-10.A)
An independent study course to increase awareness and preparedness of animal owners to reduce the impact of disasters on animals.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Animals in Disasters: Community Planning (IS-11.A)
An interactive web-based course to guide emergency management officials, animal owners, and animal care providers in preparing community disaster plans.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Are You Ready? An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness
FEMA's comprehensive guidebook on individual, family, and community disaster preparedness.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Caring for Livestock After Disaster
Factsheet on measures to take to care for your animals after a disaster.
Colorado State University Extensioni
Caring for Livestock Before Disaster
Factsheet on measures to take to prepare your animals before disaster situations.
Colorado State University Extension
Caring for Livestock During Disaster
Factsheet on measures to take to protect your animals during a disaster situation.
Colorado State University Extension
Disaster Preparedness for Goat and Sheep Producers
Factsheet with information to help small ruminant owners prepare for all types of disasters.
Louisiana State University Ag Center
Disaster Preparedness for Horse Producers
Factsheet (2 pages) to help horse producers prepared for all types of disasters.
Louisiana State University Ag Center
Disaster Readiness for Beef Producers
Factsheet (2 pages) to help beef producers prepared for disasters of all types.
Louisiana State University Ag Center
Disaster Readiness for Dairy Producers
Factsheet (2 page) to help dairy producers prepare their farm and herd for disaster situations.
Louisiana State University Ag Center
Evacuating Yourself and Your Family
Website with information on evacuating prior to a disaster and measures to take to stay safe.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Health and Safety Concerns for All Disasters
Website with links to information on various health and safety issues that can occur during or after disaster situations
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Saving the Whole Family
Booklet (16 pages) containing detailed disaster planning information for small and large animals.
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)