How to Keep Animals Safe During Flash Flooding

When it comes to weather disasters, it often seems that animals have better instincts than humans. Domesticated pets and farm animals, however, seem to have lost many of the instinctual urges they were born with. As an animal owner it is up to you to protect pets during flash flooding.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Emergency evacuation plan
• Cages and carriers
• High ground

1. 
    

   Fence a pasture area on high ground for outdoor farm animals. Cows and horses are just a few of the farm animals that can be caught off guard by flash floods. Building a safe pasture for them before water rises will give you peace of mind for their survival.

2. 
    

   Buy a crate or cage for every small animal or cat and dog in the home. Keep them all in an easy to access area of the home for any quick evacuation needs.

3. Prepare an emergency food supply for all animals. Pack at least three days worth of dry food for all of the animals in your care. For pasture animals, place hay bundles and feed holders on higher ground near the safe pasture.

4. Find an evacuation center that allows pets, or a flood safe boarding facility to keep the pets for several days if necessary.

Putting a Flash Flood Plan to Use

5. 
    

   At the first issue of a flash flood warning or signs of quickly rising water, herd all farm animals to the chosen safe pasture and lock all gates.

6. Cage or crate all small animals and indoor pets, and make arrangements to board for possibly several days.

7. 
    

   Take the small animals to a safe boarding facility on high ground, or to a friend or relatives if no other shelter is available. Deliver the pets as soon as the flash flood warning is issued, waiting may cut off roads and limit the escape route.

8. 
    

   Leave all animals on high ground or boarding until water has completely receded and threat of flooding has passed. Wait a few days longer if possible to eliminate the possibility of infections due to exposure to dirty water. This will also allow the ground to dry out more to sustain the weight of cattle or horses.

Tips & Warnings

• Even if the water is not rising near you yet, a flash flood warning means that streams and rivers are going to exceed their banks. Low lying areas will be flooded, the amount of flooding can't be forecast.
• Never leave a pet at a boarding facility that is built in a flood zone.
• Never let farm animals or pets drink or walk in flood water, it is contaminated with road grime and river bacteria.
• Mud can cause severe injury to large animals, keep them on high ground for as long as possible after flooding.

Resources

• Red Cross