Severe Weather Emergency Planning for Ranches
A solid emergency plan is essential for protecting your family, employees, livestock, and property from severe weather events. This guide helps you build and maintain an effective plan.
Building Your Emergency Plan
Step 1: Risk Assessment
Identify the weather hazards most likely to affect your ranch:- Tornadoes
- Severe thunderstorms and hail
- Flash flooding
- Extreme heat
- Winter storms and ice
- Drought
- Wildfires
- Dust storms
- How frequently it occurs in your area
- What time of year it's most likely
- How much warning time you typically have
- What damage it could cause
Step 2: Property Mapping
Create a detailed map of your property showing:- All buildings and their purposes
- Water sources and tanks
- Power lines and electrical systems
- Fuel storage locations
- Livestock locations and pastures
- Low-water crossings and flood-prone areas
- Evacuation routes
- Safe shelter locations
Step 3: Communication Plan
Establish multiple communication methods:- Primary: Cell phones with text capability
- Backup: NOAA Weather Radio with battery backup
- Emergency: Satellite phone for remote ranches
- Local: Two-way radios for on-property communication
Emergency Contact List
Maintain a current list including:
Emergency Services
- 911
- County Sheriff non-emergency line
- Fire department
- EMS
- County Emergency Management
Medical
- Family physician
- Large animal veterinarian
- Emergency veterinary clinic
- Poison control: 1-800-222-1222
Utilities and Services
- Electric company outage line
- Propane supplier
- Well service company
- Insurance agent
Ranch Contacts
- Neighbors who can assist
- Family members
- Key employees
- Livestock hauler
- Feed supplier
Evacuation Planning
Human Evacuation
- Identify primary and alternate evacuation routes
- Designate a family meeting location
- Choose an out-of-area contact person
- Keep vehicles fueled and ready
- Pack a "go bag" with essentials for each family member
Livestock Evacuation
- Prioritize animals by value and ease of evacuation
- Pre-arrange evacuation destinations
- Maintain working trailers with current registrations
- Document all animals with photos and identification
- Store copies of ownership documents off-site
What to Take
- Important documents (insurance, ownership records, IDs)
- Medications for family members and animals
- Phone chargers and backup batteries
- Cash
- Pet carriers and supplies
Emergency Supplies
Shelter-in-Place Kit
- Water: 1 gallon per person per day for 3 days
- Food: 3-day supply of non-perishable items
- Flashlights and extra batteries
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- First aid kit
- Medications for 7+ days
- Multi-purpose tool
- Cell phone with chargers and backup battery
- Important documents in waterproof container
- Blankets
Ranch Operations Kit
- Fencing repair supplies
- Generator with fuel
- Water pumping equipment or backup
- First aid supplies for livestock
- Extra feed accessible without power
- Tools for clearing debris
- Chain saw with fuel and oil
During Severe Weather
Decision Triggers
Establish clear triggers for action:- When to cancel outdoor work
- When to shelter in place
- When to begin livestock evacuation
- When to evacuate family members
Notification Procedures
- Who alerts whom about approaching weather
- How to account for all personnel
- How to communicate with remote workers
Shelter Procedures
- Location of shelter for each building/area
- Who is responsible for each location
- Special needs accommodations
- Pet and animal considerations
Post-Emergency Actions
Immediate (First 24 Hours)
- Account for all people
- Assess injuries and provide first aid
- Account for livestock
- Document initial damage with photos
- Secure property against further damage
- Contact insurance company
Short-Term (First Week)
- Arrange temporary fencing if needed
- Ensure water and feed for livestock
- Complete damage documentation
- File insurance claims
- Apply for disaster assistance if available
- Begin cleanup and repairs
Long-Term
- Review and update emergency plan
- Replace used emergency supplies
- Repair infrastructure properly
- Debrief with family and employees
- Document lessons learned
Plan Maintenance
Annual Review
- Update contact information
- Check emergency supply dates and replace as needed
- Review and update property maps
- Test communication equipment
- Conduct drills with family and employees
After Each Incident
- Review what worked and what didn't
- Update plan based on lessons learned
- Restock used supplies
- Repair or replace damaged equipment
