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  • From: Una Smith <una@lanl.gov>
  • To: msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [MSAR] Plan to evacuate
  • Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2003 10:06:11 -0700

Over the weekend, the weather here in New Mexico was gorgeous;
sunny and warm (60's F). And dry; no mud to speak of, despite
some snow and rain during the week. Which reminds me that the
risk of wildfires in our area this year is already high. Once
the spring winds start up, the risk will quickly go to extreme.
So local horse groups are planning ahead...you may want to do
the same.

Community support:

1. Build a list of people who are prepared to evacuate horses
and other animals. These people have a vehicle and trailer rig
ready to go on short notice. The rig has on board a current
road atlas or other map, spare tack (halters, lead ropes), and
something to identify any animals they evacuate (eg, a write-
on aluminum tag that can be tied into a horse's mane or tail).

2. Build a list of places that are prepared to receive any
evacuated animals.

Personal preparations:

1. Practice good trailer loading and unloading with all your
own horses.

2. Put ID tags on your horses' halters and/or in their mane or
tail. The engraved metal tags used on dogs and cats work for
horses too. (In a pinch, paint or clip your horses' coats in a
distinct pattern.)

3. Have your two vehicle and trailer serviced *now*, so that
you will be ready go on short notice.

4. Make a list of steps you need to take in the event of an
evacuation. As a rehearsal, plan (and do!) an overnight trip
with your horse(s).

5. Do now all steps you can take now, such as: put in your
rig spare clothes, bedding, fresh spare batteries, maps, and
emergency food, water, and first aid supplies for people and
animals. Also make copies of your horses' vaccination papers,
bills of sale, registration papers, hauling papers, and/or
some recent photos that show identifying features, and put
them in an envelope (a separate one for each horse) in the
rig. Include notes on any medications, allergies, etc., and
your cell phone and other contact information. Get current
vaccinations.

6. Have an evacuation plan: where to go (have more than one
possible destination), what routes to take, how much fuel you
will need to get there.

7. Mitigate fire risks around your house and barn. Remove
piles of junk, cut and remove dead or unwanted trees, remove
stumps (in a bad wildfire, dead stumps and their underground
root systems are a conduit and reservoir for fire).


Here is some background reading about the 2000 Cerro Grande
fire in Los Alamos (where I live), which illustrates that even
a planned evacuation by a highly organzied community can take
many hours. You know how long it takes you to get ready for a
routine search; now imagine your house will be gone when you
return.

http://www.nps.gov/band/fire.htm
http://www.aps.org/apsnews/0800/080016.html
http://www.losalamos.org/laarc/CerroGrandeFire-K5QIN.html
http://www.asu.edu/caed/proceedings01/WEBB/webb.htm
http://boozhoundlabs.com/pups/disaster.doc
http://www.horsemensvoice.com/Archive%20Docs/2000-06.htm

Stay safe,

Una Smith
Santa Fe County Sheriff's Posse, in New Mexico

Los Alamos National Laboratory, MS K-710, Los Alamos, NM 87545
>From kovar@1srg.org Mon Mar 24 12:41:41 2003
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From: "David C. Kovar" <kovar@1srg.org>
To: "'Mounted search and rescue'" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: RE: [MSAR] Plan to evacuate
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2003 09:41:37 -0800
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Good morning,

EARS - Emergency Animal Rescue Services - teaches a superb course in
disaster animal management. Check their web site - http://www.ears.org/. =
The
particular course is here:

http://www.ears.org/ears/workshopreview.html

Una's suggestions are right on the money. Developing your plans and
relationships in advance is crucial.

-David


-----Original Message-----
From: msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Una Smith
Sent: Monday, March 24, 2003 9:06 AM
To: msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [MSAR] Plan to evacuate


Over the weekend, the weather here in New Mexico was gorgeous; sunny and
warm (60's F). And dry; no mud to speak of, despite some snow and rain
during the week. Which reminds me that the risk of wildfires in our =
area
this year is already high. Once the spring winds start up, the risk =
will
quickly go to extreme. So local horse groups are planning ahead...you =
may
want to do=20
the same.

Community support:

1. Build a list of people who are prepared to evacuate horses and other
animals. These people have a vehicle and trailer rig ready to go on =
short
notice. The rig has on board a current road atlas or other map, spare =
tack
(halters, lead ropes), and something to identify any animals they =
evacuate
(eg, a write- on aluminum tag that can be tied into a horse's mane or =
tail).

2. Build a list of places that are prepared to receive any evacuated
animals.

Personal preparations:

1. Practice good trailer loading and unloading with all your own =
horses.

2. Put ID tags on your horses' halters and/or in their mane or tail. =
The
engraved metal tags used on dogs and cats work for horses too. (In a =
pinch,
paint or clip your horses' coats in a distinct pattern.)

3. Have your two vehicle and trailer serviced *now*, so that you will =
be
ready go on short notice.

4. Make a list of steps you need to take in the event of an evacuation. =
As
a rehearsal, plan (and do!) an overnight trip with your horse(s).

5. Do now all steps you can take now, such as: put in your rig spare
clothes, bedding, fresh spare batteries, maps, and emergency food, =
water,
and first aid supplies for people and animals. Also make copies of your
horses' vaccination papers, bills of sale, registration papers, hauling
papers, and/or some recent photos that show identifying features, and =
put
them in an envelope (a separate one for each horse) in the rig. Include
notes on any medications, allergies, etc., and your cell phone and other
contact information. Get current vaccinations.

6. Have an evacuation plan: where to go (have more than one possible
destination), what routes to take, how much fuel you will need to get =
there.

7. Mitigate fire risks around your house and barn. Remove piles of =
junk,
cut and remove dead or unwanted trees, remove stumps (in a bad wildfire,
dead stumps and their underground root systems are a conduit and =
reservoir
for fire).


Here is some background reading about the 2000 Cerro Grande fire in Los
Alamos (where I live), which illustrates that even a planned evacuation =
by a
highly organzied community can take many hours. You know how long it =
takes
you to get ready for a routine search; now imagine your house will be =
gone
when you return.

http://www.nps.gov/band/fire.htm =
http://www.aps.org/apsnews/0800/080016.html
http://www.losalamos.org/laarc/CerroGrandeFire-K5QIN.html
http://www.asu.edu/caed/proceedings01/WEBB/webb.htm
http://boozhoundlabs.com/pups/disaster.doc=20
http://www.horsemensvoice.com/Archive%20Docs/2000-06.htm

Stay safe,

Una Smith
Santa Fe County Sheriff's Posse, in New Mexico

Los Alamos National Laboratory, MS K-710, Los Alamos, NM 87545
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