Large Animal Evacuation
In the case of an emergency, you may need help evacuating your large animals. Each of the three counties in the South Skyline Area have trained Large Animal Evacuation Groups. The volunteers of these organizations receive specialized training in handling large animals of all kinds, trailer driving and with how to work within the Incident Command structure of the Office of Emergency Services (OES). Most also have training in CERT, CPR and HAM radio operation to help facilitate communications with emergency responders. As with CERT, each trained member is registered with their respective County Office of Emergency Services and sworn-in as a Disaster Service Worker (DSW), which provides them with worker’s compensation insurance. In a large-scale emergency, your county Large Animal Evacuation Group will be activated by OES and once activated, they are authorized to enter restricted areas to evacuate the animals in need.
What YOU can do to help your animals in the event of an emergency:
- Prepare yourself, prepare your animal(s), prepare your property
- Immunize and keep documentation of your animal’s feed, health and medications, such as this animal information form.
- Make sure your animal has permanent identification, such as a microchip
- Ensure that your large animals can be handled by strangers, can trailer load in the dark, are familiar with flashlights and glow sticks and can be blindfolded.
- Pack a “go” kit for your animals: halters and lead ropes, ID forms, pictures, markers, special instructions, etc.
- Make sure your gates can be opened quickly, you have a primary and secondary escape route and your trailer is well maintained.
For more information about Large Animal Evacuation: