With wildfires sweeping the drought-stricken plains and ongoing severe weather concerns popping up with the springtime, emergency preparedness for your herd couldn’t be more critical. Developing a disaster plan should be a staple on every farm and ranch. Plans should be customized for each type of potential threat, identifying where people and animals could be relocated to and how water can be accessed from the location.

Some suggested items for an emergency kit every producer should have include: truck and trailer, halters, leads and ropes, hay, feed and water that can be transported, a way to mark livestock and animal records. Critical in the disaster plan should be communication outlined to all involved, including an emergency veterinarian.

Read more on how to create your emergency preparedness plan here.