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Hurricanes & Horses
The Town of Davie is proud of its rural character and equestrian lifestyle. Davie is home to thousands of horses and wants to help you keep them safe in the event of a hurricane.
No one can guarantee where your horse will be safe. The decision is yours. If you cannot make your property safe because of the condition of the barn, trees, power lines, low lying land prone to flooding, or the general condition of the neighboring properties, plan on evacuating your horse at least 48 hours before the storm.
For Rescue After the Storm
Contact Broward County Emergency Operations Center at 954-831-3900.
Designated Post Hurricane Triage Sites
- C.B. Smith Park
- Markham Park
- Tradewinds Park
"Do"s & "Don't"s
- Do discuss your hurricane plans with your own veterinarian.
- Do make an advance plan.
- Do prepare ahead of time.
- Don’t wait until the last minute.
- Don’t just wait to be rescued.
Advance Preparation
Preparations can be made before hurricane season (or now):
- Buy 55-gallon garbage cans with lids for water storage - 10 gallons per day per horse, 1 week’s supply
- Buy and keep on hand large (55-gallon), heavy duty garbage bags for waterproof storage of hay and grain
- Buy ankle ID bands and dog tags, engraved with your name, address, and a cell phone number or out of area number of a friend (the phone lines may be down)
- Buy extra water buckets - 3 per horse
- Buy plywood and store for boarding up windows
- Horse trailers - Plan a safe location for trailer storage, buy camper tie-downs and store
- Make sure your horse has a current coggins and is up-to-date on all inoculations
- Organize an emergency repair kit: Chain saw and fuel, hammer, nails, screws, screwdrivers, spare fence boards and posts, etc.
- Organize an individual evacuation plan for your horse - Make arrangements with a friendly farm on higher ground, find a trailer buddy if you don’t have your own transport
- Practice loading your horse in a trailer
- Prepare first aid kit – discuss with vet
- Stalls - Extra sand on dirt floors (flooding), get rubber mats for concrete floors (your horse could be standing there for a long time)
- Strengthen barn - Add hurricane straps to roof beams, add screws to nailed joints
- Yard/paddock cleanup - Remove all debris that could become flying missiles in a windstorm
When the Storm is Approaching
The following are steps to take when the hurricane is approaching:
- Administer tranquilizer in recommended doses in small amount of grain to horses confined indoors, if needed
- Board up barn windows
- Braid dog tags to top of horse’s tail and attach ankle ID tag
- Buy 2 weeks supply of hay and grain, store inside in high and dry place, seal in garbage bags
- Don't trailer a horse after the winds reach tropical storm force (40 mph)
- Don't tranquilize horses left outside
- Don't let your horse stand in water
- Don't feed moldy hay or grain
- Fill up garbage cans (indoors, barn/garage) with water and fill all water troughs
- Fill water buckets - 3 per horse
- Give extra hay - At least 3 pads
- If you have not done some of the advanced preparation, do it now
- Leave barn circuit breakers on during storm
- Move horse trailer to safe location and tie it down
- Put all tools and loose objects indoors
- Put extra bedding in stall
- Put repair kit, first aid kit and coggins (your horse may not be rescued without it) in a secure place
- Turn off circuit breakers to barn
After the Storm
After the storm, take the following steps:
- Attend to horse’s medical needs first
- Clear up debris to make access to road
- Do not turn on circuit breaker unless you are sure all electrical wiring is intact
- Give hay and water as needed - no grain unless horse can be turned out
- If the barn is flooded, evacuate your horse to higher ground - see back of leaflet for post hurricane evacuation sites
- Make necessary repairs to barn and paddock area so that area is safe
- When your horse and barn is safe and secure, see if your neighbors need any help
First Aid Kit
Take into consideration the following items when building a first aid kit for your horses:
- Antiseptic/antibiotic ointment
- Banamine paste for colic
- Bute paste for swelling/pain
- Elasticon/vet wrap/tape for wounds
- Gauze/cotton padding (diaper or sanitary pad)
- Leg bandages - Quilts and wraps for leg protection
- Scissors
- Tranquilizers - Ace granules can be given orally (30 minutes ahead of time) when calm
This brochure promulgated by:
Town of Davie Agriculture Advisory Board
6591 SW Orange Drive
Davie, FL 33314
Phone: 954-797-1000