The Resilience and Response of Farm Households in the Aftermath of the 2006 Canterbury Snow Storm
Appendix 3: Civil Defence Brochure
Don’t forget four-legged friends when preparing for an emergency
In the days before Cyclone Bola ripped through the North Island and caused flooding in the eastern portion of the Island, a large number of families packed up a few belongings and headed off to weather the storm, leaving furry and feathered friends behind to fend for themselves.
Some pets were left locked in rooms, while others were chained to the front port, but nearly all were left in life-threatening situations. This scenario created even more dangerous circumstances for those who later came back to rescue the animals.
To most people, their pets are part of the family: they share the family home, beds and food. They bring joy, friendship and security. But studies show that when disaster strikes, most people leave the very thing that brings the most comfort, and lowers their blood pressure and stress levels – their pets. After the disaster strikes and towns are declared disaster areas, most people are desperate to get back in to rescue their pets, putting human lives in danger as they return to unstable buildings and dangerous debris.
People come first, but people are attached to their animals, so it is natural that so much time and effort went into rescuing loose or abandoned animals and caring for them until they were reclaimed or adopted. Recently it has become apparent that more preparation is needed to take care of animals in emergency situations.
Animals are not only important to families, but to our farmers as well. All animals including the farm dog, are all severely affected by storms and other emergencies.
Pet owners should do several things in advance to protect their loved ones. First make arrangements to take animals to a friend or family member’s house outside of the area. Studies show that less than five percent of the evacuated populations stays in a shelter, with a majority of the population staying with friends or family.
Second, have a pet disaster kit ready. It should have two weeks worth of medication if the pet takes any type of medication, copies of the animal’s medical records, including vaccination records. Many boarding facilities will not take dogs without proof of current vaccination.
Other items in the disaster kit include a leash, collar and ID tag for each animal, current photo of the animal, preferably with a family member in the picture for identification purposes. Also, a pet carrier or kennel that is large enough for the animal to turn around in and lay down. The carrier should have attached all pertinent information, including animal’s name, owner’s name, address, phone number, any allergies or behavioural problems and where the owner can be contacted. Other items include a two-week supply of food, potable water, and cat litter, litter pan, can opener, toys and bedding.
Animals will often get scared and run away during traumatic situations, so it is important that all collars are securely fastened. If owners choose to leave their pet at home, they should leave the pet in one room of the house and leave plenty of food and water for the animal. Whatever an owner does, animals should not be left outside chained to a fence or house. An evacuation order may last for several days and an animal left outdoors will be exposed to the elements, including flood waters, flying and/or floating debris, contaminated water, and other dangers.
Many of the same principles apply to farms with livestock. If possible, livestock should be evacuated and moved out of the area. If not, you must determine whether it would be safer to leave the animals inside their shelter or outside in the elements. As with pets, livestock also need to have some sort of identification in case they get loose from the field. Ear tags, halter tags, will help ensure their return.
It is also helpful for owners to have photos and proof of ownership when trying to reclaim animals. In preparing, start making plans to take your pets along. It’s in the best interest of their health and yours.
Preparing your farm for weather disasters
Long-range Preparations
Equipment Needed:
- Generator – Consider purchasing, leasing, or negotiating a rental arrangement for a back-up generator in advance. Consider generator use for your Dairy operations. Inverters may also be purchased and connected to any machine with a battery, this will generate enough power to run fridge and freezers as well as emergency lighting. If you plan to rent a generator, read the contract carefully, as some rental contracts are only for 8 hours use per day. Decide how much risk you can afford to take. Will the generator cost more to own than rent?
- Fuel for the generators and vehicles, and a hand fuel pump. Also film to document damage, flashlights and batteries.
- Transistor radio and batteries.
- Water and feed.
Property Preparations:
- Clear drainage ditches so floodwaters can run freely. Run rows for optimum drainage without excessive erosion.
- Check power line clearance; some of the greatest wind damage is from downed power lines and long power outages. See if trees need pruning or removing. Those old Macrocarpa trees are worth considering.
- Survey your buildings – do you need to trim or cut down trees too near your barns or home? Check for old, damaged trees and consider removal before a storm. Also check the condition of the buildings; a few extra nails or tighter hurricane strapping can limit further damage.
- Clear away all debris that could blow in high winds.
- Secure any signage.
- Have photos of valuable items stored off site; store all business records above flood level, at least two feet off the floor.
Reviewing your Business:
- Review your insurance policies. Be sure you have adequate coverage for homeowners, vehicles, farm buildings and structures, crops and flood. Learn the different types of wind, hail, and catastrophic insurance coverage. Find out what your policy covers. Have all agents’ contact information ready.
- Review your debt level. Do you have unpaid debts that would go unpaid if you lost 50% of your crop in one year?
- Review your finances. Do you have a cash reserve you could use to replace a loss of income?
- Develop an emergency plan for your family and your crew. Be sure everyone knows where to meet, and preparation and recover duties are priorities and assigned.
Short-range Preparations
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Tune in to local radio weather reports.
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Designate crews to begin preparations for the storm – after securing their own homes.
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Have all phone numbers ready to call for help after the storm. This may include the District Council, insurance agencies, Farm Service Agency.
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Store items inside that may blow away.
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Turn off propane and natural gas.
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Shut off electric power to avoid surges.
Move your equipment into the middle of a large open field or pasture. Keeping equipment away from buildings and trees that may blow over can prevent loss. Tie down any lightweight equipment. Do not park equipment in areas that may be prone to flooding. Have fuel and batteries ready.
Will you be ready for the next disaster? We all hope we do not experience another situation like the big storms of 1992-93 but being prepared could help you limit your losses.
Farmers should begin now to prepare farms in case a disaster strikes
Introduction
It is probably a good bet that no one can fully prepare for all the things that can happen in a disaster situation. Although no one can guess the magnitude of what may result from natural disasters, the needs that result can often be predicted and prepared for.
Canterbury has experienced everything from cyclones, floods and droughts before, but it is still hard to guess how much rain, wind, and damage might occur with a storm. Power outages, flooding, roadway problems, possible clean water shortages, and shelter damage can be some of the expected consequences.
Since it is practically impossible to protect a farm from an approaching natural disaster, the focus should be pre-event planning before dealing with the storm’s aftermath. “Failure to plan – is planning to fail”.
Assets and Planning
Farm owners should first be aware of assets and liabilities when planning for disasters.
- For instance, a long farm access path through a wooded area poses many potential problems for an owner if a storm or other event occurs.
- Downed trees, flooding, or heavy ice (and later melting slush) may make transportation for feed, water, and animals difficult for some time.
- A farm generator, heavy equipment, and extra feed storage are all assets.
As an owner, try to look closely at your farm and identify areas that will present problems should disaster strike. If possible correct the potential problem or, at least, plan for solutions that is, Open unused gates, feed storage near “safe” stock paddocks.
Neighbourhood Resources
Next, farm owners should remember to identify resources that neighbours may have.
- Discuss future plans to use those resources should the need arise. An example would be a backhoe or bulldozer.
- Neighbours will do much better if they are able to pool their resources rather than “go it alone”.
- Also, be aware of efforts being made to prepare Canterbury for emergency response.
Response
Next, farm owners should get to work planning their individual response to the needs that might be encountered during an emergency situation. An organized way to approach things would be to group the needs into categories such as shelter, access, safe paddocks, rescue/medical, feed/water, and transportation.
The response plans of both the district and Region are organized the same way.
Stock Identification
Animal Health Board requires cattle and deer to be individually identified, most farmers have an earmark or tag. Before a storm hits, mark your animals with a unique identifier so they can be found quickly and returned to you if lost. Examples are ear tags that have the name of your farm and/or phone number, brands that specify to whom the animal belongs. Once again, it is important to co-ordinate with your neighbours to ensure your identifier remains unique!
Shelter
The shelter category needs to include:
- Existing barns and facilities and also those that may have to be constructed.
- Plans would include keeping shelters in good condition to keep them as storm-proof as possible.
- Also planning for downed fences, power outages and escaped or trapped animals.
- Access to portable yard or holding facilities is a must.
- Another shelter issue to consider before an emergency hits would be to move stored feed to higher ground or to a more accessible place in case a flood hits or transportation is impossible.
Electricity
New large dairy sheds are sometimes equipped with an alternative power supply. If you have dairy cows or chicken houses that rely on electricity for milking or cooling.
- Consider facilities for plugging in an alternative power supply; or
- Look at purchasing a generator that is large enough to handle the necessary power load; or
- Arrange to rent a generator from a local dealer.
For small appliance, power inverters can be connected to any machine fitted with a battery these are capable of running fridges’ and freezers as well as some temporary emergency lighting.
Rescue and Medical
Rescue/medical includes having a medical kit on hand to treat injuries until help arrives. Also ropes, trailers and yards should be kept accessible to help move or rescue any type of animal you have on your farm. Lifting equipment may also be required to assist or move down stack.
- Keep your veterinarian’s current emergency numbers on hand, but keep in mind that they may be out of commission.
- Also have other emergency contact numbers on hand, such as Medical Centre’s, District Council, emergency Management Civil Defence and Local emergency Service’s, in case of an emergency.
Feed and water may seem the most important but also remember some situations dictate shelter or rescue as the first need. For example, cattle standing in chest high floodwater have plenty of water to drink but is it safe? Moving them may become the first priority. Animals will need water on a daily basis and food within days. Plan for ways to provide water during winter storms which may bring freezing temperatures and power outages, and contaminated water supplies.
Disposing of Animals
One last thing to consider is the burial or disposal of animals that perish during disasters.
Legal requirements for burial that requires at least one metre deep and no closer than 100 metres to running water sources or public bodies of water. The burial site should be located so as to minimize the effect of stormwater runoff, with the bottom of the hold at least 300mm above the seasonal high water table. Standing water does not preclude animal burial as long as the bottom of the hole is at least 300 mm above the seasonal water table and the other conditions for proper burial are met. Another option may be to burn stock?
There is also a need to identify Contractors who can dig holes, and whereto obtain help to collect dead stock.
There must be at least one metre of soil covering any buried animal. This can be interpreted to mean soil mounded over the animals above the adjacent ground level. Farm owners and operators are encouraged to consider measures that could be taken prior to an eminent emergency that could reduce the impact on the farm and the environment.
Being prepared for the unexpected, whether it hits in the form of a strong wind this summer, or a winter storm later this year, will give you peace of mind plus save you money and lives when a storm hits.
Draft business continuity planning for the farming community
Introduction
Business continuity planning confronts the likelihood of a disaster. The cause of the interruption does not matter but being capable of gaining control does. In some circumstances you must establish these functions within hours other aspects within two – three days.
Identify the types of Hazards that are likely to develop into an emergency in your area
- Wind
- Fire
- Flooding - What are the issues relating to each (see checklist)
- Snow
- Drought
- Earthquake
Readiness
- Gates
- Feed storage
- Access
- Alternate power supply
- Shelter
- Resources including neighbours
Utilities
- Water
- Power
- Sewerage
- Communications radio, mobile phone, telephone
Stock
- Safe paddocks
- Feed when warned of the event
- Open gates
Pets
On-farm support staff
- Identify who can help
- Internal help
- External help
Advise neighbours of situation
Situation Report to Local Council or Civil Defence
Put in place pre-established neighbourhood support scheme
- Resources
- People
- Machinery
Remember Murphy’s law
Hazards
Identify the types of hazards that are likely to develop into an emergency situation on your farm
| Source of Risk/Hazard | Area of Impact | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Access | Feed | Power | Water | Shelter | Transport | Fuel | |
| Winds | |||||||
| Fire | |||||||
| Snow | |||||||
| Drought | |||||||
| Earthquake | |||||||
| Power Outage | |||||||
| Disease | |||||||
| Flood | |||||||
Readiness
What are some of the areas of my farm that can be better prepared?
Things I can do to make my farm ready prior to an emergency situation arising.
| Item | Readiness Action |
|---|---|
| Gates | Only close those gates holding stock all other gates to be left open. |
| Feed Storage | Store feed, in more than one location Move feed to “safe” paddocks prior to an emergency |
| Access | Remove damaged trees and trees that could fall and block access Can I get access to the whole of the farm. |
| Shelter | Identify in advance paddocks that are “safe”. Check buildings for loose iron etc Remove trees likely to cause damage in winds. |
| Alternate power | Can I gain access to a generator Who are the local suppliers Do I have an inverter to run small appliance and lights |
| Drains | Are my drains and sumps clear |
| Stock identification | Are all my stock clearly identified Have a photograph of stock ID for reference Is my ID different from my new neighbours What is their ID |
| Neighbour resources | Identify major resources held by my neighbours e.g. bulldozer etc |
| Fuel supplies | What stocks of Diesel, petrol, 2 stroke, 4 stroke do I have Where can I find additional supplies |
| Water reserves | How many days supply do I have |
| Fire extinguishers | Where are they located Can people operate these |
Utilities
Identify contact details for people who can assist to restore power, stock water, Council, communications etc
| Utility | Contacts Name | Contact Details |
|---|---|---|
| Power, “Main Power” | Joe Bloggs | Home: Mobile: 24hour contact: |
| Power Supplies | Home: Mobile: 24hour contact: | |
| Water Supplies (include stock water) | Home: Mobile: 24hour contact: | |
| Radio Communications | Home: Mobile: 24hour contact: | |
| Telephone | Home: Mobile: 24hour contact: | |
| District Council | Home: Mobile: 24hour contact: | |
| Home: Mobile: 24hour contact: | ||
| Home: Mobile: 24hour contact: |
On-farm support
This is a list of people and resources including neighbours that you can call on to assist you through the emergency including stock agents and other parties.
| Name/Agent | Relationship | Skills | Contact Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| e.g. PGG | Stock Agent | Home: Mobile: 24hour contact: | |
| Home: Mobile: 24hour contact: | |||
| Home: Mobile: 24hour contact: | |||
| Home: Mobile: 24hour contact: | |||
| Home: Mobile: 24hour contact: | |||
| Home: Mobile: 24hour contact: | |||
| Home: Mobile: 24hour contact: | |||
| Home: Mobile: 24hour contact: |
Contact for Enquiries
North Island
Phil Journeaux
Manager
North Island Regions
Sector Performance Policy
MAF Policy
Private Bag 3123
Hamilton
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 7 957 8314
Fax: +64 7 957 8315
South Island
John Greer
Regional Team Leader
Natural Resources Group
MAF Policy
PO Box 20 280
Christchurch
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 3 943 1703
Fax: +64 3 943 1757
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