Ranch Preparedness 101

Are You Ready if a Disaster Strikes?

by Texas Animal Health Commission Director of Emergency Management Jeff Turner

Cow-calf producers are no strangers to dealing with the various emergencies Mother Nature throws their way. From wildfires to hurricanes, river flooding to fever ticks, producers have always been diligent in utilizing whatever tools they may have at their disposal to ensure the safety and viability of their ranching business. Preparedness planning has advanced over the years, and our industry is adapting to the enhanced need to be better prepared for a variety of issues in today’s ever-changing agricultural environment.

I recently had the opportunity to attend the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Convention in San Antonio, Texas. Discussions in the different sessions ranged from weather and price predictions, to cattle health issues and how to provide a better product. Producers are keeping an eye on anything which may have an impact on their business, either for good or ill. Statistics show that agricultural industries contribute to 45 percent of the U.S. national GDP, with cattle production ranking number one in cash receipts. This direct contribution to the health of the national economy makes it paramount for producers to be aware of both the risks and resources out there that may impact their businesses. As the conversations I participated in at the convention demonstrate, the cattle industry as a whole is already well aware of these facts. Cow-calf producers who plan and prepare for all types of emergencies which may affect their operation take this awareness and put it into a practical application that directly impacts their ability to protect their business.

There are three main phases in addressing any emergency: the pre-incident phase, the response phase, and the recovery phase. Pre-incident planning looks at current risks, capabilities, and planned actions, and evaluates how prepared you may be for what may come your way. This phase is extremely important for the success of both the response and recovery phases. Your ranch preparedness plan is put into action during the response phase and, also, outlines the long-term planning you need to address how to continue in the ranching business after something happens.

When looking at developing and writing a ranch preparedness plan, industry best practices for business continuity planning have identified several basic categories which should be the focus of your plans. These include identifying your local environmental risks, ensuring animal identification, checking current inventories of supplies, and identifying alternate resource providers. In addressing each of these categories, you create immediate, actionable plans you can do now, which will contribute to the overall success of your operation.

It’s understood that knowing what you’re coming up against makes it much easier to overcome the problem. Pre-incident planning identifies these potential problems, or risks, and creates a general guideline for how you want to deal with each. Your geographic location will impact what types of risks and hazards may affect your ranch. Are you more likely to be hit by a hurricane or a blizzard? Is there a history of wildfire or flood in your area, or both? These different kinds of issues will affect what resources and response methods you will need to implement in case of emergency. By considering the different needs of each potential hazard ahead of time, you will be better prepared to respond.

Identifying your risk naturally leads to looking at what resources you may have or need. There are various types of resources to consider; from feed and equipment to personnel and expertise. For example, if your ranch has low-lying areas prone to flooding, there will be a time when cattle must be moved to higher ground. Have you identified how many head you could potentially move and how you would do it? Do you have the equipment and personnel to accomplish a move, and how quickly could it be done? Answering these kinds of questions for your identified risks, compiling your needed resources, sharing your vision with others, and putting it all down on paper will strengthen the resiliency of your ranching operation.

So what do you do after something has happened? A wildfire moved through your area and you implemented your plan, but no plan can prevent some losses. Maybe you lost some equipment, a facility, fencing, grazing pasture, or a resource provider. Have you considered the impacts to your business model that may be caused, and how you will address them? The recovery phase, in any disaster, is always the hardest to address and the longest to endure. It’s easier to extinguish the fire and move your herds than to deal with economic impacts. Post-incident priorities will look different as you transition from safety concerns to getting back on your feet. Knowledge of the options and avenues available to you is important in shortening the time it may take to recover. If you are ready to implement your recovery plan, you are already ahead of the curve.

All of this may sound like a daunting, time-consuming, task; however, you’ll quickly realize that small actions, ahead of time, will make a big difference across emergencies. Just the simple act of talking through your plan is an incredibly valuable way to bring awareness to any potential pitfall. Writing it down is important as well, especially for us old timers who may not remember every detail when the occasion arises. There are many resources out there to assist you with working through the planning process. I encourage you to avail yourself of the information available through academic institutions or agricultural agencies in your area, such as the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC). The TAHC has eight regional offices located across the state. They are ready to assist in response and recovery during natural or man-made catastrophes, including fires, floods and hurricanes. In accordance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency Emergency Response Plan and/or the State of Texas Emergency plan, the TAHC is available to respond with issues concerning animal ownership identification, livestock restraint/capture, carcass disposal, and coordinating livestock evacuation, to name just a few. For more information about emergency preparation visit www.tahc.state.tx.us/emergency.