Natural Disaster: Animal Preparation and Response

As Hurricane Beryl approaches the Texas coast, the TAHC urges all livestock and pet owners to be aware and prepare. The TAHC will keep the latest information related to animal resources updated below.

Hurricanes and tropical storms can cause catastrophic damage along the coastline and for several hundred miles inland. Severe weather has the potential to cause catastrophic loss of life and property, financial, and environment damage to local communities. Animals may be displaced and need temporary sheltering, housing feeding, and care. They may also be injured or diseased and need veterinary attention. Prepare now to protect your livestock and pets during severe weather.

After the Storm

Listen to local officials for information and special instructions.

Remain vigilant and closely monitor local conditions. Heed all local orders when navigating recovery.

• Visit drivetexas.gov for flooded roads and conditions.
• Guidance for returning home after a hurricane.
• If you come across stray livestock or down fences, contact your local sheriff’s department.
• If your animal needs medical assistance, contact your local veterinarian.
• If you come across stray pets, contact your local animal control.
• Return animals only after the threat has passed and the safety of buildings or the area has been assessed.
• Provide non-contaminated feed or water.
• Prevent Illness - Flooding: Animal Health Concerns.

Tropical storms, hurricanes, and thunderstorms can cause flooding with little or no warning. Severe weather has the potential to cause catastrophic loss of life and property, financial, and environment damage to local communities. Animals may be displaced and need temporary sheltering, housing feeding, and care. They may also be injured or diseased and need veterinary attention. Prepare now to protect your livestock and pets during flooding.

Flooding: Animal Health Considerations

Standing water, contaminated flood waters and wet feed and feedstuffs all offer animal health concerns during and following a flooding situation. Monitor animals for chemical burns, dermatitis, or hair loss from toxic substances floating in flood waters. Livestock in standing water for extended periods of time may experience foot or hoof problems. Animals may need booster vaccinations for distemper, parvovirus and hepatitis. Equine are prone to West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases (EEE, WEE) and should be vaccinated to prevent these diseases especially when standing water is present. Animals may be confused by the changes in their surroundings after destruction from extreme flooding. This may cause some stress or disorientation that is expressed through unusual aggression. Use caution when approaching animals after a disaster. If any flood related conditions are suspected, contact your primary care veterinarian for assistance.

Wildfires have the potential to cause catastrophic loss of property, financial, and environment damage to local communities. Animals may be displaced and need temporary sheltering, feeding, and care. They may also be injured or deceased and need veterinary attention or disposal. Please refer to the information below to learn more about animal identification, temporary sheltering, veterinary care, agriculture indemnity, and carcass disposal.

TDA Hay Hotline

The Texas Department of Agriculture's hay hotline helps agriculture producers locate forage and hay supplies. If you need hay or you are interested in donating, visit the TDA hay hotline webpage or call 512.463.9360.

Agriculture Indemnity Programs

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA)

The USDA's FSA offers disaster assistance and low-interest loan programs to assist agricultural producers in their recovery efforts following natural disasters. For more details and questions, contact your local FSA office. To find your local FSA county office, visit farmers.gov.

• Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) provides benefits for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality due to extreme weather.
• Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) provides benefits for grazing acre losses.
• Emergency Haying and Grazing of Conservation Reserve Program Acres (CRP) allows producers to graze livestock on lands enrolled in CRP, except for during primary nesting season.
• Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) provides assistance for feed losses as well as water hauling and feed transportation expenses.

Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) STAR Fund

The State of Texas Agriculture Relief Fund is available to help Texas farmers and ranchers rebuild fencing, restore operations and pay for other agricultural disaster relief.

• This is a cost share program for producers in declared disaster areas for rebuilding agricultural operations. If you are interested in applying for assistance or donating to the STAR Fund, visit the TDA STAR Fund webpage.

Damage Assessment Reporting

Agents will be conducting surveillance in affected areas to develop damage assessments for this incident. The objective of these assessments is to help state and local emergency officials identify and gain an understanding of damages, which in turn raises awareness of the overall situation and helps facilitate resources and assistance needed.

• Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) is a self reporting tool for damages to a residence or business, including agricultural losses.

Carcass Disposal

If you are affected by the wildfire and need assistance with carcass disposal, call the Texas Commission on Environment Quality (TCEQ) regional office that serves your county at 800-832-8224 or visit their website at www.tceq.texas.gov.

Wildfire Aftermath: Beef Cattle Health Considerations

Smoke inhalation, burns and thermal injury, exertion, stress, and injuries suffered during escape can all cause longer-term effects on cattle that have survived wildfires. Some of the body systems that can be affected include: Lungs, Feet, Teats, Bulls, and Eyes. While a great number of surviving cattle will not show any long-term effects of a wildfire, cattle producers should be away of the potential of problems down the road. Learn more.

Drought events can often be wide-spread, persistent, and long lasting. Losses are as substantial as those from other immediate-impact disaster events such as hurricanes and tornadoes. Drought causes losses to agriculture, and affects domestic water supply, energy production, public health, wildlife, and contributes to wildfire. To keep up with the current drought locations, extent and severity, visit the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Drought: Animal Health Considerations

Drought conditions can cause feed management issues, scarcity of water resources and subsequent heat exhaustion for animals. Monitor livestock for signs of heat related illness including rapid, shallow breathing, weight loss, elevation of the head to make it easier to breathe, drying of mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth) and other clinical signs. If you need immediate livestock medical assistance, call your local veterinarian.

Tornadoes can occur anywhere with little or no warning. Severe weather has the potential to cause catastrophic loss of life and property, financial, and environment damage to local communities. Animals may be displaced and need temporary sheltering, housing feeding, and care. They may also be injured or diseased and need veterinary attention. Prepare now to protect your livestock and pets during severe weather.

Winter storms and cold weather can impact animal health as well as human health. Winter storms can be stressful to livestock. Wind chills and prolonged cold increases their need for shelter, food and water. Below please find resources that will help you prepare for winter storm events and guide you through the recovery process.

Winter Storms: Animal Health Considerations

Livestock animals may experience illness, dehydration, frostbite or hypothermia from extreme winter conditions. Monitoring animals for signs of cold-related illness or affects is important to maintaining animal condition. Cold-related illness signs may include extreme shivering, increased respiration, confused, erratic or clumsy behavior, chapped teats, white/pale waxy appearance especially on extremities (ears, tail), or sloughing of freeze-damaged tissue. If any of these conditions are suspected, contact your primary care veterinarian for assistance.