Be Prepared

Farm Emergency Preparedness Plan

Protecting your farm involves a number of considerations – family members, co-workers or employees, buildings, equipment, livestock, and crops. Planning ahead for all-hazard situations can help to minimize the impact and speed the recovery process for you and your farm.

Before a Disaster or Emergency

• Gather information.
  • What disasters or hazards are most likely in your community? For your farm?
  • How would you be warned?
  • How should you prepare for each?
• Know the warning signals for your area.
  • Learn the warning systems for your community.
  • Are you able to hear or see the appropriate warning from your farm?
• Stay alert for emergency broadcasts.
  • Emergency Alert System broadcasts on radio or television
  • NOAA weather radio alerts
  • News sources – radio, television, internet
• Put together an emergency supply kit for your family.
  • See ‘Family Emergency Supply Kit’ page
• Draw a farm site map and indicate:
  • Buildings and structures
  • Access routes (e.g., roads, lanes)
  • Barriers (fences, gates)
  • Locations of livestock
  • Locations of all hazardous substances
  • Electrical shutoff locations, etc.
• Make a list of your farm inventory, include:
  • Livestock (species, number of animals)
  • Crops (acres, type)
  • Machinery and equipment (make, model #)
  • Hazardous substances (e.g., pesticides, fertilizers, fuels, medicines, other chemicals)
• Keep a list of emergency phone numbers.
  • Your veterinarian, state veterinarian
  • County extension service
  • Local emergency management
  • Insurance agent
• Make a list of suppliers or businesses providing services to your farm.
  • Livestock or milk transport, feed delivery, fuel delivery, etc.
• Contact your insurance agent.
  • Review your insurance coverage.
  • Get additional coverage for “all-hazard” situations (e.g., flood, hail damage).
• Stockpile supplies needed to protect the farm:
  • Sandbags, plastic sheeting, in case of flood
  • Wire and rope to secure objects
  • Lumber and plywood to protect windows
  • Extra fuel for tractors and vehicles
  • Hand tools for preparation and recovery
  • Fire extinguishers in all barns, in all vehicles
  • A safe supply of food to feed livestock
  • A gas powered generator
• Identify areas to relocate your assets (e.g., higher elevation), if needed.
  • Livestock and horses
  • Equipment
  • Feed, grain, hay
  • Agrochemicals ( pesticides, herbicides)
• Remove or secure any loose equipment or materials, such as lumber, fuel tanks.
• Prepare farm employees.
  • Inform them of the farm’s emergency plan; review it with them regularly.
  • Identify shelter-in-place or evacuation locations.
  • Establish a phone tree with contact information for all employees.

Farm Emergency Contact Form