When disaster strikes, animal owners often face overwhelming challenges—not only protecting themselves and their families, but also caring for the livestock, horses, and pets who depend on them. From hurricanes and wildfires to floods and other emergencies, having trusted resources at hand can make all the difference.
To support animal caretakers during hurricane season and beyond, we’ve compiled a list of organizations, government programs, and educational institutions that provide disaster preparedness tools, emergency response information, and relief assistance. These resources are designed to help you safeguard your animals and recover more quickly in the aftermath of a disaster.
Government and Large Animal Organizations
- USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA):
- Offers various disaster assistance programs to help farmers and ranchers recover from losses due to natural disasters, including programs like Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), and Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP). https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/disaster-assistance-programs
- USDA National Agricultural Library (NAL):
- Features a page on Disaster Planning with Animals, including resources on Animal Care Emergency Programs and best practices in emergency management from organizations like the National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs (NASAAEP). https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/disaster-assistance-programs
- American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA):
- Provides comprehensive guidance on disaster preparedness for livestock owners, including details on evacuation planning, identification methods, and emergency kit contents. They also offer resources for veterinarians during emergencies. https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/emergency-care/large-animals-and-livestock-disasters
- USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS):
- Offers resources on protecting livestock during a disaster and information on emergency preparedness for various animal types. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal-emergencies/protecting-livestock-during-disaster
- Ready.gov:
- While not solely focused on large animals, Ready.gov provides general disaster preparedness tips that are applicable to all types of animals, including creating evacuation plans and emergency kits. https://www.ready.gov/pets
Non-profit Organizations
- HALTER Project:
- This organization is dedicated to helping individuals and communities prepare for emergencies and disasters, offering resources specifically for equine and livestock owners. They also provide information on Hurricane Animal Relief. https://www.halterproject.org/hurricane-animal-relief
- 4Hooves Large Animal Services:
- Offers emergency response services for large animal rescue, including technical rescue operations and supplies, and provides resources on their website. They also have a section with training resources and files related to large animal rescue. https://4hoovessmart.com/
- American Humane:
- Works in partnership with organizations like Zoetis to strengthen disaster preparedness and provide care for animals affected by emergencies. They offer training courses on animal emergency services and have a disaster response team. https://www.americanhumane.org/what-we-do/rescue-and-protect/disaster-response/
- ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals):
- Provides disaster relief efforts, including assisting with evacuation, transport, search and rescue, and sheltering of animals affected by disasters. They also have resources for wildfire safety and disaster preparedness. https://www.aspca.org/
- IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare):
- Focuses on disaster preparedness, response, and recovery for animals worldwide, including livestock. https://www.ifaw.org/programs/disaster-response
- FOUR PAWS:
- An international animal welfare organization that provides disaster relief for animals globally, including livestock, and offers resources and guides for preparedness. https://www.four-paws.org/campaigns-topics/topics/disaster-relief
Educational and Research Institutions
- University of Illinois:
- Has a page on Agricultural Emergencies with resources on large animal rescue and hurricane preparedness. https://guides.library.illinois.edu/agemergencies
- NC State University:
- Provides a comprehensive list of disaster planning resources for various animals, including companion animals and horses. https://cvm.ncsu.edu/outreach/resources/disaster-preparedness/disaster-prep/
- The Horse:
- Features an archive of disaster preparedness articles specifically tailored for horse owners. https://thehorse.com/topics/disaster-preparedness/
Whether you care for a few backyard animals or manage a large farm, planning ahead for emergencies is one of the most important steps you can take to protect them. The organizations listed here offer guidance, training, and assistance to help you stay prepared and resilient.
If you know fellow animal owners who may benefit from this information, please share this post with them. Together, we can ensure more animals—and the people who care for them—stay safe and supported when disaster strikes.