Natural disasters including floods, wildfires, and hurricanes cause immense suffering and death to farm animals who have no means of self-rescue.
Farm animals in disasters suffer from drowning, burning, heat stress, and starvation when unable to escape confined facilities. The high density of modern farming means single disasters kill millions of individuals. Animals left in flooded facilities experience prolonged suffering before dying. Even surviving animals suffer post-disaster stress from disrupted social groups, unfamiliar environments, and loss of normal feeding routines. Emergency planning that prioritizes farm animal welfare is rare but essential.