Farm animals are often the most vulnerable and least protected in disaster situations, requiring specific emergency planning and response protocols.
Farm animal welfare in disasters is a neglected area of emergency management. When floods, fires, or storms strike intensive livestock facilities, the welfare consequences can be catastrophic — thousands of animals in buildings without egress, or confined animals abandoned when farmers must evacuate. Power failures in ventilation-dependent poultry houses can cause mass mortality within hours. The scale of potential harm in these situations requires both farmer preparedness including evacuation planning, and emergency response systems that include livestock rescue capacity. Climate change is increasing the frequency of these events, making disaster preparedness a growing welfare priority.