Natural disasters, fires and flooding pose severe welfare risks to farm animals, and effective emergency response planning is essential to protect animals in crisis situations.
Farm animals in disasters are particularly vulnerable because they cannot self-evacuate and are often present in large numbers in confined spaces. Fires in intensive poultry or pig units can kill tens of thousands of animals in minutes. Flood events can leave livestock stranded without feed, water or shelter for days. Effective emergency planning that includes farm-specific evacuation procedures, staff training, and pre-arranged emergency transport can prevent enormous welfare suffering when disasters strike.