Floods, heatwaves, and storms cause mass livestock mortality and severe welfare harms. Emergency planning and infrastructure investment prevent the worst outcomes.
Extreme weather events kill livestock in large numbers through drowning, heat stroke, fire, and starvation following infrastructure collapse. The suffering involved before death — animals trapped in floodwater, burning in fires, or dying slowly of heat stroke — is immense. Pre-positioned emergency supplies, practiced evacuation routes, and resilient housing design reduce mortality. Including farm animals in national disaster management plans alongside companion animals and wildlife reduces the scale of welfare emergencies.