Each year, increasing areas of the country get hit with natural disasters. That’s why it’s important to have a disaster plan. But how do you keep your livestock safe?

Some plans include shipping livestock to other facilities. But depending on the time you have before disaster strikes, that might not be possible. So, in case you can’t evacuate, plan ahead to create safe zones where both animals and people can shelter in place. Those might be green areas without much tree cover — like irrigated pastures or elevated meadows. Short of that, areas cleared of flammable materials could suffice.

This is when it pays to have an established veterinary-client relationship in case you need to immediately provide medical care for your animals. Be sure you have animal care supplies in place, too.