Evacuating with Livestock: A Disaster Manager’s Guide to Large Animal Safety

By Joy Ollinger, ASPCA Senior Manager, Disaster Response, National Field & Disaster Response (NFDR)

When disaster strikes, evacuation orders do not just affect households with dogs and cats. For farmers, ranchers, and large animal owners, a wildfire or flood presents a massive logistical challenge. Moving thousands of pounds of livestock under extreme stress requires preparation, speed, and clear thinking.

As a disaster manager with the ASPCA, I have seen first hand how quickly situations deteriorate when animal owners wait too long to move. When it comes to large animals, the golden rule of emergency management is simple: leave early.

The Reality of Large Animal Evacuations

You cannot load a herd of cattle or a stable of horses into the back of a family SUV at a moment’s notice. Large animals absorb human anxiety, making them difficult to handle during stressful events. If you wait until smoke is visible or floodwaters reach your driveway, the window for a safe evacuation has already closed.

Road closures, gridlock, and shifting weather patterns mean your transit time will double or triple. Moving large animals requires heavy equipment, specialized trailers, and clear destination routes.

Phase 1: Pre-Disaster Infrastructure

Preparation happens months before an emergency occurs. Setting up your property and network now will save lives later.

• Establish Evacuation Sites: Microchip your animals. Make sure the microchips are registered with correct contact information. Secure agreements with fairgrounds, racetracks, or safe farms at least 50 miles away.

• Map Alternative Routes: Fires and floods block main highways. Map out at least three driving routes out of your area.

• Audit Transport Equipment: Maintain trailers regularly. Check tires, floorboards, and hitch connections every spring and fall.

• Practice Loading: Do not let an emergency be the first time an animal sees a trailer. Train horses and livestock to load smoothly under normal conditions. Practice helps you and your animals feel more comfortable when disaster strikes. 

Phase 2: The Emergency Evacuation Kit

Just like a personal "go bag," your livestock needs dedicated emergency supplies. Keep these packed in or near your trailer.

• Identification: Waterproof luggage tags braided into tails or manes. Use livestock markers to write your phone number directly on the animal’s flank.

• Documentation: Proof of ownership, brand registrations, vaccination records, and recent Coggins tests stored in a waterproof bag.

• Handling Gear: Extra cotton lead ropes, leather halters (synthetic can melt), handling gloves and flashlights.

• Basic Medical Supplies: Bandages, antiseptics, wire cutters, and a multi-tool.

• Rations: At least a three day supply of their specific feed and visual instructions for temporary caretakers. Bowls and buckets for feeding and watering.

Phase 3: Making the Hard Call

If an evacuation order is issued for your area, or if you feel conditions worsening, execute your plan immediately.

1. Hook Up Early: Connect your truck and trailer before you even begin staging animals.

2. Load Calmly: Work in teams, if possible. Use standard handling techniques, rushing can cause animals to panic.

3. Ship Out: Move out toward your designated safe zone. Do not stop for non essential items.

What If You Must Leave Animals Behind?

If you are caught off guard and evacuation is physically impossible, never tie up or confine large animals in a barn.

• Free the Herd: Open interior gates and pasture fences to give them room to escape fire or water.

• Close Barn Doors: Lock empty barn structures so panicked animals cannot run back inside a burning or collapsing building.

• Provide Resources: Leave access to large open areas with high ground and non-automated water sources, if available.

The Takeaway

Large animal disaster management relies entirely on proactive execution. By building your network, prepping your gear, and choosing to leave ahead of the crowd, you protect your beloved animals and give emergency responders the room they need to do their jobs.

Joy Ollinger has dedicated over two decades to animal rescue, emergency response, and disaster preparedness. She currently serves as a Disaster Response Manager with the ASPCA’s National Field Response team, where she deploys for natural disasters and large-scale animal cruelty cases across the country. In addition to emergency fieldwork, Joy helps communities strengthen their disaster preparedness and build more resilient emergency management systems that include domestic animals.