Storm Season Preparation

What should a farm storm plan include?

Write the plan down and share it with everyone who helps. Include who does what, where animals will go, how you will get water and feed, how you will communicate and when you would leave. A plan in your head fails when you are tired and stressed.

Know which hazards fit your region, whether hurricanes, tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, flooding or ice. The National Weather Service explains local alerts, and Ready.gov and your county emergency management office offer planning templates.

Review the plan each year and after any real event, adjusting what did not work.

• Assign jobs to each person
• List contact numbers on paper
• Decide shelter and evacuation triggers
• Review the plan every season

How do I prepare the property?

Walk the property before storm season. Remove dead or hanging limbs near buildings and fence lines, secure or store loose items such as feeders, gates and equipment, and clear gutters and drainage ditches. Look at roofs, doors and latches on all outbuildings.

Tree work near buildings or power lines is dangerous, so hire a qualified arborist where the risk is high. Never go near downed power lines, and report them to the utility.

Check fuel, batteries and chargers for the equipment you would need in a storm, and keep chainsaw work for trained people with proper protective gear.

• Remove hazard limbs near buildings
• Secure feeders, gates and loose equipment
• Clear gutters and drainage

What do my animals need before a storm?

Decide in advance whether animals will shelter in place or move, and prepare for both. Sturdy shelters, safe high ground, sound fencing and secure gates matter, and so does identification. Ask your veterinarian and extension office about identification methods suited to your species.

Keep several days of feed and water on hand, stored dry and protected. If you may need to move animals, have trailers, halters and carriers ready and practice loading ahead of time, since stressed animals load poorly.

• Identify animals in a way that lasts
• Store feed and water above flood level
• Keep halters, carriers and trailers ready
• Know a destination that accepts your species

How do I handle water and power?

Power often fails first. Plan for animal water without electric pumps, with stored water in clean containers and a safe way to haul more. Wells, pumps and generators need care, and generator use calls for strict safety, including never running one indoors or in enclosed spaces because of carbon monoxide.

Keep flashlights, headlamps and spare batteries in an easy place, and have a charged phone and a battery radio. Electrical equipment that gets wet should be checked by a qualified electrician before use.

Test your backup plan before storm season. Run the generator under safe conditions, practice hauling water and confirm that emergency lights work.

• Keep stored water for animals
• Keep flashlights and batteries ready
• Follow generator safety rules

What supplies should I keep on hand?

Build a kit for people and animals: drinking water, non-perishable food, first aid supplies, medications as prescribed, copies of records, tools, tarps, rope, gloves and sturdy boots. Ask your veterinarian what an animal first aid kit should contain.

Keep copies of insurance papers, animal records and important phone numbers in a waterproof container. Photograph property and animals for your records.

Rotate stored food, water and batteries each year so nothing expires, and refresh animal medications only through your veterinarian.

What should I do during the storm?

Protect people first. Follow official alerts and shelter in the safest place available. Do not go out to check animals or property during dangerous conditions, because no animal or building is worth your life.

Stay informed through a battery radio or weather alerts, and keep family and neighbors in contact. If told to evacuate, go early and take your plan with you.

Check on neighbors if conditions are safe afterward. A shared plan with a nearby farm can double your reach in an emergency.

• Wait for the all clear
• Check fences before releasing animals
• Photograph damage before cleanup

How do I recover safely afterward?

Wait until it is safe, then walk the property carefully. Watch for downed lines, unstable trees, broken glass, nails and flooded areas. Check fences and gates before releasing animals, and examine animals for injuries, calling your veterinarian if needed.

Document damage with photographs before cleanup. Ask your county emergency management office, insurance agent and USDA Farm Service Agency about available help and deadlines. Chainsaw work and structural repairs are dangerous, so use trained help.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Homestead & Small Farm Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.