During a recent conversation with some of the fine folks with the Lorain County Emergency Management Agency, I got to discuss the county’s preparedness in the event of emergencies related to agriculture. There is never a bad time to ensure you have plans and procedures in place and that your family, friends, employees, or otherwise are all aware of these plans and procedures in the event of an incident.
At home, our emergency plans may be straightforward, but it is still good to make sure everyone knows what to do in the event of different types of emergencies. For example, where to go in the event of a severe storm or tornado, what your evacuation routes are in the event of a fire, does everyone know how to contact 911, and who needs to be contacted in addition to 911? Organizations like the American Red Cross and others provide tips on putting together emergency plans and what to consider when discussing these sorts of things with your family.
On the farm, you will likely need to include more detail than in an emergency plan for your home. Here are some tips on things to include in a farm emergency plan.
Farms are often complex systems with multiple buildings, points of access, and varying hazards. While you may know the ins and outs of your farm or where everything is located, it still is a good idea to map things out so that a family member, employee, or first responder can locate things more easily in an emergency. Having a map that shows access points like roads, lanes, and driveways can be helpful. The map should also include all the buildings on the farm showing where fences and gates are located, where livestock are housed, where hazardous substances are stored, and where utility shutoffs can be accessed. In addition to a map, a list of the full farm inventory would also be helpful in the event that things are lost or destroyed during an emergency. This includes machinery and equipment, species of livestock and a headcount, crop types and number of acres, and other items like fertilizer, medicines, and fuel.
As you are creating your action plan, make sure you come up with evacuation routes, for both people and animals. Include the best places to shelter in place for both people and animals. Consider compiling and posting an emergency contact list. While 911 may be the first call, think about who else might need to be included on that list, for example, your veterinarian, utility company, or neighbors.
While creating these resources, it is also a good idea to review your insurance coverage with your agent and determine what emergency supplies you have. You should have some of the basic tools and equipment needed to address some emergency situations, like fire extinguishers, generators, and emergency kits.
This process may be time-consuming, but your efforts will be well worth it. The end goal is not just to have a folder or binder that gets left on the shelf. Whether it’s with your family around the dinner table, or during an employee meeting, you should take the time periodically to go over your plans and procedures. There is a proverb that goes “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Hopefully, your time and effort spent on an emergency action plan prevents problems from occurring, but when they happen, you know you’ll be prepared. The Ohio State University Agricultural Safety and Health Program is one place to look for more information and resources related to farm safety. This is the link to their website: https://agsafety.osu.edu/.