Preparing Your Farm For A Storm

There are farms that operate in all seasons, but that doesn’t mean all weather. Storms can do a number on your crops or animals if you aren’t prepared, and they can be incredibly dangerous for you as well. We here at Southern Trailer Works want to help keep you and yours safe, so we’ve put together some tips for preparing your farm for a storm. To learn more, or if you need to replace trailers or farm equipment damaged in a storm, contact our store in Schriever, Louisiana, today!

Secure Animals

Livestock and other animals are easily spooked by bad weather, and it can cause any number of problems for them. Flooding, airborne debris, and other exposure can be harmful, so make sure to secure all animals before the storm hits. 

If you’re evacuating them, make sure to do it as soon as possible rather than waiting until the storm is near. If you’re keeping them nearby or can’t evacuate some for any reason, get them to higher ground with solid shelter, even if that shelter is solid brush or large trees. Never leave them in a closed barn, since it can trap them in bad conditions.

Prepare Your Equipment

If a storm is near, make sure all your trucks, tractors, and other vehicles are fully fueled and ready to go at a moment’s notice. Avoid carrying full cans of fuel in the vehicles, since this can be a safety hazard in unstable conditions. Make sure any trailers you’ll be needing are ready to be hitched and that all tow vehicles are prepared to tow, and that you have extra hitches, hitch balls, and tarps and tie-downs.

You should also have refueling equipment ready, including:

• Fuel transfer tanks and pumps.
• Gas cans.

Prepare Your Property

Your property itself should be prepared for severe winds and flooding in any way possible. That can include everything from having a supply of fresh, clean water and food to having emergency boarding supplies to secure doors and windows.

Know Your Resources

There’s more to preparing for a storm than having the right supplies and setup, however. You should also know what emergency and information services are available to you and your area. Look up organizations in your region that can help rescue and house displaced livestock, for one. You should also check with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, since it may be placed in charge of helping animals during large natural disasters.

We hope this guide helps you tackle the next storm a bit more safely. We proudly serve the people of Thibodaux and New Orleans, Louisiana—let us serve you today!