Preparing Your Farm For Storms

Now matter how arid and hot it gets, storms are always a possibility—and when they hit, they hit hard. Severe storms can seriously damage crops and injure people, animals, and livestock, so it’s important to be prepared. We here at Desert Greens Equipment want to help you weather any weather, so we’ve put together some tips for preparing your form for storms. To learn more, or if you lost something in a storm and want to see the equipment we have for sale to replace it, contact our stores in Albuquerque and Belen, New Mexico, today!

Animals

Livestock and animals in general tend to get pretty spooked by nasty weather, and both that panic and the weather itself can be dangerous for them. Flooding, airborne debris, exposure, and stampeding can all take their toll, so be sure to secure them before the storm hits.

If you have to evacuate them, do it sooner rather than later. If you can’t or don’t want to evacuate them for any reason, move them to higher ground with solid shelter, even if that just means thick brush or trees on top of a hill. Never shut them into a barn, since they might get trapped and won’t be able to get out if the barn starts flooding.

Equipment

You’ll need to make sure that all of your trucks, tractors, and other vehicles are fueled up and ready to leave at a moment’s notice. That doesn’t mean you should carry a lot of fuel inside the vehicles, though, since that can be a safety hazard in the chaos of a storm. Any trailers you’ll need should be hitched up and all tow vehicles should be prepared to tow. You’ll also want extra hitches, hitch balls, and tarps and tie-downs. For refueling, you’ll want fuel transfer tanks and pumps and some empty gas cans on hand.

Property

Of course, we can’t forget your property itself. Try to prepare it for severe winds and flooding however possible. That can mean ensuring a supply of fresh, clean water and food, boarding up windows and doors, or any other emergency prep you think is necessary.

Emergency Resources

Keep in mind that there’s more to storm preparedness than the right supplies and gear. You’ll need to collect and memorize, if possible, anything you can about emergency and information services available to you and your area. For instance, you should look up organizations in your region that could assist with animal rescue and housing. Check with local and state government agencies that will be in charge of helping animals and affected citizens in case of natural disasters, as well.

We hope these tips help you and yours get through the next big storm in one piece! For more information, contact us at Desert Greens Equipment. We proudly serve the people of Albuquerque, Belen, Santa Fe, and Rio Ranchero, New Mexico—let us serve you today!