Swine Producer Guide to Hurricane Preparedness: Key Steps for Long-Term Maintenance and Short-Term Preparedness

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Long-Term Operation Maintenance

  1. System Checks and Annual Reviews
  • Annual Emergency Planning: Review and update your Farm Emergency Plan. Ensure all employees are familiar with their roles and responsibilities. Update emergency contacts and verify vendor agreements.
  • Employee Training: Annually train employees on hurricane preparation and recovery tasks. Ensure everyone knows their responsibilities.
  1. Record-keeping and Insurance
  • Insurance Review: Update your insurance coverage to include adequate protection for all assets. Review policies annually.
  • Documentation: Maintain detailed records of all equipment, livestock, and supplies with photos or videos to support insurance claims.
  1. Infrastructure Maintenance
  • Buildings and Facilities: Regularly inspect for structural integrity and perform necessary repairs, especially to roofing and electrical systems.
  • Drainage: Clear culverts and ditches to prevent obstruction. Maintenance drainage gates if you have them.
  • Tree: Prune trees to reduce risks to buildings and power lines. Clear any dead or leaning trees that could potentially block access to the farm.
  • Generators: Perform regular maintenance on backup generators and test generators weekly under normal energy load. Have spare belts and filters on hand.
  • Waste Lagoons: Inspect waste lagoons weekly for any structural damage. Maintain vegetation on top of the dike and base of Lagoons. Keep lagoons pumped as low as possible going into hurricane season.
  1. Emergency Supplies
  • Medical and Food Supplies: Keep a two-week supply of emergency medical supplies, drinking water, and non-perishable food.

Short-Term Preparedness: 1–7 Days Before a Hurricane

  1. Employee Safety and Communication
  • Evacuation Plans: Determine which employees will stay or evacuate and establish check-in schedules post-hurricane.
  • Communication: If growing for an integrator, communicate with your service person. I have a communication plan for employees.
  1. Food, Water, and Cash Reserves
  • Supplies: Confirm a two-week supply of food and water. Secure cash for post-hurricane purchases as electronic transactions may be unavailable.
  • Feed Storage: Work with your feed supplier or integrator to maximize feed reserves on the farm.
  1. Equipment and Infrastructure Preparation
  • Protect Equipment: Move non-essential equipment to secure locations. Ensure all essential equipment is fully fueled and operational.
  • Generators: Confirm backup generators are functional and have enough fuel to operate for at least two weeks. Check alarms and power outage fail-safes.
  • Secure Buildings: Protect windows and doors and ensure all loose items are secured and batten down.
  1. Waste Management
  • Waste lagoons: Pump waste lagoons as low as possible while remaining in compliance with your nutrient management plan. Facilities with the 2019 State General Permits, 2022 NPDES General Permits, and 2022 Digester General Permits must cease all waste applications within 12 hours of the first issuance of a Tropical Storm Warning or Flood Watch. Facilities with Individual Permits must cease all waste applications within 4 hours of the same warnings.

By following these guidelines, swine producers can enhance their farm’s resilience and ensure safety during hurricane season. For more detailed information and resources, consult the local Extension office or refer to the Swine Producers Guide to Hurricane Preparedness. Stay safe and prepared!

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