Emergency Preparedness

Living safely with horses in Boulder County
means understanding and preparing for
emergencies and disasters

Whether it's a fire, flood or other disaster, the BCHA Emergency Preparedness Committee
in conjunction with Boulder County Mounted Search and Rescue have created the following.

This chronological list can be printed and kept with you.

PLAN

  • Create an equipment list
  • Trailers
  • Share your emergency evacuation plan
  • Sign up for free emergency alerts through the ODM emergency alert system (Boco Alert/everbridge).
  • Make a reciprocal plan with another farm or barn
  •  sign up for Horse Alert

PREPARE

  • Keep an index card on each horse in your trailer
  • Make sure trailer is cleaned out and ready to go
  • Stay up to date by checking the Boulder Office of Disaster Management (ODM)
  • Practice trailer loading in non-stressful situations
  • Complete fire mitigation around your house and barn/farm
  • Know your neighbors
  • ID tags for your horses
  • Monitor wildfires in your area on the Watch Duty app

WHEN YOU SEE SMOKE

  • Call 911 (you might be the first one to see it)
  • Pay attention to evacuation notices
  • Situational awareness: which way is the wind blowing?
  •  Don’t wait to evacuate. The best time to load up and leave may be when ‘pre-evacuation’ orders are released for your area.
  • If you feel uncomfortable, now is a good time to load up and go.
  • If you need help evacuating your animals call 303-441-4444. This is Boulder County Sherriff non-emergency dispatch. They have direct line to Animal Protection who will coordinate trailers and routes with Mounted Search and Rescue teams.

EVACUATE

  • Stay calm because you already have a good plan
  • If you need help evacuating your animals call 303-441-4444. This is Boulder County Sherriff non-emergency dispatch. They have direct line to Animal Protection who will coordinate trailers and routes with Mounted Search and Rescue teams.
  • Do NOT post to Facebook–this will clog crucial evacuation routes and create chaos with communication & planning.
  • If you have to leave without animals, let them out of the barn and close the doors. Cut fences at the corners.
  • Take horses to the farm you created reciprocal relationship with (above) or to the Boulder County Fairgrounds.

How to Help