Get your animal plan ready before storms and floods hit

18 March 2021

Hawkesbury City Council is joining with the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) in urging residents to plan for their animals ahead of storms and floods.

“We’ve seen plenty of storms lately,” the Mayor of Hawkesbury, Councillor Patrick Conolly said, “and with storm season still upon us, our residents are being urged by the NSW State Emergency Service to not only plan for themselves, but their animals as well.”

“It means making sure you have secure fencing to prevent animals escaping during storms, making plans to keep small animals inside during a storm, and planning how to transport your animals, including crates and enclosures for your pets, and where to take them.

“In the face of potential flooding, owners will need to prioritise moving their livestock to higher ground and away from flood prone areas, so you need to identify and plan where you will take them,” he said.

“This is especially the case for residents in the Hawkesbury. We have already experienced a good deal of rain, so there is a higher likelihood of flooding if we continue to get more rain.

“This means we need all local animal owners to have a plan in place,” Mayor Conolly said.

There are the numerous resources available via www.getreadyanimals.nsw.gov.au to help you make a plan now.

NSW SES Chief Superintendent Greg Swindells said the NSW SES has specially trained volunteers in large animal rescue.

“Recently in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley, we have been called to assist with cows stuck in mud, sheep trapped by floodwaters, and even horses that have fallen into septic tanks,” Mr Swindells said.

“While we will always respond when and where we can, it is important that the owners of large animals do their best to keep them safe.

“This is especially the case with septic tanks. Horses are very heavy animals and while it doesn’t take a lot for them to fall in, it takes a lot to get them out safely.

“If you have a horse and they can walk across a septic tank, please put measures in place to protect them. This can go a long way to avoiding a very stressful situation for the animal and yourself,” he said.

In the event you need assistance for your animals, please call Triple Zero (000) and the nearest emergency services agency will respond.

For more information on how to best plan for your animals, visit www.getreadyanimals.nsw.gov.au and for more information about preparing for floods in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley, visit www.ses.nsw.gov.au For videos and images of Large Animal Rescues and training, visit www.dropbox.com/sh/y15gssfxad4gp3e/AABXUJryQvaaaaeUFwNQ1SRDa?dl=0