Alberta (Rural Roots Canada) – From equipment fires and severe storms to power outages and severe injuries, emergency preparedness is just as important on the farm as seed, feed and fuel.

AgSafe Alberta’s Jody Wacowich says the best way to prepare for an emergency is to plan and then practice that plan.

“What would happen if we had a fire? Who’s doing what? Where are they going? Where is everybody safe? And how are we going to manage that?” asks Wacowich, referring to some of the questions farmers should be asking themselves as they build their plan.

“So just some of the basics is, you know, say you have a rainy day coming up here as you’re going through seeding and you need to sit down and catch up on a few things.”

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Wacowich says taking time to stop and think about what emergencies could happen will make a big difference if a disaster happens.

“It’s an opportunity to say, if we’ve got a piece of equipment on fire in a field, what are we going to do? Who’s going to do what? Just have that conversation as you’re going through the day.”

She says it’s also important to think about animals if there are livestock on the operation.

“We have forest fires, grass fires, all those things happening (during dry times). What’s your plan to evacuate people and animals if one of those is headed towards your farm?”

Wacowich says the more you plan, the better prepared you will be should the unthinkable occur.

For more emergency preparedness information and resources, go to agsafeab.ca.