Oregon Livestock Council (OLC) is a new statewide nonprofit working to provide organized and credentialed evacuation and sheltering assistance to equine and livestock owners during disasters. We advocate for the development of robust emergency strategies tailored to encompass both human safety and the welfare of horses and livestock. To achieve this, we provide evacuation aid to owners who need assistance, or who may be unable or lack the knowledge to do so safely. Particularly vulnerable community members, such as those with disabilities or limited resources, are at significant risk during disasters. We enable owners to evacuate without concern, knowing their animals are in safe hands, or to move animals to an emergency shelter for those capable of self-evacuation.
At the individual level, we emphasize the importance of creating emergency plans that include provisions for assembling essential supplies for, and the care and evacuation of, both humans and animals, having detailed records for accurate proof of ownership, and implementing effective animal identification. We host community preparedness fairs, present to groups, and disseminate informative PSAs and newsletter articles persuading animal owners to have a plan, have access to the resources to enact that plan, and know where to get necessary assistance and information. Our direct engagement facilitates discussions on evacuation and sheltering contingencies specific to their operations.
There is a NEW asset in Oregon’s equine and livestock preparedness toolbox! OLC has partnered with Relief Compass, a software company who originally developed a program to assist people affected by wildfires in southern California—creating connections with the services and assistance they needed for recovery. Utilizing a twist on their human application, we are piloting the very first Equine & Livestock Pre-Registration program! This app connects owners to the assistance and information they need in a disaster and you can pre-register in just minutes! Scan the QR code, enter your contact information, respond to a few demographic questions that help OLC determine the level or type of assistance that may be needed, and how many of each animal species is owned at the location. The information goes directly to our database, and rest assured, any personal information about you or your animals is absolutely not shared.
How does the program work after you pre-register? If an incident or disaster occurs in your area, we will send a message out to you, asking if you need assistance with transportation or sheltering of your animals. At that point, 2-way communication can happen with you about your specific needs. Pre-registration allows us to have a basic idea at the time of deployment of the number of each animal species and their locations, as well as the amount and type of resources needed to respond. We can also provide pertinent information around sheltering locations, road closures, best routes, and other information the EOC may provide us. Occasionally you may also be notified through the app about pertinent preparedness events or updates in your area.
We are establishing collaborative partnerships with emergency management, fire, law enforcement, rural officials, Red Cross, and other disaster response organizations statewide to ensure our efforts will complement the broader response strategy. Additionally, proactive engagement with the community and individual owners during blue skies enables us to gather crucial insights to address existing gaps in resources effectively.
While we are busy applying for grants and soliciting donations for evacuation and sheltering equipment, we are also actively recruiting volunteer members in several areas to be ready for next fire season. We have open positions on our board, on several committees, and in our Emergency Response Team leadership. We also seek local volunteers that will be trained and activated only in their local community. Call 541-321-6411 or email oregonlivestockcouncil@gmail.com to join us in making a difference for equine, livestock and their owners during disasters.
Oregon Livestock Council is a non-profit livestock response organization providing evacuation and sheltering for livestock owners in Oregon during disasters. We do not self deploy and are closely affiliated with EM, Law Enforcement, Posses, & Fire Depts.