BATON ROUGE--Emergency personnel within the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) continue to monitor and prepare for tropical weather in Louisiana.

“We are in continuous contact with the National Weather Service, other state agencies, local parishes and our partners as this storm system approaches. We’re monitoring for coastal and inland flooding so as you prepare your family, we stand ready to assist. We’ve also reached out to our stakeholders, such as the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association, to ensure our cattlemen and farmers can recover from this storm as quickly as possible,” said LDAF Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M.

Actions taken by LDAF:

• Delivered approximately 48,182 gallons of diesel fuel and 50,944 gallons of unleaded gasoline to shelters, parishes that have requested it, and transportation facilities to supply emergency response vehicles.
• Activated pet shelters in Alexandria and Bastrop. Alexandria pet shelter is housing 20 dogs, six cats, one turtle and one guinea pig.
• The Shreveport pet shelter is on standby.
• With the assistance of DOTD, 40 wire shelter/pet cages were delivered to Belle Chase.
• The transportation branch has 10 pet cargo vans and 12 pet transport trucks with two trucks staged at Zephyr field and prepared to conduct pet evacuation and transportation operations.
• LDAF is maintaining a 24/7 emergency hotline 1-855-452-5323 for partners to report emergency information.
• The livestock division reached out to cattlemen in coastal parishes in preparation to offer assistance to producers. Generally, the cattlemen will shelter in place or move cattle to higher ground. Currently, there have been no requests for assistance.
  
  

  ommissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain, D.V.M., is reminding both pet and livestock owners to prepare not only themselves but also their animals. “As you prepare to take care of your family, remember to plan ahead for the proper care of your pet or livestock during a storm,” Strain said.   Tips on how to prepare livestock for a hurricane or storm: Select a place on the property that is least likely to flood where livestock such as cattle and horses can quickly and easily be moved when a hurricane or other severe weather threatens the area. Some owners may choose to trailer their expensive or genetically superior breeding stock and bring the animals with them during an evacuation. “If this storm threatens Louisiana and you live in a low-lying area where flooding could be a possibility, it is imperative you make arrangements ahead of time and know where you are going with those animals,” Strain said. “You can’t show up at just any shelter with a trailer full of horses or cows.  Some shelters are not set up to accommodate animals, either pets or livestock,” added Strain.   It’s important for livestock owners who plan to evacuate with a trailer of animals to leave as early as possible. Strain said now is the time to make sure livestock trailers are in good working order and ready for an unexpected road trip. Check the tire pressure and the rubber for wear, test brake and running lights, and inspect the overall condition of the trailer.   Important items to take during an evacuation include: Proper identification for livestock Health records (especially proof of Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) testing for horses) Several days’ supply of feed Water for the evacuation route Special medications Bridles or leads Kennels or crates for smaller or domestic animals Exotic pets, such as snakes and lizards, should be contained at all times and owners need to bring extension cords for plugging in heat rocks and lamps.   Livestock owners who run into problems with their preparations can call their local Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) for a list of veterinarians or other assistance.   For more information on emergency preparation, visit www.LDAF.la.gov and click on the Emergency Programs icon on the right hand side of the page or go to www.petswelcome.com or www.getagameplan.org.