The dreadful weather in SA and Victoria are a warning to us to get prepared for a horrible summer.
- Have you prepared your go or stay bushfire plan and practised it with your horse and your paddock mates?
- Got together all your fire gear? Go to the ACTEA website at http://www.actea.asn.au/will-your-horse-stay-or-go/ for a guide to things you should be thinking about before it is a mad rush. The page also has links to the various FRS messaging services.
Please take this opportunity to review your personal Fire Plan and think carefully about the most appropriate actions for safeguarding you and your horse this season. If your paddock cannot be made bushfire proof then consider where you might move your horse for the period of high fire threat or in the event of a fire. It can all happen very quickly.
On 15 December ACTEA met with the Rural Fire Service and the management of EPIC to coordinate thinking about equestrian messaging over summer.
As in 2013, FRS messaging through its various media will include advice to horse owners on Extreme days. These messages will also include advice about when EPIC will be open as a horse evacuation centre. EPIC is NOT a free evacuation centre unless it is formally declared by the government. If you take your horse to EPIC when it has not been declared an evacuation site you will be treated in the same manner as all travelling and short term users and you will have to pay the standard rate for a stable.
If for some reason, EPIC is unable to cater for equestrians (such as Summernats!) the Emergency Services Agency has agreed that it will nominate an alternative evacuation facility and this will be advised on the ESA website and via its Facebook and Twitter pages.
