Power Outages and Your Farm

Have a standby or backup power source.

• This is especially important if you have vital electrical equipment on your farm.
• If and when possible, buy equipment that has a battery powered backup system.

Protect electrical equipment.

• Install surge protectors and/or battery back-up systems for sensitive electronic equipment (e.g., computers).
• Prepare a list of equipment that will need to be turned off during an outage.

Develop a emergency preparedness plan.

• Have a list of emergency contact numbers.
• Have a plan on how to maintain operations on your farm should the power go out.

Have an emergency plan for water and feed resources for your livestock.

• Obtain emergency supplies of forage and grain.
• Identify emergency resources for water.
• Have a list of suppliers, truckers, and people that can help with the animals, especially if normal working conditions are disrupted.

Backup power.

• Use standby or backup power sources for emergency power.
• Only use generators in well-ventilated areas. Generators are a major cause of fatal carbon monoxide poisoning, which can cause loss of consciousness and death.
• The most common symptoms are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion.
• Use battery-operated light sources (flashlights or glow sticks). Do not use candles due to the risk of fire.

Equipment safety.

• Unplug or turn off all electrical equipment to prevent damage from electrical surges or spikes when power is eventually restored.

Ventilation for livestock.

• Do not close buildings tight to conserve heat, since animals could suffocate from lack of oxygen.
• Open vents to facilitate natural air flow. Clear any debris from all vents.
• Poultry facilities should be equipped with knock-out panels for emergency ventilation.
• In dairy facilities, open doors or turn cows outside.

Food for livestock.

• Mechanical feeders will be inoperable during a power failure.
• Have a plan in place for emergency feeding procedures.

Water for livestock.

• Provide all animals with plenty of water.
• Your water pump may be driven with a small gasoline-powered engine; otherwise, you will need to haul water.
• If you have an outside source of water, cattle can be turned out.
• Regardless of the source of water, be sure it remains clean and safe for animal consumption.
• As a last resort, dairy cattle can be fed their own milk if there is no water available.

Environmental conditions for livestock.

• If the power outage occurs during winter weather, back up heating measures will be needed.
• If the power outage occurs during hot weather, back up air conditioning or ventilation will be needed.
• Plan ahead to have the necessary equipment ready for these situations.