Advice from the booklet Planning for and Responding to Disasters in Canada, published by the Canadian Farm Business Management Council, may not be needed in full this week – after all, it is destined for farmers facing blizzards on a regular basis.
Yet some tips could be useful as the so-called beast from the east weather event hits Ireland:
Plan for power and heating failures. "Damage may occur to the electricity network and ESB Networks has a full emergency response in place to address any power outages," the network operator said on Monday. Canadian advice adds that "intensive farm industries, such as swine and poultry farms, may also suffer during these storms if their heating systems fail or fuel cannot be delivered to power generators". Alternative heating sources such as camp stoves can help and all workers on the farm should be familiar with using them. As illustrated by Storm Ophelia last year, dairy farms need a plan to access a generator and keep milking if electricity supply fails. As always, keep torches, portable radios and replacement batteries ready.Watch for fires. Use of temporary stoves or additional pull on poor electrical wiring increases the risk of fire. "Never use fuel in equipment that was not designed for that fuel," the Canadian booklet reads. Ventilation is even more important than usual if using additional stoves inside buildings. "If you need to heat a barn, use something with a safely contained heating element. Do not place it near hay or any other combustible material. Also, never leave a heater unattended in the presence of animals. Keep fire extinguishers nearby." Bear in mind that fire brigades may be slower to respond because of road conditions and water supplies may freeze. "Keep simple tools and other equipment easily accessible to fight a small fire." Having a fire blanket handy is a must.Prepare livestock. In addition to the obvious requirement for shelter and feed, Canadian advice is to "only keep livestock that have had sufficient time to acclimatise to the cold weather outdoors". Frozen drinkers can cause dehydration – animals will not cover their water needs from snow. Follow our links for more advice on preparedness for dairy, sheep and cattle farms.Watch your heart. "Cold weather itself, without any physical exertion, puts an extra strain on your heart," Canadian experts warn. Adopt a slow, deliberate pace if you need to shovel snow or move feed in freezing temperatures to let your body adapt to the conditions. Several layers of loose clothing are more efficient at keeping you warm than one thick layer. Read more
Severe snowfall predicted by Met Éireann