Farm and Ranch Health Threats After a Flood

Summary: Disaster recovery can be as dangerous as the disaster itself, especially if no disaster preparedness plan was implemented. This is especially true on farms and ranches where inherent farm hazards such as machinery and equipment, livestock, and agriculture chemicals are displaced and co-mingle, putting all emergency response personnel, farm workers and family members in danger. Floods can heighten the risk of health threats such as mold, tetanus bacteria, contaminated well water, heat illness and high stress. This presentation will highlight basic precautions to prevent possible diseases and injuries during and after flooding. 

Intended Audience: All individuals living/working on farms and ranches affected by flooding. 

Presenters: 

• Tara Haskins, DNP, MSN, RN, AHN-BC, Total Farmer Health Director, AgriSafe Network
• Rebecca S. McConnico, DVM, Professor, Louisiana Tech University
• Kevin Moore, PhD, MBA, ASP, Assistant Professor of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler
• Alexander Nguyen, DO, Occupational and Environmental Medicine Resident PGY-3 at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler