Horses, Cattle and Flooding in Texas

https://www.facebook.com/WendtRanches/videos/1507565609319481/

Wendt Ranches (https://www.facebook.com/WendtRanches) moving cattle to higher ground.
Video used with permission by Wendt Ranches (http://facebook.com/WendtRanches)

Horses getting pounded by Hurricane Harvey rains.
Photo used with permission by Wendt Ranches  (https://www.facebook.com/WendtRanches/)

Hurricane Harvey is a “one-two punch” and the “two” is RAIN and it’s the bigger problem. Harvey is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 15 to 30 inches and in some isolated areas, amounts of 40 inches over the middle and upper Texas coast through NEXT Wednesday.  Some reports coming out today said that some areas could get as much as 50″ of rain.  It is unimaginable to receive that much rain.
How can a storm have so much power to flood an area so large?
Rainfall of this magnitude will cause catastrophic and life threatening flooding.  Life threatening flooding for humans and animals.  Horses, cattle, other livestock and dogs are at risk of being separated from their families and homes during times of catastrophic flooding.  We know that we must get animals to higher ground, but that’s complicated when you are dealing with animals in large numbers and most of the land around you is flat and flooded.

As my grandmother used to say, “You do the best you can with what you have and pray that God supplies the rest”.  And that’s all you can do.

Horses have been rescued from flooding pastures and barns and others have escaped to higher ground due to downed fencing.

And there have been some horrific cases of animals being left behind, trapped in stalls/barns. Gordon Bozant (https://www.facebook.com/gordon.bozant) made an emotional facebook post and told about him and others being called out to rescue animals who were trapped inside stalls…

See his post (with photos)  here:

https://www.facebook.com/gordon.bozant/posts/1951733594840470
“Myself and some others were called upon by a concerned citizen off of Coe Loop and Klein Road concerning horses closed up in stalls with water up to their neck and cattle struggling in the high waters. When we arrived, a couple of people already had a boat and we were able to get back to the barn. We were able to get halters on 2 mares and a stallion.We had to swim them out for approximately a quarter of a mile. After being pretty traumatized & extremely tired, they were taken to our ranch for shelter. Many other farm animals are still there, left to fend for themselves and probably perish in the high waters. We, along with the help of many concerned people were able to save 3 horses, 1 cow & her calf, 2 additional calves and 1 chicken.  If you read this post and they are your animals, why didn’t you get in touch with somebody that could help you?? Instead, you chose to do nothing and let these defenseless animals to die a horrible death. And yes, the Sheriff’s Office has been notified of your negligence.” The post went on to thank those involved in the rescue efforts.

The 54 counties in the state’s disaster zone have at least 1.2 million beef cows.  There are a lot of fences down, a lot of cattle out and it will be a while before infrastructure can be rebuilt.  Beef prices in the stock market are already feeling the storm’s impact.  And this impact will be felt for a long time.  See video above of Wendt Ranches moving cattle to higher ground.

Cattle being moved at Wendt Ranches (http://facebook.com/WendtRanches)
Photos used with permission by Wendt Ranches

I continue to pray for the great State of Texas.  I pray for the rain to stop and the quick healing of her people, animals and lands.

Blessings to you!

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