Florida Cattlemen Help After Disasters

Becky Mills
Contributing Editor

Good luck hiring somebody for a job like that. Think about running a chainsaw for four days straight in Florida's heat and humidity. Plus, there are critters that sting and bite. At night, after you've cleared a path in, there might be a bunk in an air-conditioned hunt camp. If not, it's an air mattress in a sweltering barn. Yet, hurricane after hurricane, a group of Florida cattlemen volunteer to help their fellow ranchers get back on their feet.

"They were such a blessing," said Abb Townsend. Crews came twice to help the third-generation auction barn owner. The first was in 2023 after Hurricane Idalia practically demolished the Madison sale barn. Then, after Hurricane Helene struck in September 2024, the group came again to clear downed trees and fix fence on the 300-acre pasture where he and his sister run their 120-cow herd.

"I'm 77 years old," said Townsend. "It would have taken me forever. The older generation is not able to do as much."

When his sale barn was hit, a crew cut and cleared the massive fallen oaks that blocked the driveway in front of the barn, while Townsend, his friends and neighbors tackled the back of the barn and pens with heavy equipment. Post Hurricane Helene, a crew cow-proofed his pasture, a necessity since the pasture is practically in spitting distance of Interstate 10.

PRIORITIZING CLEAN UP EFFORTS

For former Florida Cattlemen's Association (FCA) President Pat Durden, Townsend Livestock Market was a priority. "We need those markets to open as soon as they can. That's the first thing some of our people are going to need if they have to sell part of their cattle." To make it even more critical, Idalia hit the first of September, right at the start of Townsend's fall rush.

Fortunately, there were no cattle on hand, but between Townsend's own efforts and the boost from the relief group, he only missed one sale day. By the next Tuesday, his regular sale day, he was back in business.

Considering the catastrophic damage a hurricane brings, the one day that crews typically spend at each disaster site sounds like next to nothing. That's not the case with the Florida teams.

"We can't rebuild somebody's whole ranch, but we can get them started," said FCA Executive Vice President Jim Handley. "We can clear a road to their tractor barn and the first thing we know, there are tractors going everywhere to help their neighbors."

Don't discount the efficiency of the crews, either. Alex Johns, another past FCA President, typically heads a two-man chain saw crew, while another one or two crew members run skid steer loaders. Depending on how bad the damage is, one to three crews will work in an area.

Johns, director of agriculture for the Seminole Tribe of Florida, comes loaded. With the backing of the tribal council, he said, "Last time, we took two skid steers, all the skid steer attachments, our fuel, two gooseneck trailers, fencing and supplies. We had four guys to a truck and two trucks." After a pause, he corrected himself. "We actually had three trucks. We found out there's a big need for a mechanic when you're in an area like that. Our mobile mechanic has all the tools and welders. We've literally fixed 100-year-old water pipes, welded them back together, so people would have drinking water. We could make repairs to our skid steers in the field and not be down."

The tribe also furnishes Johns with a satellite phone and a Starlink type set up since communication is almost impossible in places -- but badly needed.

VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE HOPE

The volunteers also bring tribe-supplied food and water for themselves.

Besides clearing roads and rebuilding fences, the teams provide a much-needed morale boost. "Some of our older ranchers have spent their entire life building a place and in a few hours, it is devastated," said Durden. "They feel like everything they've worked for has been destroyed. Some of these people I knew growing up and I looked up to them as my hero cattlemen. To see them in that kind of position, just looking mentally defeated, it's tough. In turn, it's also the most rewarding because when we do show up and start helping, you wouldn't believe the gratitude they extend to us. There was no hope, and we gave them hope."

"We're just helping our cattle family out," said Johns. "They would help us."

After Hurricane Rita left him without power for three weeks, he said, "I know how tough it is to just survive."

"Everybody I know that's been on any of the crews, you couldn't have paid them to do it," Durden added. "They wouldn't take your money if you tried. They got far more from just knowing they did the right thing, helping somebody that needed help. It's the cowboy way."

TIPS FOR DISASTER RESPONSE

If you want to start a disaster response team in your state, or at least be prepared for a disaster, here are tips from Florida cattlemen:

-- Organize, organize, organize for a fast response.

The Florida disaster response teams started out in an informal way. Whether it was a wildfire, hurricane or tornado, Handley, would call a couple of ranchers and they'd take off to help their fellow cattlemen. As they learned from each disaster and grew in numbers, they got more organized. This past year they made steps to become an official part of the FCA Foundation.

"When people donate financially, we can run those funds through the foundation," said Durden. "If we run out of chain saws or fencing supplies, we don't have to wait for donations to come in. We can get ranchers the help they need right then and worry about gathering up more donations later to replace those funds."

One thing the group doesn't do is check a rancher's FCA membership status. "If they have a cow, we try to help them," said Handley. "We found a generator for a dairyman when his lagoon was about to overflow from flooding."

-- Make lists, lots of lists.

Preferably well before a disaster strikes, make a list of sources in each area of the state, along with their phone numbers and GPS addresses. Include local directors and/or presidents of cattlemen's groups, farm bureau leaders and the extension service, especially livestock specialists, as well as the state veterinarian. They'll help you identify cattle folks in need and how to get to them. Although Handley said it is unfortunate, those local sources are also necessary to help weed out bad actors who will try to take advantage of free labor and supplies.

While you're making lists, think outside the livestock box. People in construction, land clearing and trucking businesses often have needed equipment like skid steer loaders, flatbed trailers and portable generators they can lend or rent.

-- Delegate.

Name a logistics coordinator who can stay on the phone and knows where to send help. In Florida, that is usually Handley and/or Dusty Holley, FCA director of field services. This is especially important when multiple teams deploy, so they don't overlap or travel unnecessary miles when there is a closer team already in place.

Durden often acts as an on-site logistics person, staying on the phone to get crews and supplies where they're needed most.

-- Make even more lists.

Keep track of volunteers who are willing and able to deploy to disaster sites. "We've actually had to turn folks away," said Handley.

Identify locations that can be used as supply hubs. These include fairgrounds and livestock markets. Make sure to list their GPS addresses, too.

Find places to potentially house volunteers while they're working and write them down, once again with GPS addresses. The Florida folks' bunk in hunt camps, former sale barns and personal homes.

-- Get credit before you need it.

Have an account at big supply stores so you can get supplies and equipment quickly.

While helping at a disaster is a huge, tough job, Handley said it is worth it. "It is the right thing to do. We're not going to make them whole, but it gets them up and running."

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