According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Irma is the strongest Atlantic basin hurricane ever recorded and she is bearing down on the Caribbean and U.S. mainland.

If that sentence does not prompt concern (scare the bejeezus out of you) consider these facts compiled by CNN;

  • Irma’s tropical form winds cover a 65,000 square miles – destructive storm force winds in an area the size of Florida.
  • The diameter of these winds is 300 miles, twice the width of the state of Florida.
  • As of this posting, Irma is a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 185 miles an hour.

 

She is big and scary and expected to hit the U.S. by the weekend. Floridians are not ones to dawdle when facing down a monster hurricane, they are in full emergency mode. For equestrians bivouacking north, there are facilities in Georgia ready to welcome you and your horses.

 

Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter

Starting Thursday morning GNFA is offering 350 stalls on a first come, first serve basis. No need to call ahead but have a back up plan should the facility reach capacity by the time you arrive.

There is on-site camping available for those sheltering a horse at the facility. Three bags of shavings per stall will be available at the time of move in, but owners will be responsible for feed, hay and tack to care for the animals. Local feed stores are available for those unable to bring necessary items. Evacuees are welcome until it is safe for you to return home.

“We hope that by offering these stalls to evacuees to house their animals, will help give them a sense of peace and security,” said Philip Gentry, the livestock and youth director at the Perry facility.

Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter
401 Larry Walker Pkwy. • Perry, Georgia • I-75 Exits 134 & 135

Georgia International Horse Park

Built for the 1996 Olympics, GIHP has become a regional mainstay for equestrian events in the South. While there are shows scheduled at the facility in coming weeks, there are stalls available for those evacuating Hurricane Irma. The GIHP is happy to offer help and asks that you call ahead for stabling 770-860-4190.

Georgia International Horse Park
1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers, GA 30013, Conyers, GA 30013

More Options

The Georgia Department of Agriculture’s website provides a list of licensed stables accepting evacuations (at the very bottom of the page).

Loading Horses

Be Safe, Be Careful and Don’t Wait.

Photography Courtesy: NOAA