Owners of livestock and horses can now learn how to protect their animals when disaster strikes, by taking a new independent study course offered through the Federal Emergency Management Agency training Web site.

"Livestock in Disaster," course code IS-111, addresses the ramifications of hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods, and provides tips on how to reduce risk to animals from disasters before they strike. It also discusses federal programs, including those at the Department of Agriculture, which can aid livestock owners affected by disasters. The self-paced course, which is free, takes an average of 12 to 14 hours to complete and doesn't have any prerequisites.

For more information, visit www.training.fema.gov/emiweb/ and click on "Independent Study" under the courses category. You can also obtain information by writing to FEMA's Independent Study Office, Emergency Management Institute, 16825 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727.