Lean Environmental Solutions

Guide · Georgia

Earthquake

An earthquake can bring down barns and send rock onto pastures.

Who and when

Not researched yet.

Getting worse or not: not researched yet.

Right now

Right now (autumn 2026)

No earthquake that damaged farms was found in 2025 or 2026.

Before

Before: get ready

Buildings and water

  1. Keep clear space round buildings (general practice, check locally).
  2. Strap water tanks so they can't fall (general practice, check locally).
  3. When you build or repair a barn, use a light roof and bracing (general practice, check locally).

Animals

  1. Rockfall is a danger on pastures. Know which slopes above your pens and pastures drop stones.

Money: state agro-insurance does not cover earthquake. Plant the Future closed on 1 Jul 2026; the State Agro Co-financing Programme now pays up to 50% of a farm project, which could include a stronger barn.

During

During: when it hits

  1. Get out of barns and old stone or mud-brick buildings.
  2. Stay clear of slopes, because of rockfall.
  3. Call 112 if anyone is hurt or trapped.
After

After: recover

First days

  • Expect aftershocks. Follow official warnings (general practice, check locally).
  • Check whether anything fell on your animals.
  • Check that water is not dirty, and test well water (general practice, check locally).
  • Get pumps and irrigation checked before you switch them on again (general practice, check locally).
  • Tell your family and workers about new dangers, like cracked walls (general practice, check locally).
  • Animals without a barn are out in the cold. Feed and vet care come first.
  • Take photos with date, time and place of every damaged building and animal.

First weeks

  • Don't sell injured animals in a panic for a fraction of their value if a vet can treat them (lesson from Türkiye 2023).
  • After the 2023 Türkiye earthquake, farmers needed feed, vet care, vaccines and cash for 1 to 3 months. Plan for those.
  • Dead animals: never sell or eat meat from an animal that died of an unknown cause. Ask the National Food Agency what to do with the body.

Money and help

  • Write down every call (date, name) and follow up in writing. A local commission assesses damage; your photos make your case.
  • Earthquake is not covered by agro-insurance. No recent case or help scheme was found.
Build back better

Build back better

  • Rebuild barns with light roofs and bracing (general practice, check locally).
  • Strap water tanks (general practice, check locally).
  • Keep clear space round buildings (general practice, check locally).

What the farm check looks for

Old stone or mud-brick barns with heavy roofs; pens below rocky slopes; loose water tanks.

Get a free farm check

Sources