Role and Responsibilities of the Land Grant System
in
Building Community Strengths to Address Biohazards

EDEN: Supporting Extension Educators in Disaster

Steven Cain — EDEN Homeland Security Project Director, Purdue Extension

Co-Presenters:

• Mark Hansen — Chair, Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN); as well as Coordinator for Emergency Management Programs, Michigan State University Extension (MSUE); and Extension Specialist in Wildfire Prevention Programs
• Eric Hallman — Director of Cornell Agricultural Health & Safety, Cornell University; and Co-chair NY Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) Task Force
• Edwin Jones — Assistant Director, North Carolina State University
• Becky Koch — Information & Staff Development Specialist, Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
• Pat Skinner — Disaster Programs Coordinator, Extension Service, LSU AgCenter
• Joseph L. Wysocki — National Program Leader, Housing and Environment, USDA-CSREES/Families, 4-H and Nutrition

Since 1994, the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) has been a nationwide resource for county educators/agents. Through the network, Land Grant and Sea Grant professionals provide educational programming on natural and manmade disasters. EDEN’s role is to link various Extension professionals from across the United States so they can share resources to reduce the impact of disasters. EDEN received funds from the USDA in July 2002 to provide educational leadership in homeland security. Since the completion of an educational needs assessment project in the fall of 2002, the network has progressed considerably in two ways: 1) program and material identification and development and 2) educational program and material delivery. Both areas continually are enhanced and maintained as experts from a multitude of areas provide very worthy educational materials from their own resources. As this material identification across issues continues, one of EDEN’s primary projects is plant biosecurity.

The navigation structure of the online EDEN database is easy to use. As the general public is welcome to search for topics of interest, the Website is highly functional for Extension professionals in all areas and expertise. In addition, EDEN continually works at disseminating information out to the county-level, through the state point of contact (POC). In turn, the POC acts as an important informational link from the counties back to EDEN.

Community and Rural Development Institute (CaRDI), Cornell University

CaRDI, http://www.cardi.cornell.edu/, links the resources of Cornell to the needs of NYS communities. Through an applied research process, model testing and tool development, CaRDI emphasizes economic opportunity, environment and community, and community capacity.

Emergency Preparedness Resources for New York State — Website

Environmental Risk Analysis Program (ERAP) Web Development Team: Lois Levitan — Program Leader, Eric Strong — Web Programmer, Sara Miller — Student Intern

Development of this website is a project of the New York Extension Disaster Education Network (NY EDEN), an affiliate of the national US Department of Agriculture EDEN Network. The mission of NY EDEN is to build awareness, develop/maintain a network, and provide education in disaster preparedness, recovery, and mitigation. The primary purpose of this website is to enable staff, clients and colleagues of the Cornell Cooperative Extension system to rapidly access resources compiled or developed by NY EDEN. The website — http://emergencypreparedness.cce.cornell.edu — is being developed by the Cornell Environmental Risk Analysis Program (ERAP) web development team (Lois Levitan, Eric Strong, Sara Miller) and the NY EDEN web advisory group (Rod Howe, Paul Trader, Eric Hallman), with support from Smith-Lever funding for the project "Helping Communities Learn to Deal with Environmental Risks" and the Extension Service, USDA, special project 2002-41210-01442.

Oswego County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Annex for Emerging Infectious Disease in Non-human Populations

Roberta M. Harrison — Extension Educator, Dairy Science/Farmland Protection, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County, New York

The purpose of the Annex is to insure that the Oswego County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan is adequate to respond to the actual or threatened outbreak of disease in non-human populations. The Annex identifies the arrangements to protect people and the agricultural community through an efficient, coordinated response to such emergencies. The Annex applies to disease that may impact non-human populations in the agricultural community and applies to all county agencies and authorities that may be directed to respond to such an event and builds upon the procedures and structures already in place in the Oswego County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.

The plan was created with leadership provided by the Emergency Management Office of Oswego Co. with input from the NYS Emergency Management Office (SEMO), NYS Department of Health, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, Division of Animal Industries, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Oswego County Health Department and North Country Veterinary Services.

The Annex was created based on assumptions, some of which include:

• If a disease that impacts agriculture is recognized anywhere in the United States, the entire agricultural community in the United States may be at risk.
• Potential exists that the threat of disease can be a mechanism for terrorism
• Positive detection of a disease elsewhere in NYS will prompt Oswego Co. and the State to employ additional preparedness measures.
• Response efforts can include culling of livestock and potentially infected animals as well as culling of non-domesticated animals such as wildlife.
• Eradication will require proper sanitary and disposal procedures.

Risk reduction is based on public awareness, surveillance and planning. Activation of the plan occurs at three levels. Awareness is created through information provided to the public and agricultural community by the media (heightened awareness of world events), New York State (public information campaign), and Cornell Cooperative Extension (education opportunities).

• Level 1 is a readiness level in which Oswego County maintains a readiness posture by conducting normal day-to-day operations.
• Level 2 is initiated when an infectious disease is suspected within the county.
• Level 3 is initiated when confirmation of the disease is detected within the county through laboratory tests.

Response by the various agencies is based on existing capabilities:

1. County Emergency Management Office — provides framework and coordinates with SEMO
2. Cornell Cooperative Extension — coordinates with State officials, provides information on agricultural conditions
3. County Soil and Water Conservation District — assists with issues surrounding soil types, groundwater contamination, and erosion control relative to disposal
4. County Health Department — technical assistance regarding public health aspects of eradication procedures
5. County Planning Board — Identification of owners with land suitable for areas of disposal
6. NYS Department of Environmental Conservation — Surveillance of susceptible wild animal species and security patrols of forestry and wetlands
7. County Sheriff's Department — Security, law enforcement and traffic control
8. County Public Works — Traffic control, specialized heavy equipment, transport and hauling
9. County Office of Mental Health — Identify resources and provide crisis counseling that may include FarmNet.

Communicating Before, During and After a Disaster

Becky Koch — Information & Staff Development Specialist, Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University

Extension educators can play important communications roles related to disasters. They need to be proactive, provide information when people need it and keep information simple. As an information specialist in North Dakota State University Agriculture Communication and EDEN delegate, Becky Koch will share disaster communication ideas.

Home Moisture Education (Handout)

Becky Koch — Information & Staff Development Specialist, Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University

For nearly the last decade, the North Dakota State University Extension Service has educated the public about how they can prepare for flooding or wet homes, what can be salvaged and what they can do to repair the damage. Education also includes topics such as talking with children, coping with stress and food safety. NDSU has received two USDA Secretary's Honor Awards for this work.

Results of a National Study Assessing Extension's Disaster Education Programming Capabilities

Peter Marshall — West Virginia Extension Service

The scope and nature of disaster education programming in the future is likely to be impacted significantly by a number of recent developments including the emergence of homeland security concerns in the post-911 environment, and the emergence of public health and animal health concerns. Collectively these developments are causing State Extension Services throughout the nation to re-examine their roles and responsibilities in responding to potential disasters - particularly in the area of homeland security. During the fall of 2002, telephone interviews were conducted with representatives from 36 State Extension Services that have active disaster education programs to assess options and alternatives for program enhancement. This poster presentation will present the findings of this research, addressing such issues as organizational placement, program capabilities, resource development and delivery, training, protocols following a disaster event, and collaboration and coordination opportunities.

The findings of this study are relevant to all State Extension Services that are reexamining their capacity to respond to emerging threats related to homeland security, bio-security, food security, erratic weather patterns, and pandemic animal and human diseases. The scope and nature of potential disaster threats are such that they do not fit into a single program unit. All Extension clientele can be potentially impacted by a disaster event including the agricultural community, children and families, local governments, emergency responders, businesses and industry and their employees, etc. Thus the threat and potential impact of a disaster event should be a concern of all Extension program units making this poster presentation relevant to diverse audiences attending the conference.

Key Words: Disaster Education, Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN), and Emergency Management.