The Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN)

What is EDEN ? Why are we here? Dave Filson Emergency Preparedness and Response Coordinator Penn State Cooperative Extension EDEN Chair Elect

Land-Grant System

Cooperative Extension Service What is Extension ? Federally affiliated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Affiliated with Land- and Sea-Grant colleges and universities in every state Serves every county in the country Takes university research to the people through informal education Runs the 4-H Clubs, the Master Gardner Program, and many more

Cooperative Extension Roles Agricultural & Food Biosecurity Agricultural Systems Animals & Animal Products Biotechnology & Genomics Economics & Commerce Education Families, Youth & Communities Food, Nutrition & Health International Natural Resources & Environment Pest Management Plants & Plant Products Technology & Engineering

www.eden.lsu.edu

Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) The Beginning Formed in 1994 following the North Central floods when Extension educators recognized a need for a network that could share education resources.

What is EDEN? A collaborative multi-state effort by Land-Grant institutions across the country to share education resources to reduce the impact of natural and man-made disasters through: Interdisciplinary and multi-state research and education programs addressing disaster mitigation, preparation, response and recovery; Linkages with federal state and local agencies and organizations; Anticipation of future disaster education needs and actions; Timely and prompt communications and delivery of information that meets audience needs; Credible and reliable information

Land-Grant System

Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN)

The EDEN Web Site Disaster topics Expert contacts Land Grants Disaster links Provides resources on various disaster topics that include natural, man-made, and terrorist-related, and cover valuable information on mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Provides expert contacts throughout the Extension System Provides a portal to Land Grant Universities nationwide, along with access to hundreds of disaster resources. Links to governmental and non-governmental disaster resources. EDEN shares ideas for involvement in disaster and emergency management (such as SART). The network shares guidelines and what others are doing across state lines.

More Than Just a Web Site When disaster strikes Recovery depends on developed and working partnerships. We help you build partnerships…just like the ones you are developing at this EDEN sponsored program.

Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) Established Partnerships DHS FEMA VOAD State Departments of Agriculture State Departments of Health State and Local Emergency Management

Working Relationships Partner with: NPDN & NAHLN Dedicated to: CARTS & SARTS Work within the: CEMP We currently partner with NPDN and NAHLN. We work to make CARTS AND SARTS stronger or develop new ones where they are needed and don’t exist. Work within the CEMP.

EDEN at Work When the U.S. responded to the 2005 hurricanes of Katrina and Rita, Extension was instantly active. A multitude of county Extension offices were out of commission due to destroyed facilities and/or mandatory evacuation. Functioning offices to the north began providing the affected areas with educational resources they needed to aid in response and recovery. In addition, states that were taking in refugees of the affected states were handing them packets of information specific to their home state, that were intended to help them as they begin the recovery process and return home.

EDEN at Work A National Example: Hurricanes Katrina & Rita When the U.S. responded to the 2005 hurricanes of Katrina and Rita, Extension was instantly active. A multitude of county Extension offices were out of commission due to destroyed facilities and/or mandatory evacuation. Functioning offices to the north began providing the affected areas with educational resources they needed to aid in response and recovery. In addition, states that were taking in refugees of the affected states were handing them packets of information specific to their home state, that were intended to help them as they begin the recovery process and return home.

Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) A National Example BSE- Mad Cow (December 2003) Within 24 hours of the confirmed BSE case, EDEN had developed and posted a Web page with up-to-date information, in addition to resources from EDEN member states and USDA agencies.

Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) A State Example North Dakota - EDEN POC: Becky Koch (NDSU) Flood of April 2006 Photo Credit: Associated Press

Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) A State Example Indiana - EDEN POC: Steve Cain (Purdue) Flooding of 2008 Tornadoes of November 2005 Photo Credit: Lora Douglas, Flatrock, IN

Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) A State Example Pennsylvania - EDEN POC: Dave Filson (PSU) Severe Storms and Flooding resulted in 1/3 of the counties declared Federal disaster areas (June 2006)

Online Curriculums Objectives: Train-the-Trainer Designed to teach educators/agents on pertinent topics Provides tools needed to teach the intended audience Our primary audience has been educators/agents. We provide materials and training so you can work locally. Over time, on the Web, general audiences have used our materials.

Why We Are Involved Urgent Drinking water security 78% Food security 64% Individual’s role 57% Government’s role 55% Animal biosecurity 50% Personal security 48% Farm security 45% Financial security 42% Plant/crop biosecurity 37% EDEN conducted a survey in 2002 of Extension educators across the country. As they related to terrorism, the educators were asked to rank various educational issues in terms of urgency. We took their responses very seriously; and this has been our guide as we’ve developed, collected, and made available valuable disaster educational resources that have addressed each one of these topics. Since then, many Extension professionals have stated that the disaster education resources that are available, especially during a disaster, are like having a full time person on staff gathering the needed materials. We intend to survey the educators again sometime this year to see where they stand today with these and other issues.

Why We Are Involved A farmer would turn to Extension: 1st Choice (79%) – Plant 2nd Choice (54%) – Animal Based on a survey of ag and hort producers across the U.S. during 2002, it was discovered that if a farmer discovered something suspicious in his crops, the Extension agent was the number one choice of who to turn to for information. With an animal issue, Extension was #2 behind the local vet. We’ve had a focus on plant biosecurity, because that is an identified strength of Extension. As we received more funding, we’ve developed educational courses and materials on Food Defense, NRP, business planning for disaster, Pandemic and others.

Rationale The results illustrated the need for creating two courses: Plant Course Designed for Extension advisors, agents, and specialists who understand the urgency of plant protection and will have the opportunity to teach plant biosecurity management to those involved in the U.S. agricultural sector. Participants of this online course are tested after each module and provided a certificate of completion when finished. Animal Course An online course designed to educate Extension personnel, first responders, agribusiness managers, farmers, etc. about animal agrosecurity and emergency management. Supplemental materials enable Extension educators to teach these principles in the field to animal industry stakeholders and emergency responders.

Expanding National Access EDEN Pioneer Community of Practice Focus: Floods & Agrosecurity In October 2005, EDEN was selected as one of eight eXtension Pioneering Communities of Practice. eXtension (pronounced "ee-Extension") is the national effort of land-grant universities to develop a new way for clients to access Extension information through one Web site, referred to as a portal. The goal for the eXtension Web portal will be to provide access to the best of the best Extension educational resources while still maintaining local Extension identification. See http://intranet.extension.org/about to learn more about the eXtension initiative. To develop content for its Web site, eXtension called for proposals in June 2005 from Extension professionals working in many subject areas called Communities of Practice. These communities were not necessarily defined by university departments or scientific disciplines but by categories of information, more in the way clients might view Extension content. Over 180 authors responded to the call for proposals. After extensive review, eight of these proposals -- including one from EDEN -- were selected to become the first, or Pioneering, Communities of Practice. EDEN's initial eXtension work will focus on two areas: floods and agrosecurity. Resources will include fact sheets, FAQs (frequently asked questions), and an ask-the-expert system.

Other Curriculums OnGuard: Protecting America’s Food System USDA’s Roles in the National Response Plan Ready Business – Preparing a Disaster Business Plan ONGUARD: Designed to be taught at the local level by Extension educators and specialists, this course was created for the general public to help them better understand their role in food protection. NRP: a basic understanding of the National Response Plan and the National Incident Management System; and to define potential roles of Extension staff members in the National Response Plan and disasters. READY BUSINESS: Geared toward small and medium-sized businesses to help them understand the importance of a disaster plan, share ideas, and develop the beginning of a disaster plan for their business. 

Other Curriculums Pandemic Preparedness for Business Pandemic Influenza Preparedness for Faith-Based Organizations PAN FOR BUSINESSES: This course will help the participant examine the potential impact of a pandemic on their business, share ideas, and develop the beginning of a disaster plan for their business. The intended audience involves people interested in helping small and medium sized businesses survive a potential pandemic disaster. FBO: designed to enable congregations, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship to (1) protect the health of their staff and the communities in which they serve and (2) fulfill their mission during an influenza pandemic.

By the end of a conference, attendees will be able to describe the roles of Extension and other agencies/organizations in an animal agrosecurity event within their region. Conference attendees will be able to identify key roles and players in: Emergency and disaster management in an animal agrosecurity event Education during all phases of emergency and disaster management Partnership development within and across states Crisis communication related to an animal agrosecurity event State animal response team development Educational program and material development/delivery for an animal agrosecurity event

The FUTURE: DHS farm regulations SCAP Food Security Workshops ICS-NIMS for Extension Growing EDEN by program area There are 76 institutions, more than 200 people working on a myriad of projects. Just I will mention include: Working with DHS to make Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standard regulations plausible for farmers. Developing guidelines to use at the county level to Strengthening Community Agrosecurity planning We propose to have workshops similar to this only focusing on Food Security We will offer better ways for educators to obtain ICS and NIMS And, finally, I mention that we are growing by program area. This year, groups have started to form to share ideas by program area.

Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) State Points of Contact Get to know your state EDEN Contact www.eden.lsu.edu

David Filson Emergency Preparedness and Response Coordinator Penn State Cooperative Extension Emergency Preparedness and Response Coordinator 220 Special Services Building University Park, PA 16802 Phone: 814-863-6424 Email: DFilson@psu.edu