“Ag Related Water Emergencies” What can Extension do? Dr. Mike Martin Emergency Response and Preparedness Coordinator

All Emergencies Are Local  Local preparedness and response is critical and is the first and last resource utilized  Should the need exceed the capacity of the locality, then state assistance can be requested

Extension’s Role in VA  § Duties of Extension Division of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.  A. Personnel of the Extension Division of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University shall inform local governing bodies of the Commonwealth whenever agricultural conditions are present in such localities that would warrant the declaration of a disaster pursuant to Section 301 of Public Law , 42 U.S.C. §  B. Personnel of the Extension Division of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University shall provide farmers and local governing bodies with such assistance and information as is available concerning federal and state disaster relief programs.  (1978, c. 837, § ; 2008, c. 860.)860

Local Agent Role  Provide education to producers regarding ways to mitigate damage through best practices.  Crop recommendations, site selection and preparation, farm planning, marketing, financial management, livestock management, conservation programs

Local Agent Role  Contribute to weekly Crop/Weather reports published by National Ag Statistics Service (NASS)  te_Crop_Progress_and_Condition/index1. php te_Crop_Progress_and_Condition/index1. php

Local Agent Response  Agricultural Damage Assessment. Coordinate with Emergency Management and FSA and inform local government  Coordinate with local FSA on disaster declaration  Educate producers on programs available for assistance (FSA)  Educate producers on recovery methods

State Extension Roles  Provide Training to Extension Agents  Develop educational resources to share with producers

National Extension Resources  eXtension   Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN)  t/Pages/default.aspx t/Pages/default.aspx

State Roles  Serve on Virginia Emergency Support Team (VEST)  Part of Emergency Support Function #11 (Agriculture and Natural Resources)  Serve on the State Food and Ag Council (SFAC)and State Emergency Board (SEB)

What is VEST?  VEST is a part of the new structure of the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (as of July 1, 2015)  Agency staff train with agency partners from various Emergency Support Functions and rotate in 12 hour shifts during disasters to provide around the clock operations at the Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC)

Emergency Support Functions 1. Transportation 2. Communications 3. Public Works & Engineering 4. Firefighting 5. Emergency Management 6. Mass Care 7. Logistics Management & Resource Support 8. Public Health &Medical Services 9. Search and Rescue 10. Oil & Hazardous Materials Response 11. Agriculture and Natural Resources 12. Energy 13. Public Safety & Security 14. Recovery & Mitigation 15. External Affairs 16. Military Affairs 17. Volunteer & Donations Management

What does ESF #11 do?  It is led by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS)  Serves as the primary contact for localities when emergency assistance is needed from the state in regard to Agriculture  Will work with Logistics Management to secure emergency food and water if necessary

5 Primary Functions  Provision of Nutrition Assistance  Animal and Plant Disease & Pest Response  Safety and Security of the Commercial Food Supply  Protection of Natural, Cultural and Historic Resources  Safety of Household Pets

What is SFAC?  The State Food and Ag Council consists of USDA Agencies that meet to discuss utilization of federal programs for assisting agricultural and rural development concerns at the local level. Three primary partner agencies are NRCS, FSA, and RD. Extension is a member of the FAC.

What is the SEB?  The State Emergency Board Coordinates the emergency functions for FSA and serves as the reviewer for requests for Secretarial Disaster Designations submitted by County Emergency Boards and makes recommendations for declaration. Extension Serves on this Board.

Texas Response to Hurricane Ike  crVJtM crVJtM