This page contains the current working outline for the "Livestock and
Disasters" Independent Study Course.
GOALS
A.
To provide an overview of Emergency Management and how it applies to livestock
agriculture
Examples
will include:
·
The impact of animal
issues, including public and animal health and economics, that arise in local,
state and federal level disasters.
·
The role of local, state
and federal agencies in emergencies and disasters affecting livestock
agriculture, including natural disasters, Foreign Animal Diseases, and
agro-terrorism.
·
Examples of how sectors,
other than agriculture, restore and protect infrastructure, business and assets.
B.
To provide an educational tool that helps reduce the impact of disasters on
livestock and their owners
For
example, the course will illustrate:
·
The importance and
methods of returning operations back to normal as quickly as possible and to
minimize losses created by disasters on producers and animals.
·
The role of the producer
in reducing the impact of disasters to his/her operation.
·
The emergency plan
development process and exercises (team building).
AUDIENCE
All
levels, from individual farmers through federal agencies, that may be affected
or involved in disasters impacting the livestock industry. I.e., the U.S.
agricultural and emergency management communities.
OBJECTIVES
To
emphasize mitigation, preparedness, and self reliance.
To
educate using examples of common and realistic events, not uncommon or
unrealistic scenarios.
To
provide materials that are applicable to most types of
livestock and other commercial and large animal facilities, because it is
problem-based, not industry or species based.
To
help the reader identify:
·
the problem,
·
the needs that arise
out of the problem,
·
the tasks that
accomplish the needs, and
·
the resources available
to complete the task.
MATERIAL
CONTENT
Section
A: Introduction
-
The
importance of agriculture to the United States.
-
Definition
of emergencies and disasters.
-
The
vulnerability of livestock agriculture to disasters.
-
The
impact/costs of disasters for livestock producers, rural communities, and
their markets.
Section
B. The Planning Process
-
Principles
-
Benefits
-
Local
level
-
State
level
-
Federal
level
-
Mutual
Aid Agreements
Section
C. Common problems that arise from disasters, and how to mitigate, prepare and
respond to these
(Although
most types of disasters create similar and multiple problems, to avoid
duplication, each type of disaster and problem will only be introduced
once).
|
Chapter |
Example
of disaster
|
Problem
|
|
1
|
Strong
winds
|
Communication
failure
|
|
2
|
Blizzard
|
Utilities
and infrastructure failure
|
|
3
|
Fire
|
Threats
to public health and safety
|
|
4
|
Flood
|
Decision
to evacuate or protect animals on site
|
|
5
|
Landslide
|
Search,
rescue and identification of animals
|
|
6
|
Earthquake
|
Hazardous
chemical spill
|
|
7
|
Lagoon
spill
|
Adverse
impact on environment and wildlife
|
|
8
|
Intoxication
|
Carcass
disposal
|
|
9
|
Overturned
transporter
|
Euthanasia
|
|
10
|
Drought
|
Threat
to animal welfare
|
|
11
|
Disease
outbreak
|
Public
concern
|
Each
chapter will cover the following:
a.
Examples of how this type of disaster/problem affected others in the
past.
b.
A worksheet for the reader to determine if this could happen to him/her
and what needs would arise from this problem.
c.
Examples of Best Management Practices to mitigate the problem. Examples
will be given for each of the following levels:
i. on farm
ii. in
neighborhood
iii. in
community.
d.
A worksheet to create a task and resource list for the reader to mitigate
or effectively respond to the problem.
Section
D. Disaster Response
1. Efficient resource management
2. State’s roles
3. Federal roles
Section
E. What next?
1.
Summary of material covered and lessons learnt.
2.
Community-based disaster resistance.
3.
How to develop a local disaster plan.
4.
Additional sources of information.
TEST
Successful
completion of this test will qualify the reader for Continuing Education credit
with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
A
supplement is being considered for Extension Educators. This supplement will use
this course as a basis for credit-eligible Table Top Exercises in their
community.
REVIEWERS
NEEDED
If
you would like to be a reviewer of this course please email to heath@animaldisasters.com.
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