Disasters and emergencies will happen. It is not a question of if, but when.
The beginning of National Preparedness Month provides an excellent opportunity to consider the role Cooperative Extension plays in community disaster preparedness. Extension connects the Land-grant System with communities to provide research-based information and resources as well as planning support. USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) supports Extension through Smith-Lever capacity funding.
At the national level, the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) equips Extension professionals and emergency managers with the tools they need to prepare for hurricanes, floods, wildfires and other emergencies. NIFA also provides funding support to EDEN.
Through its network of local offices, Extension helps farmers, families and businesses prepare for emergencies through programs and resources tailored to the specific risks that a community may face. Extension professionals also provide guidance on creating emergency plans, strengthening community resilience, and protecting crops and livestock.
Recent Extension Program Highlights
- University of Nevada, Reno Extension’s Defensible Space Training Program addresses growing demand for fire safety. It was developed to equip landscape architects and contractors with the knowledge and tools necessary for creating fire-safe landscaping around residential and commercial buildings. This training not only protects lives and property but also reduces the financial burden of full-scale firefighting operations and costly medical treatments for fire-related injuries.
- University of Illinois Extension has facilitated county-based hazard mitigation planning at the local level since 2008, when exceptionally heavy rains pushed many Illinois rivers into flood stage. By proactively identifying and addressing risks, these plans can reduce loss of life, property damage, and disruption to essential services, ultimately enhancing the resilience of regions against future disasters.
- Oregon State University Extension is helping farmers and ranchers plan and prepare for wildfires through in-person workshops and an online course. These Extension efforts are boosting compliance with state regulations which require farmers and ranchers who have employees are required to document plans for fires and medical emergencies.
- University of Georgia Extension developed four geographically dispersed, specially trained teams to build local capacity for readiness, response and recovery to disasters and emergencies. The teams also help each Extension office develop a Continuity of Operations plan should an emergency occur and are available to deploy statewide to provide expertise to Extension offices and assist in the response and recovery to emergency events.
- University of Connecticut Extension is helping people facing housing insecurity prepare for severe weather. Through the Sheltering from the Storm program, Extension combined face to face interactions at food pantries, social service agencies and libraries with printed materials in both English and Spanish. The program provides resources to help the housing insecure plan how to deal with severe storms, allowing them to take more control and feel more secure when severe storms approach.
- Mississippi State University Extension developed the My Preparedness Initiative (MyPI) to reach young people, an often-overlooked audience, with preparedness education. My PI graduates developed new or enhanced emergency supply kits and communication plans for their families. Additionally, the community benefits from a new generation aware of risks and hazards and from a new generation's civic duty and leadership characteristics.