Some states across the nation are dealing with recent disasters while others are continuing recovery efforts from earlier disasters.
Cooperative Extension, based at Land-grant Universities (LGUs), serves as a vital conduit for resources and expertise related to preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation for many kinds of disasters. Currently, Extension teams across the nation are working to help farmers, families and communities recover from devastating storms as well as improve their preparedness for future incidents.
USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Director Dr. Jaye Hamby said the high level of trust Extension has earned over the past century of service is central to its effectiveness in disaster response.
“That trust and responsiveness has never been more evident as Extension professionals across the country work diligently to respond to wildfires, flooding, hurricane recovery and other natural disasters,” Hamby said. “During a disaster is no time to try to build that trust. Trust is the foundational asset that undergirds a prompt and effective response when disasters do arise.”
Extension efforts are bolstered by the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN). Supported by USDA NIFA, EDEN is a national collaborative effort by Extension across the country to improve the delivery of services to people affected by disasters.
EDEN’s origins are a direct result of the lessons learned by LGUs responding to the catastrophic Mississippi and Missouri river floods of 1993. Its central mission is to reduce the impact of disasters through research-based Extension education.
Dr. Ashley Mueller, USDA NIFA’s national program leader for EDEN, said it provides support to local Extension workers nationwide.
“EDEN is an important resource for Extension professionals as they build working relationships with their local and state emergency management networks, provide educational programs on disaster preparation and mitigation, take on appropriate roles during disasters, and collaborate in recovery efforts,” Mueller said.
Funded through USDA NIFA’s Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative, EDEN ensures that Extension can respond to local, state, regional and national education needs during a crisis.
“EDEN’s strength rests on the network of multidisciplinary Extension professionals across states and territories,” she said. “It allows Extension professionals to pool their technical and educational resources to more effectively respond in times of a disaster.”
EDEN’s website gives Extension professionals access to resources on disaster preparedness, recovery and mitigation to enhance their program efforts. Additionally, EDEN maintains a shared database of disaster-related resources that are available from member institutions. While designed for use by Extension agents and educators, anyone can access these resources.
Recent EDEN Successes
- EDEN directly supported outreach efforts in six states affected by Hurricane Helene. EDEN provided timely and relevant information and resources to Extension staff in those states.
- After the March bomb cyclone, Oklahoma Extension educators supported communities through information distribution, sharing emergency management notices, and helping staff and organize donation centers. EDEN members in Texas, Mississippi and Florida provided important support and resources to Oklahoma.
- Over the last several months, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension has provided a continuing response to wildfires across the state including specialists embedded in the Texas Division of Emergency Management Incident Management Team.
- Oregon State University EDEN’s preparedness and smoke resiliency publications were used in 50 states and territories as well as 67 countries.