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Counties, agriculture producers can help residents during a disaster Scott Cotton calls for teamwork Rural disasters often mobilize two self-described groups: “the red light team” from the ranks of fire, emergency medicine and law enforcement systems and “the Carhartt and cowboy hat army,” including agriculture producers and their children, friends, and relatives serving officially and unofficially as emergency responders. Both groups bring critical knowledge and skills; working together, they are achieving faster and better response to emergencies and disasters beyond the pavement. Contributing to the ef for t is the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN). Its Strengthening Community Agro-Security Preparedness (SCAP)
Historically, many agriculture producers were rural emergency responders, as evidenced by the number of fire trucks retired in farm and ranch fields.
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curriculum, introduced in 2002 by landgrant university extension programs, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has led to enhanced communication, coordination and training.
What if Wyoming counties could reduce initial response time to agriculture and
livestock events Emergency managers and ag producers working with SCAP to 47 minutes? facilitators have drafted or updated agriculture disaster and other plans in 311 counties nationwide. When emergencies, hazards, outbreaks or other incidents affect crops, liveUniversity of Wyoming Extension stock and infrastructure, agriculture programming connects Wyoming producers take action, often applying counties with EDEN e f for t s and emergency management principles, to disaster experts across the United protect their livelihood. States. Food supplies and local economies Why grow the role may be at risk. In Wyoming, agriculture of the Carhartts? is a top-three industry. Community County emergency managers operate emergency response teams for agriwithin the framework of the Incident culture throughout the country have Command System (ICS) and the helped mitigate disaster impacts to National Incident Management System keep the business of agriculture going. (NIMS) to face the challenges of preparing for and responding to Several counties in Nebraska reduced emergencies and disasters, as well as their livestock response times from an training and maintaining readiness for average of nine hours to 47 minutes all types of events. By law, emergency after county officials and agriculture and disaster response managers prior- producers developed a strong system. itize human safety. When large-scale The result has been an estimated 5,000 incidents occur, they direct resources head of cattle – worth around $12 to human safety before property million – saved. losses and damage. Page 1
AG & HORT Emergency managers who have implemented agriculture branches within their operations find they have resources who bring personal knowledge, alternative routes and the expertise and manpower to operate equipment, evacuate livestock and animals, deliver supplies and deal with ever y thing from ownership questions to disease awareness…all without reducing or redirecting the fire, medical and law enforcement resources needed for human safety.
Is it Time to Stack Hay?
This framework for authority, communication, insurance and training supports the effective integration of these new emergency response teams. The third step is to train, equip and maintain the new resource teams. Enhancing rural disaster response requires maintaining the readiness and fitness level of AgCERTs so they operate safely and efficiently. Volunteers and the jurisdiction must commit to train regularly, and volunteer AgCERT leaders must step forward.
Coordinating the strengths of emer- Put Your Expertise to Work gency managers and agriculture After Extension personnel assisted producers is like stacking hay – you one Colorado county through the have to do it because there is a need. EDEN agro-security preparedness program, the emergency manager The f ir s t s tep is for emergency quipped, “I wished I’d known sooner managers, authorities and producers that these folks have so much experto work together to identify risks, tise, resources and ability. Now I know resources and community capabilities. if I don’t have them cooperating, I’m From this they can identify vulner- liable to have them rolling right around abilities. Disaster and emergency me!” vulnerabilities are the risks that have not been addressed or reduced. For Agriculture producers can tap into example, in the path of a wildfire, their communities to recruit motivated large propane tanks for powering “Carhar t t and cowboy hat ” reinirrigation pumps could present a forcements and galvanize advocates for expanded disaster funding. The serious vulnerability. process takes commitment, but rural The second step is to develop a col- residents tend to commit strongly to laborative effort to mitigate or re- efforts they help develop. Another solve identified vulnerabilities. Under benefit? The gratification of forging the authority and guidance of the new working relationships. emergency manager, agriculture producers can typically participate as a If you want to address your county’s Community Emergency Response agriculture readiness, visit with your Team (CERT) or Agriculture Citizens county emergency manager, then Emergency Response Team (AgCERT). contact your local extension office.
RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER’S CALLINGS Contributing to a coordinated effort are emergency responders from backgrounds in emergency services and those who learned to pitch in with other farmers and ranchers. Rural deputy sherif fs, volunteer firefighters and other responders frequently belong to both groups. Here is what they bring: EMERGENCY RESPONSE MANAGERS • Authority over incident responses • Coordinated system • Human safety first • Resources and training available
AGRICULTURE PRODUCERS • Relationships with neighbors • Familiarity with locations • Equipment and expertise on hand • Understanding of rural functions and vulnerabilities.
Scott Cotton is the UW Extension area educator serving Converse, Natrona and Niobrara counties. His specialties include range management, livestock production, rural acreage management and agriculture and disaster resilience. He is the Wyoming delegate for the Extension Disaster Education Network. Contact him at (307) 235-9400 or scotton1@uwyo.edu.
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