An awareness level course providing first responders with the tools to protect, respond to, and recover from consequences of disasters involving animals in rural communities, was launched in Santa Rosa in early March. The AWR 328 course introduces participants to the unique issues that must be considered and addressed when animals are involved in an emergency.
First responders from across the state of California from San Diego to Sutter counties attended training for organizing the recovery from an incident of agroterrorism or food systems disaster.
A FMD Dairy Field Day held in Tulare, CA, helped raise awareness of actions that producers and processors can take before and during a Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak.
New Mexico State University’s Southwest Border Protection and Emergency Preparedness Center hosted a full day of intensive training outlining the potential effects of possible types of agroterrorism, and the impact of an incident on the entire food system or on a specific segment of the food system.
First responders attending the pilot courses for DHS AWR 328 and MGT 448, shared their experience with disaster planning and preparedness as they took part in hands-on, problem-solving activities in the courses which took place at the California Fire & Rescue Training Authority.
WIFSS team members take part in the ongoing effort in the development of curriculum that will train food protection professionals to meet the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
More than 25 first responders were present for the one-day combined AWR 151 and 154 crash course in Fellsmere, FL, conducting tabletop exercises to protect our food supply.
Having a response action plan in which all community members and organizations have a coordinated disaster response strategy creates an effective community response for an incident of intentional contamination, or from a natural disaster.
Dr. Michael Payne, UCD veterinarian with the Western Institute for Food Safety and Security and volunteer firefighter, reflects on his involvement in the Wragg fire, and shares advice for horse owners preparing for wildfire, and the most important contingency provisions for transportation and relocation.
What happens when an exotic plant disease spreads across the agricultural fields of your state? Plant and agricultural product inspectors are the front-line troops for controlling or eliminating parasites, fungi, bacteria and viruses that could impact your state’s natural resources and cultivated agricultural products.