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Path to Preparedness: Building Emergency Capabilities in Southwest Georgia

Extension Education

Kimberly Post
County Extension Agent
University of Georgia
Lakeland

Abstract

Georgia is consistently faced with a variety of natural disasters including hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, and floods. These events can sometimes strike with very little warning and leave our citizens vulnerable. Preparation is crucial to minimizing losses in the home or on the farm. With offices in all 159 counties, UGA Extension agents are ideally located to assist communities in times of need by providing necessary information and training for emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. A state-level team from UGA was awarded a USDA/NIFA grant to build internal capacity for emergency management. Each Extension district selected their own Emergency Preparedness Team (EPT). The Southwest EPT’s goal was to increase their own emergency knowledge with a variety of trainings and workshops. Southwest EPT members attended a three-day initial training for all district EPTs, coordinated their own community emergency response team training in Southwest District, worked with County Extension Coordinators to write emergency plans for each Extension office, and received hands-on drone training for aerial agricultural damage assessments. As a result of their commitment to emergency preparedness, the Southwest EPT members completed 412 total training hours, protected over 150 Extension faculty staff with an office emergency plan, and can now cover over 2 million acres of planted cropland that can be visually assessed via drone in the event of a natural disaster. The Southwest EPT is ready for the next phase that will include community education events that better prepare our families and farms for emergencies.

Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC

This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.

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Authors: Kimberly Post, Brian Hayes, Mitzi Parker, Cindy Meadows, Kate Whiting, Guy Hancock, Sonya Jones
  1. Post, K. County Extension Agent, University of Georgia, Georgia, 31635
  2. Hayes, B. County Extension Agent, University of Georgia, Georgia, 31730
  3. Parker, M. County Extension Agent, University of Georgia, Georgia, 31709
  4. Meadows, C. County Extension Agent, University of Georgia, Georgia, 39845
  5. Whiting, K. County Extension Agent, University of Georgia, Georgia, 31030
  6. Hancock, G. County Extension Agent, University of Georgia, Georgia, 31714
  7. Jones, S. County Extension Agent, University of Georgia, Georgia, 31036