View Presentation Application

Building Organizational Capacity for Emergency Preparedness: A Team Approach to Serve the Community

Leadership and Administrative Skills

Maria Bowie
Grant Management Specialist
University of Georgia
Athens

Abstract

Our state has experienced multiple devastating hurricanes and tropical storms since 2016. This can cause widespread, long-term flooding and power outages that often result in significant and costly damage and can leave employees involved in the response feeling ill-equipped and overwhelmed. In response, our State Extension secured a $150,000 NIFA Smith-Lever grant to develop four geographically dispersed, small teams to build our capacity for readiness, response, and recovery from natural disasters and emergencies.

Team members span across the three program areas (FACS/ANR/4-H). An introductory 3-day training was held to provide foundational disaster preparedness training. The training included table-top disaster scenarios; a partner panel (Department of Agriculture, State Emergency Management Agency, State Department of Public Health, State Department of Behavioral Health); discussion about the critical nature of the first 72 hours after disaster; and creation of Continuity of Operations Plans (COOPs).

Members also completed FEMA ICS 100; County Coordinator training on COOPs; Heirs’ property; Community Emergency Response Training (CERT); and drone training (15 drone units purchased and distributed statewide). Thirty-five members attended initial training, Heirs Property, and CERT. Team leaders facilitated COOP training within each district. Twelve people attended drone training. Nine members attended the 2022 National Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) meeting, and 15 members attended and helped plan the 2023 EDEN Conference hosted in Savannah, GA.

Evaluation of the project showed significant progress in building Extension’s capacity for emergency response, including members’ increased confidence in their ability to respond to emergencies, confidence in their ability to create a COOP, and belief in the team’s capability to respond to a disaster. Additional impacts: A team member used CERT CPR training to save a life; Strengthened partnerships with local/state/federal emergency officials; 157 Counties Updated COOPs statewide; Secured a 2-year FTE CDC public health fellow to focus on emergency preparedness who supports SE [including 100 miles of STATE coastline, most prone to severe weather/storm surge and tidal flooding]; Drone operator training to help document grower damage and losses resulted in FEMA disaster declarations in 29 counties; Hosted the 2023 EDEN conference; and another round of grant funding was awarded (2023-2025).

Authors: Maria Bowie, Greg Pittman, Amanda Tedrow, Susan Moore, Allie Griner, Guy Hancock, Virginia Brown
  1. Maria Bowie DrPH, Grant Management Specialist, University of Georgia , Georgia, 30602
  2. Greg Pittman ANR Agent/County Extension Coordinator, University of Georgia - Jackson County, Georgia, 30549
  3. Amanda Tedrow ANR Program Development Coordinator, University of Georgia - Northeast District, Georgia, 30602
  4. Susan Moore FACS Agent/County Ext Coordinator, University of Georgia - Laurens County Extension, Georgia, 31021
  5. Allie Griner 4-H Agent, University of Georgia - Gordon County, Georgia, 30701
  6. Guy Hancock Regional Ag Economist, University of Georgia , Georgia, 30602
  7. Virginia Brown Evaluation Specialist, University of Georgia , Georgia, 30602