By Jamie Martin
Cooperative Extension, anchored in Land-grant Universities (LGUs), plays a crucial role in aiding communities, families, and farmers in disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.
Across the United States, Extension teams are currently helping people rebound from severe weather events while enhancing readiness for future emergencies.
Dr. Jaye Hamby, Director of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), emphasized the importance of the trust that Extension has built over the last century.
“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.”
Supporting these efforts is the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN), a national collaboration funded by USDA NIFA. Created in response to the major Mississippi and Missouri river floods of 1993, EDEN’s mission is to reduce the impact of disasters through research-based education.
Dr. Ashley Mueller, USDA NIFA’s national program leader for EDEN, highlighted the network’s value in connecting Extension professionals with local emergency systems.
“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 has the capacity to meet educational needs at all levels during a crisis.
“EDEN’s strength rests on the network of multidisciplinary Extension professionals across states and territories,” she added. “It allows Extension professionals to pool their technical and educational resources to more effectively respond in times of a disaster.”
EDEN’s website offers a wide range of disaster-related resources accessible to both Extension educators and the public. These tools support ongoing local programming and outreach.
Recent successes include EDEN’s support in six states after Hurricane Helene and assistance to Oklahoma communities following the March bomb cyclone.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Oregon State University have also played major roles in wildfire and smoke preparedness across the country.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-rasica
Categories: National