KANSAS CITY, Mo. – University of Georgia Cooperative Extension is strengthening its ability to help communities protect food and water during emergencies through SAFE: Strengthening Awareness for Food Safety Emergencies.

 

With support from a Development Grant from the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN), the project developed a statewide train-the-trainer program that equips Extension professionals with the knowledge, practical skills and resources needed to provide food safety education before, during and after disasters.

 

The project began with a statewide needs assessment of Extension professionals with emergency response experience. Seventy-two professionals participated, helping the project team identify gaps in knowledge and preparedness and prioritize the resources most needed by Extension personnel and the communities they serve. Findings were also shared with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency to support broader coordination around emergency preparedness.

 

“During an emergency, people are often making critical decisions about food and water safety at a time when they may have limited resources and a lot of uncertainty,” said Carla Schwan, project lead with University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. “Our goal with SAFE was to give Extension professionals and the communities they serve the knowledge, confidence and tools they need to make informed food and water safety decisions before, during and after an emergency.”

 

The project team used findings from the assessment to develop a train-the-trainer program and supporting toolkit for local Extension programming. Resources include a presentation with instructor notes, hands-on activities and instructor guides, promotional materials, social media content and program evaluation tools.

 

The project also developed participant kits containing practical emergency food safety and preparedness resources, including food and refrigerator thermometers, water purification supplies, hand sanitizer, a manual can opener, emergency preparedness information and materials for safely preparing sanitizing solutions.

Thirty Extension agents and leaders representing agriculture and natural resources, 4-H and family and consumer sciences participated in the initial statewide training, providing representation across all regions of Georgia.

 

Evaluation results showed substantial increases in knowledge and practical skills following the training. Participants entered the program with some of the largest knowledge gaps related to purifying non-potable water, cleaning and sanitizing food-contact surfaces following flooding, and preparing bleach solutions. After training, 90 to 95 percent of participants reported advanced or expert knowledge across the topics evaluated.

 

Participants also reported gains in practical skills, particularly in calibrating food thermometers and safely cleaning and sanitizing food-contact surfaces after floods.

Just as importantly, the training increased participants’ confidence in taking that information back to their communities. Before training, approximately half reported little or no confidence in teaching emergency food safety and disaster recovery topics. Following the program, nearly two-thirds reported being very or extremely confident in their ability to provide that education.

 

The train-the-trainer model is designed to extend the project’s reach beyond the initial group of participants. To date, the program has demonstrated significant impact, with 177 community members participating in evaluation surveys. Data shows a substantial knowledge gain, with average scores increasing from 2.5 to 4.04 on a 5-point scale, particularly in critical areas like water purification and sanitation. Participants also reported marked improvements in practical skills, such as thermometer calibration, and a significant boost in confidence for managing food safety during emergencies.

 

Participants were asked to estimate how much money they expected to save annually by applying what they learned through the program. On average, participants reported an estimated savings of approximately $100 per year. Across the 177 participants, this represents an estimated annual economic benefit of $17,750.

 

“This project shows how Extension can turn specialized knowledge into practical education that communities can use when they need it most,” said Fred Schlutt, EDEN Project Manager. “By preparing Extension professionals to teach these skills locally, SAFE creates a multiplier effect that can strengthen food safety preparedness well beyond the initial training.”

 

Project resources have been made available to UGA Extension professionals through the SAFE Educator Toolkit, and materials and results will also be shared through the EDEN network so other states can adapt the program for their own emergency preparedness efforts.

 

To learn more about the EDEN Development Grants Program, visit the EDEN website at extensiondisaster.net.