August 2023

In this issue:

• FADI Transition Update and Webinar
• 2023 RFP Awardees Announced
• 2023 EDEN Annual Conference Reminder
• 3rd Annual PRIMR Conference Report
• New FEMA Publication
• Newsletter Content Contacts

FADI Transition Update and Webinar

August 31st marks the end of Purdue’s FADI support for EDEN. Since 2003, NIFA has provided EDEN with funding to support EDEN coordination and communications, web development and maintenance, curriculum development, training, and resources development. Purdue University has overseen these funds since 2003, becoming a competitive oversight in 2018. Special thanks to Abby Lillpop, Claire Crum, Amanda Mosiman, Jason Henderson, Mike Wilcox, and many others for their work in support of EDEN.

On September 1st, FADI support will be handed off to a partnership of the Extension Foundation, Washington State, and Iowa State. Long-time EDEN members Mike Gaffney and Christina Sanders from Washington State will support EDEN’s educational programming, training and exercises, and engagement across ECOP, Committees, and Extension Regions. Iowa State’s Jason Henderson will act as a bridge, making connections across ECOP, the Climate Mitigation, Resiliency, and Adaptation Program Action Team (Climate PAT), and other national organizations. The Extension Foundation, coordinated by Jason Weigle, will provide administrative support, mini-grant and subaward management, website and mailing list management, and other technical support to EDEN’s Executive Committee, standing committees and working groups, mini-grant awardees, and the broader EDEN Network.

Both FADI institutions are working hard behind the scenes to make the transfer seamless and non-impactful to the EDEN Network. Thanks to the EDEN officers and committee chairs for their input and support during this time of transition!

A Project Update and Transition Webinar is being held August 31st to discuss the transition – register for the webinar below!

Hurricane Idalia Update – We are closely watching the path of Hurricane Idalia. If the University of Florida is unable to host this webinar Thursday, an alternative URL will be provided. Please keep your eyes open for announcements as this event unfolds.

2023 RFP Awardees Announced

EDEN and Purdue University are pleased to announced the following projects were awarded $20,000 through the ADVANCING DISASTER EDUCATION INITIATIVES IN RURAL AMERICA RFP.

• Cultivating an Efficient and Productive Intersection between Research and Extension: An 1890 Collaborative-Research Based Curriculum Development Initiative. PI: Krystle J. Allen – Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center (SUAREC)
• Enhancing the Nation’s Agricultural Biosecurity Through A Prescriptive Study of the US Food Supply Chain. PI: Tommy Bass, Livestock Environment & Sustainability, Montana State Extension Service
• Training Extension Educators to Function as ICS Strike Team/Task Force Incident Teams. PI: Tom Ball, Mississippi State University
• Beyond Information First Responders: Incorporating Research into Extension Hazard and Disaster Work. PI: Angie B. Lindsey, University of Florida
• Space Weather Impacts on Agriculture, Mitigation Options, and the Role of Extension. PI: Kathryn Draeger, University of Minnesota Extension RSDP

The proposals support EDEN’s strategic plan in all 5 Critical Focus Areas:

1. Providing Logistical Support to Directly Address US Agricultural Biosecurity through Distribution & Food Supply
2. Enhancing Cybersecurity to Support Agriculture and Rural/Tribal Communities
3. Promoting Resilience to Climate Vulnerability
4. Cultivating an Efficient and Productive Intersection between Research and Extension
5. Strengthening Extension’s Disaster Response Functions

These projects will develop collaborative teams to conduct applied research to evaluate existing resources, identify gaps in programming, facilitate the develop of, certification methods for, and the regionally-based delivery of training to enhance the capability of Extension professionals in the critical areas.

Reminder

2023 EDEN Annual Conference

Savannah, GA – September 26^th-29^th

To view the agenda, find hotel information, register for the conference or learn more details, visit EDEN’s Annual Conference webpage at https://extensiondisaster.net/news-events/annual-meeting/. For questions, please contact Michael Martin, Annual Conference Committee Chair, at michael.martin@nulluga.edu.

3rd Annual PRIMR Conference

Noel M. Estwick, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor and Research Scientist

College of Agriculture and Human Sciences (CAHS)

Prairie View A&M University

On March 5th – 7th ,2023, Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) hosted the third annual Preparedness for, Response to, Innovation on, Mitigation of, and Recovery (PRIMR) conference. The theme of Disaster PRIMR 2023 @ Prairie View A&M University was “Promoting Cultures of Preparedness.” The specific goals of the conference were to provide a forum to: 1) center the role of the 1890 Land-Grant Institutions, Tribal (indigenous) and Hispanic serving institutions in all phases of disaster management; 2) share promising practices, lessons, and insights drawn from their experiences; and 3) strengthen existing or develop new collaborations, scholarship, and principles of practice based on their experiences, to ensure that the most vulnerable populations in the places they serve are better able to mitigate, prepare for, survive and adequately recover from disasters.

EDEN network institutions represented at the conference included: Florida A&M University, Kentucky State University, Mississippi State University, North Carolina A&T State University, Prairie View A&M University, Southern University, Tennessee State University, Texas A&M University, and Washington State University.

The conference was a collaboration with the Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) College of Agriculture and Human Sciences (CAHS), the 1890-EDEN Advisory Group, Texas A&M University System (TAMUS), Texas A&M University (TAMU), and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), and featured a cultural presentation, poster session, morning and afternoon plenary sessions and a student career mixer. Plenary sessions featured speakers from State, Federal and non-profit organizations, including Shaun P. Miller, Texas Division of Emergency Management; David J. Alamia, Jr. City of Baytown; Drs. Ashley Mueller, Michelle Colby and Amer Fayad, USDA-NIFA; Marcus T. Coleman Jr., U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Sally Ray, Center for Disaster Philanthropy.

Speakers focused on the negative impacts of natural and manmade disasters, and how the COVID-19 pandemic decimated communities everywhere, especially people who are the most vulnerable to disasters (e.g., poor, elderly, etc.). Conversations about the most vulnerable populations in high-risk areas justified a spotlight on the unique role of 1890 Land-Grant Universities and Indigenous institutions in responding to the needs of the communities and constituencies they serve. Also, 1890 institutions roles in preparing a workforce in emergency management research and practice.

The organizers wish to thank conference sponsorships from PVAMU, PVAMU-CAHS, the Ruth J. Summons Center for Race and Justice, Prairie View A&M University, Texas A&M University, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, EDEN, and the Southern-Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education.

New Publication: FEMA Climate Essentials for Emergency Managers

Climate Essentials for Emergency Managers offers foundational learning opportunities for the emergency management community and beyond. By sharing communication techniques, climate information, data resources, and guidance for connecting with experts, this resource helps advance the integration of climate change considerations into actionable efforts before, during, and after disasters. (from FEMA website, 8/9/2023)

Read more

Newsletter Content Contacts

Starting September 1st, please send any content for future newsletters to Elizabeth Kiss at dekiss4@nullksu.edu, Jason Weigle at jasonweigle@nullextension.org, or Rose Hayden-Smith at rose@nullextension.org.

Notice differences?

You may have noticed some changes to the format of the newsletter. Purdue is working with the Extension Foundation to deliver August’s newsletter using HubSpot. The HubSpot CRM allows the Foundation to manage mailing lists, webpage creation from newsletters, and other communication tools in a streamlined and connected manner. We thank you for your patience as we transition over to this new set of tools!

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