Cooperative Extension's Key Role in Disaster Response and Recovery
Cooperative Extension, based at Land-grant Universities (LGUs), plays a crucial role in providing resources and expertise for disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.
Currently, Extension teams nationwide are assisting farmers, families, and communities in recovering from severe storms and enhancing their preparedness for future incidents.
Dr. Jaye Hamby, Director of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) emphasized the importance of the trust Extension has built over the past century in its disaster response effectiveness.
“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.”
The Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN), supported by USDA NIFA, strengthens these efforts. EDEN is a national collaborative initiative by Extension to enhance service delivery to disaster-affected individuals.
It originated from the lessons learned during the 1993 Mississippi and Missouri river floods, with a mission to reduce disaster impacts through research-based education.
Dr. Ashley Mueller, USDA NIFA’s national program leader for EDEN, highlighted its support for local Extension workers. “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 by USDA NIFA’s Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative, EDEN ensures that Extension can meet local, state, regional, and national educational needs during crises.
“EDEN’s strength rests on the network of multidisciplinary Extension professionals across states and territories,” Mueller 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 resources on disaster preparedness, recovery, and mitigation, and maintains a shared database of disaster-related resources accessible to all.
Recent EDEN successes include supporting outreach in six states affected by Hurricane Helene, aiding Oklahoma communities after the March bomb cyclone, and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s ongoing wildfire response.
Oregon State University’s EDEN publications on preparedness and smoke resiliency have been utilized in 50 states and 67 countries.