Research Accomplishment Reports 2010

Improving Local Disaster Planning: A Nationwide Train-the-Trainer Project

A. L. Husband, R. N. Yeargan
Extension Administration

 

Non-Technical Summary

The goal of this project is to improve interdisciplinary disaster planning efforts at the local level in multiple states across the nation. Objectives are to:

[1] enhance community resilience through local emergency planning workshops; and

[2] amplify effects of workshops through a train-the-trainer program.

Accomplishment of this goal will be achieved through a comprehensive host site recruitment effort, collaboration with host site coordinators, effective workshop presentations, training new instructors to conduct further workshops in multiple states, and oversight of certified trainers to maintain consistency and assure high quality delivery of future workshops. This project will provide education through interdisciplinary and multistate disaster training designed to solve the problem of local compliance with the National Response Framework. It will build upon the existing strengths of EDEN's Strengthening Community Agrosecurity Planning (S-CAP) pilot workshops.

Collaboration with federal, state, and local agencies and community leaders during the workshops will focus resources on recovery from disasters while empowering local emergency management personnel to prepare for, prevent, mitigate, and respond to all types of disasters and emergencies. Development of a sustainability plan by the local emergency planning teams created during the workshops will emphasize long-range community planning and ensure the skills acquired during the workshop will be implemented in future planning efforts.