1. Immediately contact the District Extension Administrator and provide a detailed report on the incident. If the DEA is not available contact a Regional Program Director. If the DEA and RPDs are not available, contact the office of the Associate Director for County Programs.
2. Contact the County Judge and Emergency Management Coordinator. CEAs should offer assistance and determine if other parts of the County Emergency Management Plan have been activated. CEAs should carry out the following emergency response and recovery activities at the request of the County Judge and/or Emergency Management Coordinator:
- CEAs ANR on the County Emergency Board of USDA FSA will assess agricultural damages and establish criteria by which the county judge initiates an agricultural disaster declaration.
- Where appropriate, help the county officials write the formal request for external resources. Agents should do this by completing the Incident Command System Form 213 (requires signature of county judge or EMC). The DEA and RPD(s) can help as needed.
- Act as Public Information Officer and lead the county’s electronic and mass media efforts. AgriLife Communications will support agents in this role.
- Help the Animal Issues Committee (AIC), County Judge/EMC set up a shelter and livestock supply point to feed and care for displaced animals.
3. CEAs ANR will work with the EMC and AIC to determine if the County Animal Issues Plan should be activated. The Texas Animal Health Commission is the lead agency during livestock or animal related emergencies.
4. Activate the AgriLife Extension County Office Disaster Plan.
5. Notify the DEA or RPD(s) if the incident requires Extension resources/actions that are not available locally.
6. District Extension Administrators will lead daily teleconference call with impacted counties. County Coordinators should be prepared to give daily situation reports on this call. Situation reports will include information on resources the agency has used for emergency management preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery.
7. In the event of a Presidential Disaster Declaration, CEAs may be asked to report activates weekly for inclusion on the Emergency Time and Effort Form. This report is due to the DEA before 5:00 o.m. each Friday during response and recovery.
8. CEAs ANR are responsible for helping USDA FSA County Emergency Boards complete ad USDA Loss Assessment Report (LAR).
9. As first responders bring the emergency incident under control, CEAs coordinate with county departments and state or federal agencies to plan a public meeting to communicate;
- the organizations and agencies that are working on recovery,
- the programs that are available to assist with current needs, and
- other topics relevant to the situation in the county.
10. CEA strike team members will responded as needed /requested to help in disaster situations.
Content for this article was obtained from Extension publication E-252 entitled “The CEA’s Responsibilities in Emergency Management.”
District 11 4-H Round Up and Multi Judging Contests
I would like to thank each and every one of you that have assisted with the last two Saturday District events. Your commitment and attention to detail has been great. The 4-H District 4-H events were provided to our young people with professionalism and enthusiasm. The events have been very much consistent with the quality of contest only expected in District 11. I know it is hard to work these many Saturday's and will have another this Saturday with District 4-H Fashion Show. Many times we sacrifice our own family events to make sure that 4-H opportunities are provided. We will also be working to provide mock interviews this week in preparing our senior members with their upcomming scholorship interviews.
Again thank you for rallying together and working together as committees in the District, it is clearly noted. DM
District 11 Personnel News:
New agents in the District starting this month are Ms. Tina Trevino, new FCS agent in Calhoun County. Wow!! all positions in Calhoun County are filled! Tina transferred from the Agrilife EFNEP position in Webb County( District 12).
Ms. Tanya McConagill, New FCS agent in Washington County started today, with her First step training in Fayette County. Please join me in welcoming these two new agents to District 11.
Interviews are set for the Austin County 4-H position for Monday. I will be meeting with the Jackson County court to finalize our candidate for the FCS position next month. Also keep Kelvin Neal in your prayers, he is going through some heart procedures this week. Hope he gets well soon. DM
