Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** between 2016 and 2022, georgia…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** between 2016 and 2022, georgia experienced the direct effects of nine tropical storms. Our state is subject to strong spring, summer, and tropical storms and other extreme events which can cause severe wind damage, in addition to widespread, long-term flooding and extensive power outages. Strong winds and flooding damage homes, inundates wells, and interrupt transportation. IT often results in immense agricultural damage, including crop and livestock losses, destruction of fruit and nut trees, and major interruptions of supply and logistics chains. This project proposes using this opportunity to strengthen the capacity of the university of georgia extension's organizational commitment to provide systemic readiness in support of emergency preparedness. Building on UGA's successful 2021-2022 slsn project which resulted in the development of four geographically dispersed specially trained small teams within the extension system, we propose this model for expanding our capacity forreadiness, response, and recovery to natural disasters and local emergencies. These teams are designed to help facilitate a quick and skilled response to the needs of employees and stakeholders before, during, and after natural disasters and emergency events. This proposal calls for the enhanced integration of local emergency response protocols and more clearly defined roles and communication strategies, and cooperation with collaborating agencies including the georgia department of agriculture, the georgia emergency management and homeland security agency, fort valley state university, UGA marine extension/ sea grant, and the georgia department of public health. Specialized training will be provided to all project team members, including community emergency response team (cert), food safety, mental health and wellness first aid, assessing agricultural economic damage, digital imaging for economic damage assessment, incident command system (ICS nims/FEMA), public information officer training/PIO, well water testing and remediation treatment, handling biohazards safely, agrosecurity, and disaster daily life skills (sanitation and hygiene with limited water/power, etc.).