Extension Disaster Education Network Update December 2008

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    General Overview of the CoP

    • Date of this report December 2008
    • Date started as an eXtension CoP - October 2006
    • www.eXtension.org status - Launched February 2008
    • CoP Overview

    The Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN)is a collaborative multi-state effort that links Extension professionals from across the country in various disciplines to provide information to citizens before, during and after disasters. EDEN is the premier provider of disaster education resources delivered through the land-grant university system.

    The mission of the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) is to share educational resources to reduce the impact of natural and man-made disasters.

    This is carried out through:

    • Interdisciplinary and multi-state research and education programs addressing disaster mitigation, preparation, response and recovery
    • Linkages with federal, state and local agencies and organizations
    • Anticipation of future disaster education needs and actions
    • Timely and prompt communications and delivery of information that meets audience needs
    • Credible and reliable information

    EDEN's Disaster Issues Community of Practice currently focuses on agrosecurity, floods, and avian influenza.

    The ongoing collaborative work of EDEN’s Disaster Issues Community of Practice provides the best of Extension's research-based, interdisciplinary, educational resources to help people prepare for or recover from natural or man-made disasters affecting their communities, families, farms, or businesses.

    • Description of CoI being served

    Agrosecurity

    The Community of Interest includes Extension educators, producers of agricultural commodities, the animal health care industry, ag cooperatives, food and commodity suppliers and distributors, food processors, food wholesalers, food retailers, consumers, and the agencies that have responsibility for ensuring the safety and security of our food industry from farm to table. Much of the effort in this CoI focuses on Best Management Practices and preventive measures, including planning, prevention, surveillance, and detection that occur on a daily basis. Research-based information is available in subject areas from farm to fork, or producer to consumer.


    Floods

    With unfortunate regularity, flooding occurs in many locations. This Community of Interest varies depending on which phase of flood disaster management is occurring -- preparedness, mitigation, response or recovery. Individuals, families, communities, elected leaders, agencies with responsibility for flooding, and those that provide assistance to individuals, families and communities that experience flooding can access valuable information on all phases of flooding.


    Avian Influenza

    Avian Influenza (AI) is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. The disease occurs worldwide and has become of great concern to animal and human health. While most strains of the virus cause no illness or death in poultry and humans, some strains such as the highly pathogenic H5N1 can result in the death and destruction of millions of birds. As with other disasters, this community of interest will vary. Depending on the virus and its effects on birds or humans, the community of interest may include poultry producers and workers, educators, the media, individuals, families, and communities.


    CoP Leadership

    Leadership

    • Charles L. Stoltenow, Agrosecurity Team Leader, North Dakota State University
    • Kenneth Hellevang, Flooding Team Leader, North Dakota State University
    • Pamela B. King, Avian Influenza Team Leader, University of Maryland
    • Virginia Morgan, CoP Administrator, Auburn University

    EDEN Oversight Group

    • Dave Baker, University of Missouri
    • Steve Cain, Purdue University
    • Dave Filson, The Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension
    • Ed Jones, North Carolina State University
    • Becky Koch, North Dakota State University
    • Linda Williams, Montana State University

    CoP Advisors

    • Larry Arrington, University of Florida
    • Joe Wysocki, USDA/CSREES

    CoP Membership(listing by institution)

    Alcorn State University: Wandra Arrington

    Auburn University: Jody Thompson

    Clemson University: Alta Mae Marvin, Howard van Dijk

    Colorado State University: Ann Zander

    Cornell: Patricia Westenbroek

    CSREES: Shirley Gerrior, Bill Hoffman

    Delaware State University: Sandra Peterson

    Kansas State University: Michael Bradshaw, Mary Lou Peter-Blecha, Vernon Turner

    Louisiana State University: Summer Prisock, Pat Skinner

    Mississippi State University: Bo Beaulieu

    Montana State University: Michael Vogel

    NC State University: Ben Chase, Douglas Clement, Scott McCollum

    Ohio State University: Martha Filipic

    Oregon State University: Bill Braunworth, Lynette Black

    Pennsylvania State University: Shirley Gryczuk

    Purdue University: Abigail Borron, Vickie Hadley,Simon Kenyon

    Tennessee State University: Jonell Hinsey, Finis Stribling

    Texas A&M University: Janie Harris

    University of Alaska: Linda Tannehill

    University of Arkansas: Deborah Tootle

    University of Connecticut: Linda Horn

    University of Delaware: Michael Love

    University of Florida: Keith Schneider

    University of Georgia: Jorge Atiles, Faith Peppers

    University of Guam: Peter Barcinas

    University of Hawaii: Barry Brenna, patricia Macomber

    University of Illinois: Rick Atterberry, Bruce McVety

    University of Kentucky: William Goetz, Andrea Husband, Tom Priddy

    University of Maryland: Jennifer Rhodes, Nathaniel Tablante, Jennifer Timmons, Nick Zimmermann, Eddie Johnson

    University of Minnesota: Katherine Waters

    University of Missouri: Kevin Baiotto, Eric Evans, Kathy Macomber, Frank Wideman

    University of Nebraska: Shirley Niemeyer, Scott Cotton

    University of New Hampshire: Peg Boyles

    University of Tennessee: Ray Burden, Martha Keel, Amanda Mathenia, Tim Prather, Michael Wilcox

    University of Vermont: Sam Comstock, Julie Smith

    University of Wisconsin: Cheryl Skjolaas

    Utah State University: Susan Kerr

    West Virginia State University: Julanna Bills

    Current Status

    • Major accomplishments

    Recruitment was the focus for the second half of 2008. Several new members joined as a result of 1.Connect session in August, 2. participation in the Galaxy conference in September, or 3. EDEN annual meeting activities in November. In addition, Agrosecurity team leader Dr. Charlie Stoltenow represented the CoP at the American Association of Extension Veterinarians. A new work team is beginning to organize around the topic of community development. There is also interest in organizing a youth team.

    • Description of works in progress

    The flood team contracted with a professional writer to develop content on: agriculture (general), general farmstead (preparation and recovery), recommendations for reconditioning farm equipment, crops, livestock, and horticulture. The content has not yet been added to the wiki, but it represents approximately 20 new pages.

    The Avian Influenza work team is currently working on content. They have 24 articles in progress. These articles are now organized within the wiki and are awaiting review by the subject matter experts. Several articles have been submitted by a new CoP member and some will be moved from the Collaborate site into the CoP wiki. FAQ's have been identified to be entered into the FAQ system.

    • Number of published and unpublished pages of content in the wiki (works in progress) (provided by eXtension)
    • Published Pages: 209
    • Pages in Progress: 25
    • FAQs and Ask the Expert Status
    • Published FAQs: 152
    • Draft FAQs: 78
    • Incoming Ask the Expert Questions Resolved: 24
    • Number of images to date: 20
    • Number of videos to date: 0
    • Number of events to date: 4
    • Number of news items to date: 191
    • Titles and descriptions of learning modules published and in progress


    • Description of and number of chats, web streams, and other educational product deliverables
    • Description of CoP marketing efforts and results
    • Purdue video production group has agreed to produce a promo for Disaster Issues. Steve Cain is writing the text for the promo.
    • Virginia Morgan and Frank Wideman staffed a booth at the Galaxy meeting. This venue gave us exposure to the extension professional groups. In addition to the exhibit hall, Morgan participated in two briefing sessions and one panel discussion. Although we did not have many participants in the separate sessions, we had the opportunity to talk to many field staffers. Some interest was generated.
    • Morgan facilitated a 3 1/2-hour pre-meeting workshop in November at the EDEN annual meeting. This session was attended by 23 participants. Pam King presented a concurrent session during the regular meeting. Both activities generated ideas for new work teams as well as a few volunteers to work on the teams. We anticipate getting the teams organized spring 2009.
    • Description of evaluation results obtained to date
    • CoP Evidence of Transformation of Cooperative Extension
    1. To what extent has eXtension content/technology pushed, stretched, or changed the CoP's way of thinking and doing its work?

    Team members continue to be less than enthusiastic about using the technology. The challenge is for the CoP leaders to continue to demonstrate the use of the technology and to support members as they begin to use it.

    1. To what extent has eXtension helped the CoP reflect on content, process, or assumptions about it's Extension work?

    eXtension has helped EDEN broaden its reach. The network was orginally created to serve as a resource for extension and agency professionals. The general public was not the primary audience. The EDEN CoP provides a venue for offering education on preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation directly to the public. A big issue for both EDEN (the network) and EDEN (the CoP) is keeping the targeted audiences interested in being prepared for disaster--it usually isn't at the forefront unless there is an imminent disaster or one has occurred.

    1. To what extent has eXtension been a critical event that has changed how individuals work in your CoP and how they work in their states?

    It has not yet changed how individuals work.

    1. To what extent has eXtension connected your CoP with educational partners who are different than usual and changed CoP members work as a result?

    We have begun to think in terms of multi-disciplinary approaches to some of our efforts. However, we are only in the very early stages of talking about how we can achieve a more global approach to disaster education through eXtension.