Vol. 5, No. 1, January 2009

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FDACS & WIFSS Offer 2009 Courses
For 2009, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Office of Agricultural Emergency Preparedness is once again partnering with the Western Institute of Food Safety and Security (WIFSS) to bring Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Certified Agroterrorism Courses to Florida.

At this time, courses offered are:
  AWR-151 Awareness: Understanding the Dangers of Agroterrorism
        o  Jacksonville ?Tuesday, February 10: 8:00 am ?Noon, Jacksonville FDLE
            Regional Operations Center
        o  Miami ?Tuesday, February 24: 12:30 pm ?5:00 pm, Miami FDLE Regional
            Operations Center
        o  Ft. Pierce ?Thursday, February 26: 8:00 am ?Noon, Treasure Coast Public
            Safety Training Complex (Kirby Loop Rd.)
  AWR-152 Preparedness: Principles of Preparedness for Agroterrorism and Food Systems'     Disasters
        o  Tallahassee ?Wednesday, February 11: 8:00 am ?4:30 pm, George Eyster
            Auditorium (FDACS ?Conner Blvd)
        o  Davie ?Wednesday, February 25: 8:00 am ?4:30 pm, Institute of Public Safety             (Broward College, Central Campus)
  AWR-153 Detection: Principles of Detection and Diagnosis: Strategies and Technologies
To register or for additional information visit the WIFSS website: http://wifss.ucdavis.edu/agroterrorism/classes/classesbydate.php(registration) and http://wifss.ucdavis.edu/agroterrorism/classes/course_desc.php.

Art Johnstone, Director of the Office of Agricultural
Emergency Preparedness for FDACS (office – 850-410-6758, johnsta@doacs.state.fl.us) notes that AWR-151 is recommended as a pre-requisite for those taking AWR-152, but it is not required. All courses, he says, are free of charge, thanks to a DHS grant through WIFSS.

 ?nbsp; AWR 151 in Orlando, Daytona Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Ft.
   Meyers, Sarasota and Pensacola.
?nbsp; AWR 152 in Jacksonville.
?nbsp; AWR 153 in Homestead, Belle Glade, and Seffner.

 

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Update ?ICS Training Dates & Locations

Please don’t forget that ICS training opportunities will abundant in Florida in 2009.

According to FDACS’ Gary Painter of Bartow (863-519-8470 office; 863-698-6377 cell; painteg@doacs.state.fl.us) both I-300 Intermediate Incident Command System (February 3-5 from Noon to 5:00 pm each day) and I-400 Advanced Incident Command System (February 24-25) remain open for enrollment. The courses will be taught at the N. Fla. Research and Education Center, 155 Research Rd., Quincy, FL 32351-5677.

A copy of the “Certificate of Completion” from the following courses is required and must be presented at registration to take I-300:  I-100, I-200 and I-700. To take I-400, a copy of the I-300 Certificate is required.

Prerequisite courses can be taken on-line at the SART web site at www.flsart.org/library/atm_sart.htm. Please register as soon as possible, either by

contacting Gary Painter or by downloading the registration form at www.flsart.org/announcement/ics2009/ics2009.shtml.

Note: An excellent source for information about training and learning opportunities is your SART Sentinel here at www.flsart.org, but also the FL Division of Emergency Management web site at www.floridadisaster.org/Trainingcalendar/index.asp.

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Agricultural Emergency Response Training (AgERT)

WMD Basic Agricultural Emergency Response Training is a 32-hour course that provides responders with an overview of agro-terrorism and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive hazards, relative to their potential impact upon agricultural resources and the agricultural community.
Lectures include response actions, epidemiology, zoonotic diseases, foreign animal diseases, animal restraint and euthanasia, and animal carcass disposal

Hands-on training provides knowledge and skills in selecting and using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), conducting decontamination, using survey and monitoring equipment, and preserving the crime scene.
The course culminates with a scenario-oriented practical exercise involving response to a hazardous event in an agricultural setting.

Location: Center for Domestic Preparedness, Anniston, AL
Audience: Veterinarians, Animal Health Technicians, animal inspectors, food inspectors, HAZMAT technicians, game wardens and animal control officers
Additional Qualifications/Certifications: AgERT is designed for candidates that have successfully completed awareness training for CBRNE response and the IS-700 course offered by FEMA.
Dates: March 1-7, April 5-11, May 3-9 and June 7-13
Cost: Free
Web site: https://cdp.dhs.gov/resident/agert.html

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Meet “MARE,?Florida’s
Mobile Animal Response Equipment Units

At the December 2008 SART Advisory Board meeting in Gainesville Joe Kight noted that MARE (mobile animal response equipment) units – 16-foot open sided steel livestock trailers stocked with small animal response necessities – have been purchased for each of Florida’s seven regions through a Homeland Security grant for developing regional resources.

Built with “galvannealed” sheets – carbon steel coated with zinc and heated to form an alloy – the sturdy trailers are nevertheless light enough to be pulled by ½-ton vehicles. The trailers have side awnings so that temporary offices can handle paperwork or even veterinary examinations.

Each trailer is stocked with plastic airline-approved animal crates and supporting equipment such as leashes. (Open, wire mesh animal carriers are excellent outdoors, Kight says, but inside, in a pet-friendly shelter, plastic crates have proven better for containing animals and keeping them safe.)
A trailer pre-stocked for small animal needs will be an enormous benefit in a community emergency. Dennis McCullough with the Hillsborough County Animal Services trailer from 2007. (Rick Sapp photo)

Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) are being completed with host counties in each region. According to the MOUs, FDACS maintains ownership, provides insurance and can use the MARE for an emergency (or a significant animal cruelty investigation, for example) in another region. The county responsibility is to store the equipment out of the weather, perform light maintenance (Kight says it probably requires no more maintenance than an occasional inspection or greasing the trailer axles.) and, of course, to use the gear effectively in a response situation.

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Fighting Agricultural Terrorism in Florida

With abundant animal and plant agricultural resources and millions of pets, Florida ?often called “America’s Sentinel State?because its geographical position affords access to invasion from so many different sources and directions ?is a prime target for agro-terrorist efforts. (Photos Rick Sapp)
 

An exciting new multi-media training module, Fighting Agricultural Terrorism in Florida, is available on the SART web site (www.flsart.org/library/index.htm#PD1). This module provides important information about security awareness for everyone who is involved with Florida agriculture. It covers topics on agroterrorism deterrence, prevention, detection, response and recovery.

“Fighting Agricultural Terrorism in Florida” was developed in a new and easy-to-follow format with music and narration. It moves quickly from topic to topic and its basic objectives can be absorbed quickly. Objectives are:

    1. Recognize potential terror threats.
    2. Identify three types of devices used in terrorist activity.
    3. Identify vulnerabilities in facilities, farms and food production under your jurisdiction.
    4. List the key steps in uniform and credential care.
    5. Know the correct procedures in reporting potential terrorism related activities.
    6. Define your role in helping Florida return to normal after a crisis.

“This module was initially developed for FDACS employees,” says DAI’s Greg Christy. “It has been slightly modified so that all SART members can become versed in the possibility of agricultural terrorism. At about 45 minutes in length, with plenty of places to stop and start, go back to former pages to check definitions or even skip ahead, the commitment needed to absorb this awareness-level information is not overwhelming. We hope that SART members, whatever their affiliation, will be watchful for threats to Florida’s agricultural systems; that they will become additional eyes and ears in the
field to help keep Florida strong, secure and productive.”

Three earlier SART Training modules (lesson plan, PowerPoint presentation and student workbook) addressing this and related subjects are also available at http://www.flsart.org/library/index.htm:
    1. The Threat of Agroterrorism and Bioterrorism in Florida: Introduces the possibilities for agroterrorism and bioterrorism, and Florida’s developing organization to prevent and cope should an incident occur. Provides a basic understanding of the potential, and how citizens and government can organize for prevention and effective response.
    2. Quality and Secure Plant and Insect Sample Submissions: Introduces the basic concepts of packing and shipping plant and insect samples for laboratory analysis.
    3. Evidence Preservation and Chain of Custody Issues: Introduces basic concepts about identification and preservation of crime scenes, evidence collection, and chain of custody issues to individuals not directly involved in law enforcement or crime investigation.

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UF Prepares for March 2009 Bee College “Florida’s Most Extensive Honey Bee Educational Event?

University of Florida’s 2009 Bee College is going to take place Friday and Saturday, March 20th and 21st at Whitney Labs north of St. Augustine. The day before, Thursday March 19th, UF is teaching its Master Beekeeper Program (not a part of Bee College).

According to Nancy Gentry, keynote speaker for the Bee College is Dr. Keith Delaplane, University of Georgia. Other speakers include Jerry Hayes, Chief Apiarist, State of Florida; Robert Brewer, World Renowned Certified Welsh County Honey Judge; Dr.s Bill Kern and Glen Hall, UF, and twelve other very knowledgeable presenters. Bee College cost is $100 per day or $160 for both days (reduced rates may apply).

   
Bee hives next to a central Florida citrus grove. With so much happening in the world of bees today, so much at stake in the world-wide pollinator crisis, UF’s Bee College is a wonderful opportunity to expand one’s knowledge at an extremely reasonable cost. (Photo Rick Sapp)

On March 19th, UF instructors will offer Apprentice and Advanced Beekeeper courses. Registration is open from 7:30-8:00 a.m. and the cost of each is $30.

  • Apprentice Training consists of classes on: honey bee biology, beekeeping equipment, honey production and products, keeping bees in Florida and diseases of the honey bee. A practical examination will be given in the afternoon followed by a written exam.
  • Advanced Training consists of classes on: pesticides, pollination, pests and diseases, African bees and advanced bee and wasp biology. In the afternoon, a written examination will be followed by a practical exam.

For more information about these events contact Michael O’Malley, UF Honeybee Labs, 352-392-1901 x 189 omalleym@ufl.edu. Download the registration form for Bee College, information about discount hotels and a whole lot of great bee and pollinator information at www.ufhoneybee.com

The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience (9505 Ocean Shore Blvd. 904-461-4000) is located in Marineland, on the border between St. Johns and Flagler counties in northeast Florida. The eight-acre campus is situated on a narrow barrier island, bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, both of which are just a few hundred feet away.

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Bioterrorism & Mass Dispensing Workshop

This course is a guide for local health officials and partners in the public health system to help plan for the mass distribution of pharmaceuticals from the Division of Strategic National Stockpile (DSNS) Program. It is taught by the Texas Engineering Extension Service (www.teex.org).

The course is designed to enhance preparedness and emergency response by developing (or revising) a plan addressing an all-hazards approach towards mass prophylaxis*. It is delivered by two public health professionals and consists of a combination of lectures, small group activities and a tabletop exercise/game.

Where:     Conference Room “A?
               St. Johns County Health Department
               1955 US Hwy 1 South, Suite 100
               St. Augustine, FL 32086

When:     Thursday, February 26 &
              Friday February 27, 2009
              8:00 am to 5:00 pm
              each day

Agenda Day 1
Morning: Introduction, Population Health Monitoring, Strategic National Stockpile, Receiving Staging and Storage (State Function), Pre-Event Point of Dispensing (POD) Plan and POD Overview
Lunch (not provided)
Afternoon: Personnel and Training, POD Organization, POD Operations, POD Dispensing, Asset Management and Deactivation

Agenda Day 2
Morning: Mass Prophylaxis:  Dispensing Activity, NIMS Organization and Site Selection
Lunch (not provided)
Afternoon: Mass Prophylaxis – Dispensing Table-Top and Exercise and Evaluation

The course is Free, but lunch is not provided. SART’s Martha Wagaman says several seats may still be available. Contact 904-825-5055 x 1122 immediately for attendance information. A detailed statement of Course Objectives is attached.

* Prophylaxis: A measure taken for the prevention of a disease or condition. For example, dental prophylaxis consists of removing plaque and cleaning the teeth to prevent cavities and gum disease. The word “prophylaxis?is from the Greek and means “an advance guard.?(MedTerms.com)

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“Home, Ranch and Farm ?Working Together Works? 2009 SART Conference

The theme for Florida’s 2009 SART Conference is “Home, Ranch and Farm – Working Together Works!” Expect a 1:00 pm conference kick-off on Wednesday March 25, 2009. The final whistle blows to end the conference at Noon Friday the 27th. This year’s “green” conference hotel is the Holiday Inn Oceanfront Resort, Cocoa Beach www.hicocoabeachhotelsite.com.
FDACS DAI Director and State Veterinarian Dr. Tom Holt addressed Florida’s 2007 SART Conference in St. Petersburg. (Photo Cynthia Portalatin)
A link to registration and complete details about the conference agenda is available near the top of the home page for the SART web site at www.flsart.org.

2009 SART Conference: Tentative Agenda-At-A-Glance

Wednesday Morning

Registration (and possible AR-151 Course “Understanding the Dangers of Agroterrorism” – WIFSS)

Wednesday Afternoon

 1:00 Welcome – Brevard County
         FL SART “Where are we?”
 1:30 FACA, a SART partner
 2:15 ESF 11, USDA (FEMA)
 3:30 Citizen Corps (DHS), animal responders
 4:15 DOACS, agro-terrorism

Thursday Morning

 8:00 Agriculture economic impact
 9:00 Livestock industries concerns
 10:30 Bio-security on the farm
 11:30 Awards luncheon

Thursday Afternoon

 1:00 County ESF 17 – panel discussion
 2:00 Pet-friendly sheltering
 3:30 Florida VET Corps “How to use it.”
 4:30 Using SART/CART – panel discussion

The Exhibitor area at the 2007 SART Conference in St. Petersburg was busy and filled with displays and member interaction. (Photo Cynthia Portalatin)


Friday Morning

 8:00 The honey bee crisis: an          update
 8:30 USAR and animals
 9:00 HASMAT training
 Noon Conference Adjourns

 

A Florida “green hotel?with a one-palm designation, the Holiday Inn Oceanfront Resort ?Cocoa Beach, offers a conference rate of $99 single/double (and for those who may be able to couple business with pleasure, it is holding those rates for three days prior to and following the conference). The hotel is located at 1300 N Atlantic Avenue in Cocoa Beach. To make hotel reservations, call 800-206-2747 or (321) 783-2271. Ask for “Florida SART Conference?to get the conference rate. The cut-off date for reservations is February 24, 2009.

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New USDA Web Site ?SaveOurCitrus.Org

SaveOurCitrus.org from USDA/APHIS alerts on-line citrus buyers of the risks posed by moving citrus plants from quarantine areas. Those risks, of course, are the spread of citrus greening and the Asian citrus psyllid.

Citrus greening is present in Florida and Louisiana, but the Asian citrus psyllid, which spreads the disease, is found in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mexico, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South Carolina and Texas.

While citrus and citrus plants can still move from Florida and Louisiana, they must meet certain quarantine requirements. Most importantly, host plants cannot be shipped to citrus-producing areas where the Asian citrus psyllid is not present.

Two SART Training modules addressing this and related subjects are currently available on-line at http://www.flsart.org/library/index.htm:

1. An Entomological Perspective for Emergency Agricultural Response: Florida is a “sentinel state” for exotic plants, animals and insects. A variety of exotic insect pests is now present with potential to do great harm to agriculture. The state is on guard to prevent others from entering.
2. Three Exotic Plant Diseases Threatening Florida: Florida’s plant economy faces multiple imported exotic disease threats: citrus from potentially devastating citrus greening; soybeans from soybean rust; and both nursery plants and outdoor oak trees from sudden oak death.

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SART Member: FAKC Florida Association of Kennel Clubs

According to its web site at www.fakconline.org, the Florida Association of Kennel Clubs promotes the human animal bond as well as “responsible pet ownership and responsible pet owners.” It provides information about and support for shows, training issues, help finding a breeder, disaster relief and legislative items.

Formed in the 1950’s FAKC is an association of clubs, its membership consisting of American Kennel Club (AKC – www.akc.org) purebred dog clubs. FAKC assists members with information, support, the promotion of AKC events and education. With members experienced in all fields of animal welfare FAKC can assist effectively in disaster relief.
DIANE J. ALBERS
February 18, 1943 ?December 20, 2008

                SART member Diane Albers was born in Patterson, NJ. She became a pediatric nurse before apprenticing with Duncan Wright, the head of the American Dog Owners Association. Wright’s ADOA was a force combating inhumane treatment of dogs and fighting laws impeding dog ownership.
Diane Albers (Photo Linda Rowell, FAKC)

                Diane became president, American Kennel Club delegate and show chairman of the Central Florida Kennel Club in the mid-1970s. Holding those positions until her death, she was elected president of the Florida Association of Kennel Clubs in 1979 and was re-elected every year. Diane transformed FAKC from a state organization of dog clubs principally concerned with promoting dog shows to a vehicle for improving and protecting the interests of dogs, animal welfare and rescue, legislation, disaster relief and consumer protection. She was a talented organizer, had a wonderful memory and could be very persuasive.

                With Hurricane Andrew looming in 1993, Diane organized the first major animal disaster relief project. The day after the storm she arrived in Miami with a convoy of eighteen-wheelers filled with dog food, crates, water, ice, medical supplies and equipment. She established a free veterinary clinic funded by contributions from dog clubs and individuals around the world, and it remained open for almost two years. Many of the animals which survived were rescued

by that unit. This was before the popularity of identifying microchips. Each animal was photographed and described; location found was noted. Animals were evacuated to foster homes; if owners asked about them later, they could be located quickly. She accomplished more than anyone could have imagined with very little money. The volunteer network she established worked in subsequent disasters, the 1988 Florida fires, Hurricane Katrina and the recent Missouri floods.

Elizabeth Page, Secretary-Treasurer
Florida Association of Kennel Clubs

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Exotic Frogs by Mail What is invasive? What is not?

Photo South Carolina State Parks

Not long ago, most Floridians called a rural area home; even those living in the suburbs had access to wild lands or at least to vacant lots where children could play without the weight of adult supervision. Children could chase squirrels, watch birds, catch tadpoles and lightning bugs, build forts and climb trees.

According to the US Bureau of the Census, Florida’s population today is about 18 million people. That’s getting crowded and, as municipalities practice “urban infill,” forcing the development of vacant lots, it is becoming more difficult for children to connect to the wilder world around them.

 

And so we come to “pets” or in this case wild animals by mail. Mail order African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) were recently in the news.

Provided as tadpoles in kits by a Florida entrepreneur in Brooksville through www.Grow-a-Frog.com, these amphibians – variously described as voracious or the “frog from Hell” or even cute and cuddly – are certainly not native to the United States. Indeed, they are not native to the Western Hemisphere…or were not until recently.

And so we ask two questions and hope that you will share your thoughts:

    1. When does an introduced species become “native,” if ever? Where and when and how do we prohibit (or encourage) possession, sale and breeding of any exotic plant or animal, virus or microbe that we can move through US Customs? If “it” cannot be eradicated, is considered permanent – the African citrus psyllid or hydrilla, for example – is it now “native?”
The African clawed frog. A cuddly amphibian…or a real pest? (Photo Peter Halasz)
    2. How do we – as a non-native species ourselves, depending upon when we draw the boundary around “native” – introduce our children to nature? In the digital age, is a comprehension of “nature” still important? Grow-a-Frog says that youngsters can watch the growing tadpole’s beating heart; says it is “perfect for anyone who appreciates the wonder of nature.” So must this be the future of our contact with and appreciation of nature?

Sincerely,
The Editors

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About the SART Sentinel

Editor: Rick Sapp, PhD, Technical Writer, Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Division of Animal Industry [rsa5@cox.net]

Associate Editor: Joe Kight, State ESF-17 Coordinator, Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Division of Animal Industry [kightj@doacs.state.fl.us]

The SART SENTINEL is an E-mail newsletter prepared monthly by Rick Sapp and the members of the Florida State Agricultural Response Team. Past issues of the Sentinel are archived on the Florida SART Web Site, www.flsart.org.

If you have a story or photo that you would like to have considered for publication in The SART SENTINEL, please contact the Editors.

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