Vol. 10, No. 12, December 2014 |
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SART – Turning Visions into Action
The theme for the 4th Florida SART Planning Meeting is SART – Turning Visions into Action. Conference speakers, seminars and opportunities to get-to-know other responders and response agencies have been established and registration is open online at http://www.cvent.com/events/2015-sart-planning-meeting/event-summary-1526774928984f449cfffe546cc1cc77.aspx. Because as many as 150 people are expected, it is recommended that you schedule attendance and book a room as soon as possible. The meeting will begin at 1:00 pm on Monday, January 12 and will conclude by noon on Wednesday. For conference related questions, or assistance completing the registration process, contact CMC & Associates (850) 224-7775 or jchapman@cmc-associates.com.
Co-chairs for the 2015 Florida SART Planning Meeting will be FDACS' David Perry (left) and UF/IFAS Associate Dean Joan Dusky.
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Monday, January 12
1:00 Call to Order – David Perry, FDACS/SART Co-chair
Welcome – Stephen Watts, Director, Osceola Co. Emergency Management
Greetings – Dr. Lisa Conti, FDOH
1:30 SERT Program – Bryan Koon, Director, FDEM
2:00 Brevard County Large Animal Plan – Lacie Davis, Coordinator, Brevard Co.
Emergency Management
2:30 New Animal Courses
LECALE: Dr. Matt Hersom, Dept. of Animal Sciences, UF
Animal Emergency Sheltering – Operations Level: Consie von Gontard, SARC
3:00 Break
3:15 Social Media in an Emergency – David Merrick, Director, Center for Disaster
Risk Policy, FSU
6:00 Attendee Gathering
7:00 Adjourn
Tuesday, January 13
8:00 Announcements – David Perry, FDACS/SART Co-chair
8:15 Radiological Planning – John Williamson, Administrator, Bureau of Radiation
Control, FDOH
11:30 SART Awards Luncheon
1:30 Radiological Planning – with John Williamson, continued
5:00 Adjourn
Wednesday, January 14
8:00 Breakout Session: Invited IFAS and FDACS staff personnel – Dr. Mike Short
8:15 “Don’t Pack a Pest” – Denise Feiber, FDACS/DPI
9:30 Lee County Animal Decontamination Workshop – John Haven, Director,
College of Veterinary Medicine, UF
10:30 Break
10:45 Federal Partner Reports – USDA
Dr. George Chambliss, Moderator
Dr. Cris Young, Veterinary Services
Dr. Allan Hogue, Animal Care
Rick Dantzler, Farm Service Agency
Dr. Ty Vannieuwenhoven, U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services
12:00 Adjourn
LECALE Training is Scheduled
LECALE stands for Livestock Education and Certification for Agriculture Law Enforcement. This program was developed by the University of Florida through IFAS’ Department of Animal Sciences in cooperation with FDACS. The first training event is scheduled for March 3-6, 2015 at the Straughn IFAS Extension Professional Development Center, 2142 Shealy Drive, Gainesville. The registration fee is $349.99 for all participants regardless of affiliation. The fee includes refreshment breaks, lunches, course material and certification fee. The class is limited to the first 25 registrants. For information go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/livestock-education-and-certification-for-agriculture-law-enforcement-tickets-14263240737 or contact Dr. Matt Hersom hersom@ufl.edu or Rebecca Matta matta@ufl.edu.
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The LECALE objective is to provide law enforcement and state attorney personnel rigorous and relevant training curriculum regarding generally accepted livestock production practices, skills to discern acceptable animal well-being, and ability to apply acquired knowledge and skills in the field and during litigation proceedings. Specific learning objectives include: Basic Animal Husbandry, Identification, Behavior and Handling, Nutrition, Pastures, Disease and Biosecurity, Euthanasia, Body Condition Scoring, and Live Animal Evaluations.
Attendees will receive both classroom and hands-on education opportunities. The LECALE program offers law enforcement educational opportunities with an emphasis on animal production practices specific to the Gulf Coast region. The program offers multi-species, agriculture related education. Subject matter experts; University of Florida professors, IFAS County Extension agents, and Law Enforcement officers will deliver the LECALE program. At the conclusion of the program attendees will undergo examination for certification through the Florida Farm Bureau Agriculture Certification Program. The program delivers the learning objectives over three days with a final day for assessment and certification. The LECALE program will offer law enforcement personnel a great opportunity to increase their knowledge and skills regarding livestock animal production. The associated certification demonstrates an attainment of knowledge and subject matter credibility for the LECALE attendee.
Tallahassee Plans Pandemic Disaster Drill
On Saturday, January 25, Tallahassee residents and public safety agencies will stage a pandemic response tabletop exercise for neighborhoods. It will take place from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Tallahassee Fire Department Training Center, 2964 Municipal Way.
“Preparing for flu season should be part of our routine preparations for autumn along with raking leaves, breaking out coats and gloves, stocking chicken soup, cough drops and tissues,” says Holly Kirsch, LD, RD, acting administrator for FDOH in Leon County. “Preparing for a pandemic takes even more preparation and gives us the ability to respond to a disaster more efficiently. This exercise will help residents consider other steps they need to take.”
Illness from the 1918 flu pandemic, also known as Spanish flu, came on quickly. Some people felt fine in the morning but died by nightfall. People who caught the Spanish Flu but did not die from it often died from complications caused by bacteria, such as pneumonia. During the 1918 pandemic:
Unlike earlier pandemics and seasonal flu outbreaks, the 1918 pandemic flu saw high mortality rates among healthy adults. In fact, the illness and mortality rates were highest among adults 20 to 50 years old. To this day, the reasons for this remain unknown. |
At the training event, participants will work with facilitators to gain an understanding of how prepared their neighborhoods are for an influenza pandemic. Facilitators will also establish a concept of operations to guide residents through the response process. By working together as a team, participants will be able to strengthen their disaster readiness and enhance the disaster response knowledge of their neighborhood's residents.
To participate in the exercise, register at www.formidablefootprint.org. There is no charge. For more information on preparedness, go to www.floridadisaster.org, www.flu.gov, www.LeonCountyFL.gov/ei, www.leoncountyfl.gov/lchd or www.Talgov.com/emergency. Tallahassee contact information: Robby Powers, Tallahassee Emergency Management Coordinator, 891-6201; Kevin Peters, Leon County Division of Emergency Management, 606-3700; Jon Brown, Leon County Community and Media Relations, 606-5300; or Lizzy Kelley, Tallahassee Department of Communications, 891-8533