Corner Store ConversationsAs 2005 comes to a close, SART looks back on a resplendent year - the first training events were held in north, central, and south Florida … several new organizations and agencies partnered with existing agencies to support SART … the hurricane season exhausted the 21 given names and moved into the Greek alphabet … the SART Advisory Board was installed to help guide the organization … lesson plans and participant workbooks were launched on the Web … a monthly newsletter began … dozens of people signed up as SART members (to date we are just short of 300 members!). As we look back professionally and personally, we need to all take the time to pat ourselves on the back for a job well done. A lot of effort from many people and agencies contributed to this year's successes - thank you to everyone! With continued help, next year will be even better. Please accept our best wishes for a happy holiday season. See you in the new year! [top] Disaster Preparedness for Veterinary PracticesVeterinary practices are critically important to any community after a disaster. Their availability to continue operations, even at a reduced schedule, is important. The good news is that through planning and preparation activities, anyone's practice can effectively respond to a disaster that affects it. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has a Disaster Preparedness and Response Guide which instructs the reader on planning and preparedness activities related to the practice's structure and records, disaster resources that are available, sample forms, and animal handling tips, in addition to several other areas. The guide may be purchased for $50 to $100 (AVMA member versus nonmember prices) or, alternatively, may be downloaded from <http://www.avma.org/disaster/responseguide/responseguide_toc.asp>. [top] PERI Small Entity Scholarship ProgramThe Public Entity Risk Institute (PERI) will award $1,000 scholarships to up to 40 individuals to attend the Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) Annual Conference and Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, June 11-14, 2006. The conference will bring together employees and local officials, vendors, and suppliers interested in improving risk management in the public sector. PERI's Small Entity Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to help staff and officials of small public jurisdictions and community nonprofit organizations attend the PRIMA conference. Scholarship recipients will receive $1,000 that can be used for any conference expense (air, hotel, registration, meals, etc.). The program is open to employees and elected officials of local governments and schools and staff and board members of a small community of nonprofit organizations. Only one individual per organization
may receive a scholarship in a single year. Eligibility is based
on the size or operating budget of the organization and the scope
of the applicant's risk management responsibilities. Applications
must be postmarked no later than February 24, 2006, and sent
via mail, e-mail, or fax. Applications should be sent to Small
Entity Scholarship Program, Attention: Audre -- As reported in Disaster Research, 441, Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado, Boulder [top] Hurricane Season 2005 Tops the ChartsOn November 29, one day before the end of hurricane season, and three days before Tropical Storm Epsilon strengthened into 2005's 14th hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean (only the fifth December hurricane recorded in more than 120 years), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) released the storm stats for 2005 and predicted additional active hurricane seasons in the years to come. According to NOAA, the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the busiest on record. Breaking records that stood for decades, the season was the first to see 26 named storms, 13 hurricanes (excluding Epsilon), 3 category 5 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes (category 3 or higher) hitting the United States. NOAA scientists had predicted that 2005 would be an extremely active hurricane season, forecasting near-record activity in an early August report. The 26 named storms topped the forecast range of 18 to 21, the 13 hurricanes inched above the forecast of 9 to 11 and the 7 major hurricanes fell within the forecast range of 5 to 7. Five hurricanes (Dennis, Katrina, Ophelia, Rita, and Wilma) and three tropical storms (Arlene, Cindy, and Tammy) directly affected the United States. Letters of the Greek alphabet
were used to name storms for the first time since storms began
acquiring names in 1953, as Hurricane Wilma exhausted the original
list of 21 names. Tropical Storm Alpha and Hurricane Beta hit
the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua, respectively. Tropical
Storm Gamma brought deadly flooding to parts of Central America.
Tropical Storm Delta largely stayed over open water then moved
across the Canary Islands off the northwest coast of Africa. The Atlantic Basin is in the active phase of a multidecadal cycle in which optimal conditions in the ocean and atmosphere, including warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures and low wind shear, enhance hurricane activity. This increase in the number and intensity of tropical storms and hurricanes can span multiple decades (approximately 20 to 30 years). NOAA will make its official 2006 season forecast in May, prior to the June 1 start to the season and urges hurricane-prone residents to take proactive measures now. Read the press release, download
graphic and audio files from the news conference, or link to
additional information, including additional noteworthy records
of the 2005 season, at <http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2005/s2540.htm>. [top] First SART Advisory Board Meeting HeldOn November 16, 2005 the first Advisory Board meeting was held in Gainesville at the Farm Bureau Building. At this meeting, the thirty board members were officially announced and installed. Members represent each of the partner agencies. The official business of the meeting included presentations by various project representatives to provide updates on several projects - member recruitment, Web site changes, partner agency information lists for the Web site, and training material progress. New business items, in addition to the installation of the board, covered the newsletter, county SART development committee progress, VETS progress, and 2005 hurricane responses. The meeting adjourned having successfully attended to each agenda item. The next meeting for the Advisory Board is tentatively set for January, 2006. [top] Pilot Starter Packs Mailed OutThe Starter Packs for the county SART pilot counties were mailed out during the first week in December. The pilot program participants, officially known as the County SART Development Committee, were joined by two other counties as a result of the Advisory Board meeting. Welcome Hernando and Hillsborough Counties!! The pilot counties now total 10. If you live in Santa Rosa, Jackson, Bradford, Gilchrist, Marion, Hernando, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Okeechobee, or Collier County, and want to be kept abreast of county SART activities please email us at <SARTNewsEditor-L@lists.ifas.ufl.edu>. FY 2006 PDM Grant Applications Now Being AcceptedThe application period for
the Federal Emergency Management Agency's The PDM program provides funds to states, territories, Indian tribal governments, and communities for hazard mitigation planning and the implementation of mitigation projects prior to a disaster event. Funding these plans and projects reduces overall risks to the population and structures, while also reducing reliance on funding from actual disaster declarations. PDM grants are awarded on a competitive basis and without reference to state allocations, quotas, or other formula-based allocation(s) of funds. Congress has appropriated $50 million for competitive grants, technical assistance, and program support for the FY 2006 PDM program. Availability of PDM funds is dependent upon congressional reauthorization of the program, expected by December 31, 2005. The deadline for having a FEMA-approved mitigation plan to be eligible to receive an FY 2006 PDM program project grant is April 14, 2006. Applicants must use the electronic
grants (eGrants) management system at <http://portal.fema.gov/>
to submit a PDM grant application. The FY -- As reported in Disaster Research, 442, Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado, Boulder [top] EMAC Post-Deployment SurveyHurricanes Katrina and Rita
resulted in the largest deployment of mutual aid through the
Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) in its history.
Civilian personnel from all disciplines and National The EMAC post-deployment survey is available to all personnel from all disciplines (civil and National Guard) deployed for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. To register and complete the survey, visit <http://www.emacweb.org/>. -- As reported in Disaster Research, 442, Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado, Boulder Holiday Fun FactThere are about 500,000 acres in production for growing Christmas trees in the U.S. Each acre provides the daily oxygen requirements of 18 people. To find out more about Christmas tree production, visit the National Christmas Tree Association Web site at <www.christmastree.org>. Editor: Gregory S. Christy, DVM, State ESF-17 Coordinator, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Animal Industry Associate editor: Elizabeth A. Wang, UF/IFAS, University of Florida The SART SENTINEL is an e-mail newsletter prepared monthly by Dr. Gregory S. Christy and the staff of the Florida State Agricultural Response Team. Past issues of the Sentinel are archived on the Florida SART Web Site: <www.flsart.org>. For additional information on agriculture, animals, and disaster, visit: Florida SART Home Page: <www.flsart.org> For a complete list of all SART participating agencies, visit the Florida SART Web site: <www.flsart.org>.
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