Disaster Recovery: 2012 National Extension Technology Conference
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Transcript of Disaster Recovery: 2012 National Extension Technology Conference
Disaster Recovery: You CAN Get There
From Here Cathy Yandow
Webmaster & Communications Support Specialist UVM Extension
May 29, 2012
Key Story Points • Vermont geography • Storm & damage • UVM Extension’s role in post-Irene
recovery • Tools UVM Extension used • Lessons learned
New England Geography • “You can’t get there
from here” • Mountains, valleys,
rivers • Few direct routes
between points • Towns, roads,
railroads parallel rivers
http://www.vpr.net/community/gallery/157/, GMRC
The Green Mountain State
August 31, 2011. Waitsfield, Vt. www.mansfieldheliflight.com
Timeline • August 25-26:
• Based on weather forecast, constructed “preparedness” site
• Saturday/Sunday, August 27-28: • “Irene” hit Vermont
• Monday, Labor Day, August 29: • NW Vermont not as hard hit as other areas of state • Switch to recovery-based resources
• Friday, September 2 : • EDEN conference call
Preparedness Site • Vt. state plan commitment • August 25-26 - Emergency planning
resources: – FEMA – NOAA – Vt. State Emergency Management links – EDEN & CES resources (e.g., LSU, NDSU,
etc.) – eXtension – American Red Cross – USDA
Preparedness Site • Emergency supply info • Preparing for flooding & power outages • Pet & livestock safety • Post-storm food safety • Property clean-up safety
Irene’s Track • Slow movement up Atlantic seaboard,
storm picked up more rain than forecast • Southwest to northeast -- New York State
& New England • Across the “spine of the state,” the
mountains • Mountainous terrain, slowing of storm, rain
= torrential rain, flooding
Storm Damage • 14-county disaster declaration • Vt. National Guard assisted by Guard from 6
other states (Maine, Illinois, Ohio, NH, South Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia)
• 260 roads closed (not including municipal road segments)
• 531 miles closed • 33 state highway bridges closed • 200 bridges damaged
Storm Damage • Rail line damage, 107 washouts • 200 miles of rail line impassable • 6 rail bridges badly damaged • Power outages • 13 landlocked towns • Flood waters damaged 400+ acres for fruit
& vegetable production (estimated to approximate $2.24 million)
August 31, 2011. Hancock, Vt. www.mansfieldheliflight.com
UVM Extension • Recovery efforts started Labor Day, Aug.
29 • Chittenden County less damaged • UVM & UVM Extension offices, services
uninterrupted • Nearly 100% Extension personnel
available (several lived in communities isolated by flooding)
• Build on existing relationships with state agencies, FSA, legislators, others
UVM Extension • Focus:
– Damage assessment assistance to farmers – Information distribution to Extension
colleagues & public – Website became comprehensive information
source – Social media use to broaden reach – “Boots on the ground”/cleanup activities – Ag workshops on feed/forage safety
Coordinating Role • Vt. Ag Agency infrastructure badly
damaged • Extension able to provide means to
provide outreach to damaged farms • Needed ability to visit farms (some
isolated), document damage, take photos, manage intake paperwork
State Infrastructure • VT Agency of
Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) losses – Offices flooded – Web site
• Overwhelming need & request for services
“Rebuild Waterbury” photo gallery http://rebuildwaterbury.org
Equine specialist Betsy Greene coordinated delivery of emergency feed to horse operations in Rochester, Vt.
Extension’s ‘Irene’ Toolbox • Smart phones • Conference calls • SharePoint • iPads • Web site • Social media
Smart Phones • Consistent
communication • Damage
documentation, photos
Flooding damaged 6,000+ acres of corn in Vermont, creating a serious feed shortage on many farms.
Conference Calls • Daily (less frequently as needs changed) • COORDINATE tasks, information
distribution • Assess current situation, needs, priorities,
problems, brainstorm solutions • Dean, faculty specialists, program staff,
admin staff, web staff
iPad • 3G/4G enabled for statewide use • Complete on-site completion & collection
of intake damage assessment forms • Upload to SharePoint site for review by
VAAFM, transfer to FSA
SharePoint • “VT Farm Disaster Response”:
• UVM Extension • VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
(VAAFM) • Natural Resource Conservation Districts/VT
Association of Conservation Districts
• Confidential intake/assessment forms (needed for assistance)
• Centralized paperwork management • Team discussions
SharePoint Printable resources & forms
• Vt. Ag Agency resources for farmers • “Be Familiar with Crop Damage Reporting
Requirements” (info sheet) • Damage Assessment Form • “What to Do Next” (recovery guide, info
sheet for farmers) • Unemployment Information factsheet (pdf) • “Interpreting the Results of Soil Tests for
Heavy Metals” (info sheet)
SharePoint • Intake/upload of Damage Assessment
Forms (confidential, used by FSA) • Excel spreadsheets
• Needs / Donations • Farm assistance (manpower!) requests
• Requests for goods, money, assistance & donations managed via Excel spreadsheets
• Conference call notes
Web Site/Social Media • General information for farmers, public &
colleagues – News & updates from:
• Media • Local municipalities • State government & agencies • Federal agencies (FEMA, USDA)
– CES, EDEN, eXtension resources
Web Site/Social Media – Farms – Families & Stress – Finance & Taxes – Food Safety, – Homes – Schools – Donations, volunteering, community
fundraising
Web Site • Ag & business information
– Damage documentation forms, process, where to get assistance
– Natural resource impact – including property tax changes
– Factsheets on taxes, unemployment, crops, forage, etc.
– Extension services & state emergency programs
August 29, 2011. Bolton, Vt. www.mansfieldheliflight.com
University of Vermont • UVM Interim president former
Extension/College of Ag colleague – Office space for Vt. Ag agency personnel – 2 days per person volunteer time – Clean-up crew days – students, faculty, staff
UVM Testing Labs • Heavy metals testing • Mycotoxin testing & research set up • Ongoing assessment
Reconstruction Update – All rail lines reopened within 3 weeks of storm – Rail lines transported road-building materials – All roads, bridges reopened by December 31,
2011 – Mild early winter -- “Last mile”, route 107,
paved, opened December 29 – May 2012 - families, businesses still displaced
& rebuilding – Name “Irene” retired
Lessons Learned • Before a disaster:
– Be familiar with any state or institution emergency plans
– Assess skills, interests, knowledge within your organization
– Inventory resources before an emergency strikes
– Know national CES, eXtension, EDEN resources
– Partners & relationships matter
Lessons Learned • After a disaster:
– Communication – Be organized – Vet content as much as possible – Use national CES, eXtension, EDEN
resources