DATE: 10/27/2005

CONTACT: Howard van Dijk, (803) 865-1216, ext. 128

WRITER: Tom Lollis, (803) 284-3343, ext. 241

Clemson teams prepare for potential disasters

CLEMSON -- Whenever disaster hits South Carolina -- whether hurricane or agroterrorism -- Clemson University will be ready to help protect the state’s agricultural base and its people.

Clemson employees train around the calendar with each other and with other agencies to prepare for disasters, according to Howard van Dijk, Extension Service preparedness coordinator.

“Extension is one of the support agencies when the State Emergency Management Division activates the Emergency Operations Center (EOC),” he said. “We have responsibilities for emergency preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery.” The EOC was activated during hurricane Ophelia’s near brush with the coast in September.

Clemson supports three working groups called Emergency Support Functions, which deal with animal and other agricultural issues, food crops and rapid damage assessment for crops and farms.

“Extension coordinates closely with Livestock/Poultry Health, which is in charge of the state’s animal emergency plan,” said van Dijk.

Prior to a storm threat, Extension educates the public on how to prepare, providing information such as: what needs to go in an emergency kit; food safety information; how and where livestock owners can move their animals to safety; how to protect farm supplies from the elements.

Extension helps the Farm Services Agency assess damage on the farm and helps farmers find whatever assistance they need.

“In addition, each county has either organized or is organizing a County Agricultural Response Team (CART) to deal with agroterrorism and natural emergencies,” said van Dijk. The CARTs include every agency within the response community such as law enforcement and health officials. Six regional CARTs have trucks, trailers and equipment that can be moved to wherever needed to confine loose animals.

With Homeland Security funding, Clemson has organized some of the first training in the country to prepare states for attacks on agriculture. Experts from the Academy of Counter-Terrorism Education at Louisiana State University have conducted table top exercises for Extension, LPH, DHEC, the state Homeland Security office, other state agencies and local law enforcement people from around South Carolina.

“We’ll do more table-top exercises in the coming year and some exercises in the field to practice for stopping the spread of animal diseases,” said van Dijk.

“We want to be prepared, but hope we never have to use it,” he said.

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