Homeland Security in South Carolina
The Department of Plant Industry enhances agricultural security in South Carolina by staffing and equipping the State Plant Emergency Response Team, which exists to prevent, prepare for, and respond to incidents impacting plant agriculture in South Carolina. Through grant funding, Plant Industry has built and equipped a mobile command module and laboratory for use in plant pest survey work as well as for emergency response for agriculture events. The department participates in the State Agroterrorism Prevention and Food Safety Subcommittee of the State Bioterrorism Advisory Committee, a multi-agency committee formed to address safety and preparedness concerns relating to the production and distribution of food from the farm to consumer level. The department works closely with other divisions of Clemson University, as well as the SC Emergency Management Division and the SC Law Enforcement Division to assure adequate funding and training of personnel in agricultural response.
The Department of Pesticide Regulation plays an integral role in homeland security initiatives by being involved in the planning for response to incidents of agroterrorism, bioterrorism, and other acts of terrorism that might utilize pesticides or other agricultural chemicals. The Pesticide Regulation laboratory participates in a statewide laboratory network, thereby increasing South Carolina’s overall laboratory surge-capacity. This network of labs would likely be called into action during a chemical event that threatened human or animal health or the environment. The department also participates in state and national meetings and trainings that focus on increasing the level of preparedness in the state, thus enhancing the ability to prevent and mitigate terrorist-related events and naturally occurring disasters.
Both the Plant Industry and the Pesticide Regulation field and laboratory staff are among South Carolina's first line of defense for incidents involving agricultural chemicals. Their training and experience makes them uniquely qualified to quickly evaluate incidents that may have potential homeland security implications.
South Carolina Training Resources for Public Health, Terrorism, and Disaster
Contact Dr. David S. Howle, Assistant Director for Regulatory Services, at 864.646.2120 or 864.506.1500 for more information.
Page maintained by: LeAnn Carver, leannc@clemson.edu