Source: NDSU EXTENSION SERVICE submitted to NRP
RURAL/FRONTIER DISASTER RESPONSE PROGRAM
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0219655
Grant No.
2009-41210-05965
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
2009-04078
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2009
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2011
Grant Year
2009
Program Code
[MB]- ESNP Special Needs
Recipient Organization
NDSU EXTENSION SERVICE
(N/A)
FARGO,ND 58105
Performing Department
County Programs
Non Technical Summary
NDSU Extension has historically dealt with flood disasters along the Red River Valley area in eastern North Dakota. As this past spring's flooding affected the majority of the state in various ways, the demands on Extension staff were great. NDSU Extension agents and support staff were called upon to help rural/frontier counties with both expected and very unexpected needs. Current disaster training that refers to professionals and services readily available in urban areas was not always applicable and created voids in response. In some rural areas, camaraderie, tradition, and a community culture of self-reliance as a measure of worth are the strong factors that keep volunteer service engaged and survival possible. Managing the immediate disaster needs and the spontaneous volunteer efforts in rural/frontier counties were among the requests that had not surfaced prior to the recent 2009 statewide flooding that affected these rural/frontier areas. This training program will build upon exsiting diaster training program by expanding strategies and information to address unmet needs. ND extension agents will be equipped with the tools and information needed to address the distinct needs of the rural/frontier counties in times of flood disaster. This training will focus on the immediate response phase of the disaster cycle and address 5 of the 6 key target areas of the Smith-Lever Special Needs Program: Education and technical assistance; collaboration; long-range family, community, and regional planning; communication delivery of key information; and dissemination of credible, science-based infformation.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
90360993030100%
Knowledge Area
903 - Communication, Education, and Information Delivery;

Subject Of Investigation
6099 - People and communities, general/other;

Field Of Science
3030 - Information and communication;
Goals / Objectives
The goal of this program is to enable NDSU Extension staff to better respond to the distinct needs of rural/frontier counties experiencing disasters such as floods. Objective 1: Assess the disaster response needs of counties as experienced during the 2009 flood and use information to identify gaps in the existing diaster training program. Timeline is Fall 2009. Outputs: survey developed, conducted and compiled. Identified program/training needs identified. Objective 2: Collaborate with key ND disaster agencies and utilize a nationally recognized volunteer expert to develop responses to identified needs. Timeline is January - April 2010. Outputs: workgroup developed, reviews responses and compiles list of strategies and materials needed. Objective 3: Develop training modules that address assessment findings and prepare them for quick disaster access by webinar and written format. Timeline is May - August, 2010. Outputs: Training modules developed to address each unmet need. Objective 4 - Train NDSU Extension Staff. Timeline is September-October 2010. Outputs: training completed for all NDSU Extension Service staff and evaluations collected; training guide distributed to staff for use in conducting local trainings. Objective 5 - Evaluate the expanded training program, address revisions, and disseminate through EDEN to aid other states with significant rural/frontier populations. Timeline is Nov-Dec 2010. Outputs: Evaluations completed, program revised and dissemination of training to EDEN.
Project Methods
Objective 1 - computer-based survey and interview groups will be conducted and results summarized. Objective 2 - A work group (including extension agents and collaboraing agencies will examine the identified unmet needs and devleop responses. A second meeting will be held in collaboration with Susan Ellis, nationally recognized volunteer management consultant, to use her National Framework for Volunteers to guide the development of materials that recognizes rural/frontier community culture. Objective 3 - Work with technology specialists to develop a series of 15 minute training modules using webinar or other technology-based training tool. Objective 4 - Train the staff,using Susan Ellis and collaborating agencies to assist in training at the annual conference. Objective 5 - Develop and conduct an evaluation of those who completed the Rural/Frontier Disaster Response Training. Use the evaluation results to make any necessary revisions to the training prior to dissemination to EDEN.

Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Objective 1. Assess the disaster response needs of counties. Outputs - Developed a survey monkey instrument for all staff in the participating counties to complete. Following compilation of the surveys, held two face-to-face meetings to validate the results and assist in identifying topic areas for training. Key areas were identified, some in preparedness and some in response/recovery areas.Objective 2. Collaborate with key ND disaster agencies. Outputs - Presented our findings to the North Dakota Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) meeting. Received suggestions for resources and future collaborations. Worked specifically with Kit O'Neill, President of ND VOAD on resiliency and 211 resources, as well as with Bonnie Turner, ND Lutheran Disaster Response coordinator on volunteer toolkits and other resources they could share with us. Objective 3. Develop training modules. Outputs - 1. Worked with NDSU State Extension Specialists and Ag Communications Department to develop web-based videos. These are uploaded on the NDSU Disaster Education web site. 2. Worked with NDSU State Extension Specialists and other agencies to develop "For Employees Only" power points and brochures. 3. Worked with NDSU Specialists and Ag Communication editor to develop PSA's and radio scripts on Talking to Kids about Disasters, Resiliency, and Food Safety. 4. Worked with ND Department of Ag and State Extension Veterinarian to develop protocol for removing and disposing of dead animals. 5.Had staff share their tips on specific issues (on our website) - handling laundry in a city with no water/sewer; Pet care/evacuation with no Humane Society or related organization; and protocol for locating folks in high risk rural areas. Objective 4 - Train Extension Staff.Outputs - 1. Held webinar training for staff to showcase new website resources, answer questions, and get suggestions for any areas we missed. 2. Held a Speed Programming session at State Extension Fall Conference on Disaster Response. Presenters included Kit O'Neill, as well as several Extension staff involved in disaster response topics (New Disaster Resources on the Web, Financial Recovery Toolkit, Family Preparedness and Ready Business Training, Strengthening Community Agrosecurity Planning, and Extension's Roles in Emergency Management Plans). Also had Steve McCurley, Publishing Editor of e-Volunteerism, present a session at Fall Conference for all staff on "Trends in Volunteering: What They Mean for Volunteers and What They May Mean for You". Objective 5 - Evaluation of those who completed the training and share developed materials with EDEN. Outputs - 1. Developed a survey monkey instrument to access staff webinar training. All staff responding to the survey said the training met their needs. All staff also stated they now know where to find disaster education resources on the new website. 2. Many of the materials were already shared at this fall's EDEN conference, by Becky Koch. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Debra Gebeke, Dr. Myron Eighmy, Dr. Marie Hvidsten, Eunice Sahr, Becky Koch, many other Extension Staff. Partner Organizations included: ND VOAD, Lutheran Disaster Response, e-Volunteerism. Training participants: all NDSU Extension Staff at Fall Conference; Extension Staff in the eight targeted counties for the initial response needs survey and follow-up webinar training. TARGET AUDIENCES: Targeted Audiences - our first audience is our own County Extension Staff, especially in the rural/frontier counties who do not have the resources and other agencies available for help. We want our staff to feel confident that they have what they need to help in times of disasters in their own communities. Our secondary audience is the general public. Most of what we developed can be used by the public on their own time schedule via the web. Or they will be able to pick-up a publication, hear a PSA, or see a poster addressing a concern they have during that time. And another audience is the nationwide EDEN network PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: After the initial survey results were in, we decided we needed to take a slightly different approach for our grant. First we asked for (and were granted) a protocol change from eight focus groups to two group interviews with targeted staff to further define the needs. We also decided to bring in Steve McCurly instead of Susan Ellis as a resource for the volunteerism portion. We added the concept of Speed Programming to our staff training to allow folks to hear a very short, concise review of a specific topic and to find out where they would get more information if needed. We asked for (and received) an extension to the timeline of the grant due to the fact that we were in the middle of another flood disaster last spring.

Impacts
The initial survey monkey instrument to assess the disaster response needs showed us we had several issues that needed to be addressed. The specific issues under each topic were reviewed and resources already available were shared and those that needed to be developed are completed. Here is a listing of all items developed: Sixteen PSAs, 58 news releases (9 before flood, 4 during, 30 after and 15 general emergency preparedness topics). Six web-based videos: Sandbag safety, How to Build a Sandbag Dike, Plugging Home Drains, Generator Use, Sump Pump Tips and Using a Moisture Reader. Seven narrated power points: Children in Disaster, Common Reactions to Disaster and Tips for Coping, Pathways to Disaster Recovery and Predictors of Long-term Distress, Orientation to ND Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), Faith-based and VOAD Partnership, Being Resilient: Taking Care of Yourself During Disaster Response, and Disaster Response in North Dakota. Seven publications: How to Build a Sandbag Dike, Using Generators Safely, Preparing at Home, Oil Spills Clean-up, Recovering Checklist, Farm and Ranch Recovery, The Facts of Resilience and a business card reminder of Extension's roles in a Disaster. Posters were also developed on Food Safety at Volunteer Feeding Sites, Using Generators, How to Build a Sandbag Dike and How to Fill Sandbags Safely. The Disaster Education public website was updated and a For Employees section was newly developed which includes the narrated power points, brochures, county examples, USDA agency information, and archives of web conferences and EDEN training programs.

Publications

  • Narrated Power Points
  • located on public website www.ag.ndsu.edu.flood and on employee website www.ag.ndsu.edu/ext-emp/floodinfoforemployees.htm
  • Common Reactions to Disaster and Tips for Coping
  • Pathways to Disaster Recovery and Predictors of Long-term Distress
  • Orientation to N.D. Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD)
  • Lutheran Disaster Response and Other Faith-based and VOAD Partnerships
  • Disaster Response in North Dakota
  • Resilience Being Resilient: Taking Care of Yourself During Disaster Response
  • Webconferences (located at www.ag.ndsu.edu/ext-emp/floodinfoforemployees.htm) March 18, 2010, Webconference Darrin Tonsfeldt's Coping with Chronic and Traumatic Stress Handout March 10, 2010, Webconference Aug. 30, 2010, Rural and Frontier Counties Flood Project Update
  • Videos (located at www.ag.ndsu.edu/flood) Sump Pump Tips Plugging Home Drains to Prevent Sewer Backup Generators: How to Use Them Safely
  • Brochures/Handouts (also on the websites) Know the FACTS of Resilience - Dr. Kit O'Neill and Jackie Crawford, Licensed Psychologists, Fargo, ND. (2010).
  • Red River Resilience Brochure - Dr. Kit O'Neill and Jackie Crawford, Licensed Psychologists, Fargo, ND. (2010).
  • Clean-up of Residential Oil Spills Associated with Flooding - Hellevang, Dr. Kenneth. (2010).
  • Recovery Checklists - Hellevang, Dr. Kenneth and Koch, Becky. (2011).
  • Posters located at Ag Comm Distribution Center. Stacking Sandbags - Hellevang, Dr. Kenneth. (2010). NDSU Agriculture Communication Distribution Center. Filling Sandbags - - Hellevang, Dr. Kenneth. (2010). NDSU Agriculture Communication Distribution Center.
  • Food Safety at Volunteer Feedings Sites - garden-Robinson, Dr. Julie. (2010). NDSU Agriculture Communication Distribution Center. Food Safety At Volunteer Feedings Sites - Garden-Robinson, Dr. Julie. (2010) .


Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Objective 1. Outputs - Developed a survey monkey instrument for all staff in the participating counties to complete. Following compilation of the surveys, held two face-to-face meetings to validate the results and assist in identifying topic areas for training. Key areas were identified, some in preparedness and some in response/recovery areas. Objective 2.Outputs - Presented our findings to the North Dakota Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) meeting. Received suggestions for resources and future collaborations. Worked specifically with Kit O'Neill, President of ND VOAD on resiliency and 211 resources, as well as with Bonnie Turner, ND Lutheran Disaster Response coordinator on volunteer toolkits and other resources they could share with us. Objective 3.Outputs - 1. Worked with NDSU State Extension Specialists and Ag Communications Department to develop web-based videos on: Sandbag Safety, How to Build a Sandbag, Plugging Home Drains, How to use Generators, Sump Pump Tips, and Using a Moisture Meter. These are uploaded on our NDSU Disaster Education web site. 2. Worked with NDSU State Extension Specialists and other agencies to develop "For Employees Only" power points/programs on: Family Preparedness, Ready Business, Family Disaster Supplies Kit, Food Safety at Volunteer feeding sites, and Entering a Flooded Home. 3.Worked with NDSU Specialists and Ag Communication editor to develop PSA's and radio scripts on Talking to Kids about Disasters, Resiliency, and Food Safety. 4.Worked with ND Department of Ag and State Extension Veterinarian to develop protocol for removing and disposing of dead animals. 5.Had staff share their tips on specific issues (on our website) - handling laundry in a city with no water/sewer; Pet care/evacuation with no Humane Society or related organization; and protocol for locating folks in high risk rural areas. Objective 4 Outputs - 1. Held webinar training for staff to showcase new website resources, answer questions, and get suggestions for any areas we missed. 2. Held a Speed Programming session at State Extension Fall Conference on Disaster Response. Presenters included Kit O'Neill, as well as several Extension staff involved in disaster response topics (New Disaster Resources on the Web, Financial Recovery Toolkit, Family Preparedness and Ready Business Training, Strengthening Community Agrosecurity Planning, and Extension's Roles in Emergency Management Plans). Also had Steve McCurley, Publishing Editor of e-Volunteerism, present a session at Fall Conference for all staff on "Trends in Volunteering: What They Mean for Volunteers and What They May Mean for You". Objective 5 Outputs - 1. Developed a survey monkey instrument to access staff webinar training. All staff responding to the survey said the training met their needs. All staff also stated they now know where to find disaster education resources on the new website. 2. Many of the materials were already shared at this fall's EDEN conference, by Becky Koch. PARTICIPANTS: Core participants include those involved with the grant application: Dr. Debra Gebeke, Dr. Myron Eighmy, Dr. Marie Hvidsten, Eunice Sahr, Becky Koch,as well as many other Extension Staff. Partner Organizations included: ND VOAD, Lutheran Disaster Response, e-Volunteerism. Training participants: all NDSU Extension Staff at Fall Conference; Extension Staff in the eight targeted counties for the initial response needs survey and follow-up webinar training. TARGET AUDIENCES: Our first audience is our own County Extension Staff, especially in the rural/frontier counties who do not have the resources and other agencies available for help. We want our staff to feel confident that they have what they need to help in times of disasters in their own communities. Our secondary audience is the general public. Most of what we developed can be used by the public on their own time schedule via the web. Or they will be able to pick-up a publication, hear a PSA, or see a poster addressing a concern they have during that time. And, in the long-term, the nationwide EDEN network users will be an audience. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: After the initial survey results were in, we decided we needed to take a slightly different approach for our grant. We decided to bring in Steve McCurly instead of Susan Ellis as a resource for the volunteerism portion. We added the concept of Speed Programming to our staff training to allow folks to hear a very short, concise review of a specific topic and to find out where they would get more information if needed. We were able to have only one face-to-face meeting (in two locations) with targeted staff and get the results we needed. We asked for (and received) an extension to the timeline of the grant due to the fact that we were in the middle of another flood disaster last spring. We requested (and received) a protocal change from community focus groups to county staff group interviews for our initial survey.

Impacts
Outcomes/Impacts. The initial survey monkey instrument to assess the disaster response needs showed us we had several issues that needed to be addressed. We were able to categorize them into the following topic areas: Evacuees and Human Services, Volunteers, Cleaning, Food Safety, Pesticide and Chemical Safety, Electrical Safety, Water Concerns, Septic/Sewer Systems, Sandbagging, Communication, Transportation, Governance, and Livestock Issues. The specific issues under each topic were reviewed and resources already available were shared and those that needed to be developed are in the process of development or already completed. As mentioned in Objective 5 Output 1, the new Disaster Education website and the training to showcase it met 100% of the staff's needs.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period