U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

FEMA/USFA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                 
May 14, 2003
Contact:  Tom Olshanski, USFA
(202) 646-3068

USFA ANNOUNCES NEW INDEPENDENT STUDY PROGRAM: LIVESTOCK IN DISASTERS

EMMITSBURG, MD. - Livestock can be overlooked victims of disaster and the
associated economic impact of can affect small and large producers in
affected areas.  The high winds and storm surge from Hurricane Floyd
killed thousands of pigs and poultry in North Carolina.  Heat waves across
the mid Atlantic states in 2001 (?) killed several million poultry.  And
more than 90,000 cattle either froze or drowned in the blizzards and
subsequent floods in the north central states in 1997.  These caused
interruption of Americas food supply, economic losses, public health
problems and a huge cost to the American taxpayer in disaster assistance.

To address this issue, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the United States Fire
Administration (USFA) announce a new independent study program called
"Livestock in Disasters" (IS-111), designed and presented by FEMA's
Emergency Management Institute (EMI).  It is aimed at farmers, emergency
managers and all other first responders who are involved in livestock
agriculture.

"There are two major objectives in this training program.  Preventing the
loss of livestock and increasing the ability to more effectively respond
when there is a loss," said USFA Deputy Administrator Charlie Dickinson.
"It not only addresses the problems associated with natural disasters such
as floods and blizzards, it is also concerned with effective response to
outbreaks of animal disease."

Topics covered in Livestock in Disasters include animal and public health
issues, evacuation of animals, providing feed and water in times of
disaster, and building wind resistant barns and farm buildings.  The
course also includes information on assistance from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (to help prepare for a disaster OR available to help recover
from a disaster) and developing community emergency plans to address this
issue.

Livestock in Disasters IS-111 is available to all Americans.  The course
materials can be downloaded from EMI's Independent Study Website:
http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/is.

Printed copies of IS-111 can be obtained by calling EMI's Independent
Study office at 301-447-1200.  The course takes 10 to 12 hours to
complete.

USFA is a part of FEMA.  Both USFA and FEMA are a part of the Department
of Homeland Security