Abstract - Incidence Response Planning - Livestock Shows - OK
Authors: Patrick Allen and Traci Naile (OK) and Chelsea Poe, Red Angus Assn. of America
Agricultural vulnerability encompasses any hazards that threaten stability of the agriculture and food critical infrastructure, including the livestock industry and livestock shows. To protect this infrastructure, livestock show officials and local emergency management agencies can use the National Incident Management System and National Response Framework as guidelines for establishing incident response plans and partnerships aimed at protecting animals and humans present at livestock events. Thousands of youth, exhibitors, adults, spectators, and officials attend such events each year, and proactive measures will increase the effectiveness of responses to incidents that can occur during the events. However, despite the need for a structure and recommendations to help emergency and event officials establish partnerships and plans, little information is available regarding the structure and effectiveness of incident planning and response at livestock shows in the U.S.
To provide such information and formulate recommendations about planning for incidents at livestock shows, a qualitative interview study examining incident response at large livestock shows was conducted. The themes that emerged from this study included background information about the livestock shows, incident response planning, executing incident response plans, communication among officials, challenges in implementing incident response plans, example incidents, recommendations for effective incident planning and response for livestock shows, incident response training, and the need for planning.
Ultimately, participants indicated that livestock shows are important to the communities that host them, but that a lack of communication between livestock show officials and emergency management officials creates barriers to effective incident planning and response. To overcome these barriers, the participants identified needs for engaged partnerships, elected officials’ understanding of various entities’ roles in incident response, and cross-training for show and emergency management officials in livestock handling and emergency management. The participants particularly emphasized activities related to pre-planning, training, and practicing incident planning and response. Their recommendations fit within the preparedness cycle activities of planning, organizing, training, exercising, and improving that are supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
If preventive measures are in place, officials associated with livestock shows of all sizes will be able to respond to incidents more efficiently and effectively, lessening the impact of incidents and avoiding unintentional casualties. As key stakeholders—as exhibitors, adults, spectators, and officials, as well as in other capacities—in most livestock shows, Cooperative Extension personnel will benefit significantly from applications of and discussions about the findings of this study.
Equal Opportunity Institution