Office of Agricultural Emergency Preparedness
About Us
The Office of Agricultural Emergency Preparedness provides the Department with professional expertise and leadership in statewide homeland security and emergency preparedness issues involving agricultural and food systems. The office coordinates and reviews appropriate Department programs and activities related to agricultural emergencies and food defense for Florida's citizens. It is responsible for analysis and evaluation of threats to animal and plant agriculture and to the food production, processing, storage, and transportation systems.
The office acts as a primary liaison and contact for Department-wide homeland security and emergency preparedness issues with other state and local agencies, federal government agencies, private and government laboratories, and diverse agriculture and food-related industries. It is responsible for establishing and maintaining timely, effective communication channels with agricultural emergency preparedness and food defense personnel in other state and federal agencies throughout the industry. Office personnel must maintain sufficient security clearances with other state and federal agencies to allow appropriate access to needed security information to assure proper preparedness.
The office serves as liaison and coordinator between all divisions, offices, and programs of the Department regarding domestic security and emergency preparedness issues.
Definition of Agroterrorism
Agroterrorism is the deliberate introduction of a chemical or a disease agent, either against livestock/crops or into the food chain, for the purpose of undermining stability and/or generating fear.
Agroterrorism Prevention
Since September 11, 2001, more than 25 million dollars have been utilized by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to prepare for and prevent agroterrorism events. Approximately 18 million dollars came from federal agencies with the remainder provided through state appropriation.
Priority Initiatives
- Geospatial Data Integration Initiative
Integration of geospatial data from the Department’s thirteen divisions and five offices is critical for supporting domestic security needs. State and federal funds are being utilized to build the systems and processes that will allow real-time mapping and analysis of Department facilities, employee locations, resources, and regulated entities. In certain disaster scenarios such as intentional food contamination or introduction of a foreign animal disease, data integration could significantly reduce response time. This will greatly reduce impact to humans, loss of animal life, and economic damages. - Laboratory Construction, Renovation, and Upgrades
State and federal funds have been utilized for the renovation of a suite in our Department’s Food Laboratory, and for the construction of a new annex at our Animal Diagnostic Laboratory. The resulting state-of-the-art Biological Safety Level III (BSL III) laboratory suites will enable Department employees to safely test for dangerous agents and diseases such as anthrax, foot and mouth disease, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or Mad-Cow Disease).
New-technology equipment and advanced training for laboratory personnel have allowed our Department laboratories to join various state and federal laboratory networks, allowing these lab networks to grow in their ability to defend against agroterrorism and bioterrorism events.
- Border Protection
Border Protection has always been a priority for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and recent terrorist events have simply underlined the importance of this activity. The Department obtained state funding to staff and build a new agricultural interdiction station on Interstate -10 eastbound near the Florida/Alabama border. This new facility, joining the 22 existing interdiction stations, was opened in April 2006.
State and federal funds have allowed the purchase of four portable gamma ray vehicles for use at any of our agricultural interdiction stations or at high profile events. These units are capable of providing an “x-ray view” of an 18-wheel tractor trailer rig in approximately 1 minute.
- Domestic Security Exercises
Agricultural Emergency Preparedness staff and other Department personnel regularly participate in homeland security and emergency preparedness exercises across the state. These exercises are held in partnership with industry, law enforcement, fire, emergency management, health and other state and local emergency responders, and have significantly improved Florida’s terrorism preparedness.
- State Agricultural Response Team (SART)
The State Agricultural Response Team, also know as SART, is an interagency, coordinated effort of local, state, and federal partners. SART is dedicated to effectively communicate and plan for agricultural-related emergencies and disasters that affect Florida. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has been one of the leading agencies working to create and fund this important endeavor. For information and educational opportunities, please visit the SART web site at www.flsart.org.
