EVALUATING EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IN THE ILLINOIS LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY

Publication Date

4-5-2019

Document Type

Poster

Degree Type

Undergraduate

Department

Agriculture

Mentor

Michelle Kibler

Mentor Department

Agriculture

Abstract

Emergency preparedness in the livestock industry can include events such as natural disasters, fire, major disease outbreaks, and animal rights activism causing policy changes without industry awareness. This study is imperative to mitigating risk in the livestock industry by educating farmers on various steps to take in the case of an emergency event and providing information regarding how to prepare for such an event. Estimates of potential loss in the cattle industry in cases of foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks ranged between $43.2 and $728.5 million in the United States, depending on the scale of the outbreak according to researchers at Kansas State University in 2007. Findings from a 2015 study Colorado State University estimating potential economic impact to a local economy from an equine disease outbreak range between $500,000 and $107 million. Few existing studies have investigated the preparedness of livestock producers and equine owners presented with a natural disaster or disease event. Emergency preparedness plans may mitigate the potential economic losses associated with emergency events (e.g. - reduce response time in activating biosecurity procedures). To assess the state of preparedness for an emergency in the Illinois livestock industry, a survey was developed and administered to Illinois Livestock Preparedness Symposium attendees with questions pertaining to the participants' emergency preparedness at their own facilities, their perception of the state of emergency preparedness in the Illinois livestock industry, and information regarding their involvement in the industry. Anticipated results assess the general need for further education in emergency preparedness within the industry, and producer/owner interest in continuing education on the subject. The intent of this research is to establish a baseline for the level of emergency preparedness in the Illinois livestock industry and evaluate the need for further educational events.

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