Emergencies can happen in a blink of an eye, and the New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service, as a member of the Southwest Border Food Protection and Emergency Preparedness Center, is trained to respond to complex crises.
The center, which is a collaboration between Extension, NMSU’s College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences and the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, helps protect the nation’s food supply against threats ranging from foodborne illnesses and supply chain disruptions to agroterrorism.
Additionally, the center offers emergency preparation resources to New Mexico residents. Community members can attend hands-on trainings involving large animal rescue, pet sheltering, using portable corrals, information on animal vaccines and personal protective equipment training.
“Emergency preparedness training is very important, so that we’re ready in case anything happens,” said Tom Dean, center co-director. “The number one thing most people need to know, there’s ways that you can be involved in an emergency response.
“What’s really nice about our unit and what we do in the state of New Mexico, it’s our strength, we actually do trainings for the ag community and network. So NMDA, New Mexico Livestock Board, the College of ACES through the Cooperative Extension Service and the industry partners are all part of the ag network. And when there’s an emergency, that phone call goes out, we’re all on it together coordinating efforts rather than working separately.”
NMSU hosted an Ag Emergency Expo on the Las Cruces campus in August to demonstrate emergency preparation resources. The event informed students, faculty, staff and community members about the resources available.
“If we do have an emergency, and we need boots on the ground, college students could be a great resource.”
Dean encourages residents interested in attending trainings or learning more about resources to contact their local county extension office or the Southwest Border Food Protection and Emergency Preparedness Center. He added representatives are available to travel throughout the state to help train residents.
“We’re not first responders, we may not be the first ones to an incident, but we come in behind them with the resources like the pet shelter trailer, and things to help assist in those situations.”
For more information on emergency preparedness resources in New Mexico, visit https://preparedness.nmsu.edu.
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CUTLINE: Southwest Border Food Protection and Emergency Preparedness Center Co-Directors Marshal Wilson (left) and Tom Dean apply paint to students’ hands for a training exercise on personal protective equipment removal during an Emergency Ag Expo held at New Mexico State University. (NMSU photo by Josh Bachman)
CUTLINE: New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service Ag Agent Sid Gordon (center) leads a large animal rescue demonstration at an Emergency Ag Expo held at NMSU. (NMSU photo by Josh Bachman)