Local government officials and staff from Duplin Cooperative Extension joined together July 28-29 to focus on disaster preparedness programs for Duplin’s top economic industry — agriculture.

N.C. Cooperative Extension hosted the two-day workshop, entitled Strengthening Community Agrosecurity Planning (S-CAP), at the Cooperative Extension Center in Kinston.

According to Wanda Clay, Duplin County Cooperative Extension director, county commission chairman Frances Parks and Emergency Services director Ried Southerland and Fire Marshal Ricky Deaver attended both days, along with four members from the Extension office.

“Our county was identified as one of 10 southeastern North Carolina counties to participate in this training,”she noted.

She pointed out that identification for S-CAP training assistance signals that Duplin County is recognized statewide for its agricultural enterprise. The S-CAP program developed by the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN), a national collaboration of Extension Specialists, is a community disaster preparedness program that focuses on the integration of agricultural programs into the disaster planning process. North Carolina Cooperative Extension received a grant that covers most of the costs for the S-CAP’s Train-the-Trainer program.

“Duplin had one of the best county representations attending the S-CAP training in Kinston. I can’t say enough about the commitment to agriculture made by Commissioner Parks and county emergency staff by attending S-CAP. We all recognize that this training can be critical, and of course we hope to never have to use it.” Clay said.

In addition to Extension educators, S-CAP involved local government officials, emergency management and public health personnel, volunteer organization representatives, emergency planners, first responders, veterinarians and animal control officers, agricultural producers and commodity representatives and others related professionals.