By:
Chris Eversole

Source:
Carol Lehtola (352) 392-1864

GAINESVILLE — The University of Florida is reaching across the United States to help communities respond to disasters.

UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is producing a satellite videoconference “Are You Ready? Awareness for Preparedness,” which will occur from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. (EDT) Aug. 12.

The program will emphasize the importance of community networks in disaster recovery and ways to help victims manage stress. It is intended for local emergency management personnel and other key people involved in helping communities respond to disasters.

UF/IFAS also produced the 1,000-page 1998 National Edition of the Disaster Handbook and a CD-ROM version of the handbook.

UF/IFAS and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are collaborating on the material and videoconference.

“The U.S.D.A. asked us to help on these projects because of literature and videoconferences we started creating after Hurricane Andrew and because of help we provided during flooding in North Dakota in 1997,” said Carol Lehtola, UF/IFAS assistant professor who is coordinating the disaster-response project.

The videoconference is available on Ku-band satellite. The fee is $200 before Aug. 1 and $250 thereafter. To register, call (800) 226-1764.

The Disaster Handbook Online at http://disaster.ifas.ufl.edu has links to many valuable related resources on the World Wide Web.

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