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|  |  | | AgPreparedness Center 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. S.W. Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 1-800-464-6874 319-398-5893 |
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The American food and agriculture industry, one of the largest in the world, is a potential target for agroterrorism.
In August, 2004, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security awarded a major grant to Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to found the AgPreparedness Center. From a pool of 217 applicants, Kirkwood was one of only 14 selected to develop training and awareness initiatives across America.
The AgPreparedness Center, the only one of its kind in the United States, was tasked to create a training course for emergency responders. This course, "Foreign Animal Disease Response," was approved by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in December 2005.
The following sponsors have reviewed and approved the "Foreign Animal Disease and Response" course:
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
APHIS
FAZD Center - National Center for Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Disease Defense
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
Iowa State University Center for Food Security and Public Health
The AgrowKnowledge Center
Kirkwood Community College
Located in the Community Training and Response Center on the Kirkwood campus, the AgPreparedness Center offers the rigorously researched, field-tested and peer-reviewed course, "Foreign Animal Disease Response." Through this course, the AgPreparedness Center will ultimately prepare 20,000 master trainers and trainers throughout the United States. This cadre of instructors will, in turn, make "Foreign Animal Disease Response" training available to approximately 300,000 emergency responders, with emphasis on rural counties.
In addition, the AgPreparedness Center offers customized training regarding foreign animal disease threats. Its website offers an electronic library, "News" section, and an electronic newsletter with the latest information on the economic threat of agroterrorism and foreign animal disease outbreaks.
For more information, contact:
Patti Thompson
AgPreparedness Center
6301 Kirkwood Blvd. S.W.
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
1-800-464-6874
(319) 398-5893
patti.thompson@kirkwood.edu
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