The UK Emergency Management System team received a grant for LADDER: Local Approach to Discussion-Based

Disaster Exercises and Readiness, a unique project that offers emergency management,

Extension educators and other stakeholders a low-cost, low-technology “exercise-in-a-box” to

incorporate into their exercise schedule, allowing communities to identify ways to become more

resilient. Franklin County Extension is a partner in this pilot project.

The project goal is to engage whole community stakeholders in discussion-based exercises to

improve disaster preparedness involving animals. Few resources exist to facilitate exercises that

test local disaster response to animal issues. 

Franklin County Extension held a soft launch engaging EDEN delegates to evaluate the product. It was held at the 

LEPC/DES office and  included DES staff, the fire department, sheriff's office, city police and local producers.

Using pilot-testing feedback, revisions to the initial product will be made.  Participants 

conducted interdisciplinary assessment of emergency operations plans for disasters affecting

animals, gap identification, and improvement plan creation. Everyone agreed that the desktop "game" was effective and 

would utilize the final product for training.

Upon conclusion of the project, the project team will engage Extension and emergency management professionals through a

network of existing organizations to facilitate local emergency managers’ ability to meet the full

spectrum of local preparedness needs.