With a federal grant, a team of University of Kentucky Extension professionals (Roberta Dwyer, Andrea Higdon, Melissa Morgan, Kandice Williams) leads a group developing an exercise for local emergency managers. LADDERS is a Local Approach to Discussion-Based Disaster Exercises and Readiness that is geared towards pets, livestock and disaster preparedness. This disaster preparedness game helps local emergency managers and animal stakeholders work through real-world scenarios with the goal of applying these problem solving skills to their local emergency operations plan for animals. While in-person LADDERS was temporarily postponed due to COVID-19, the team submitted an additional grant to expand this concept, enabling virtual delivery of the program. This proposal was accepted and work will continue to train communities on protecting animals and critical infrastructure.