The Role of the Extension Disaster Education Network in Disasters

The Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) is a network of Cooperative Extension professionals across the US Land Grant System. After the 1993 Midwest floods, a disaster reduction group looked to engage locally embedded Extension professionals in support of preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation efforts where they serve. This is achieved through coordination of expertise and resources of the Cooperative Extension System addressing critical needs of local communities. EDEN is supported by the USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture through a Food and Agricultural Defense Initiative grant and works in alignment with the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP). The EDEN network comprises a collaboration of member institutions from the three Land-Grant University Systems, Sea Grant, and other dedicated member partners. This collaboration drives the mission of EDEN to reduce the impact of disasters through the aggregation of research-based resources and coordination to ensure these resources are readily available to the Cooperation Extension System, other stakeholders, and the communities they serve. This mission is achieved through delivery of preparedness education to individuals, families, and communities, responding to disasters in coordination with other emergency management agencies and organizations, serving as a national source of research-based disaster information, and supporting applied research efforts.