Steve Troxler
for Commissioner of Agriculture
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TROXLER’S LEADERSHIP The
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has its own emergency
preparedness and response unit, the Emergency Programs Division, which is
charged with reducing the agricultural community’s vulnerability to disasters
and diseases. Commissioner Troxler
has pushed the Division into every area of the Department, making it clear that
emergency preparedness and response is not the responsibility of a stand alone
division, it’s a way of thinking that has to be adopted by every employee in
the Department. As the following
information makes clear, HURRICANE
RESPONSE and RECOVERY – Shortly before
Commissioner Troxler took office, Hurricanes Frances and Ivan devastated Western
North Carolina by flooding homes and agricultural structures, destroying
businesses and crops. Immediately
after taking office, as part of the state’s Operation Brighter Day
Agricultural Recovery Program, the Commissioner set up a team to implement
agricultural recovery missions in the 50 disaster-declared counties.
Over 9,000 claims were verified by Departmental staff with $23 million in
payments made to citizens. Weeks
later in 2005, the Commissioner supported sending an Incident Command team to
DISEASE
OUTBREAK and CONTAINMENT – NC has a rich history of animal production, contributing 65% to the
state’s agricultural cash receipts. Commissioner
Troxler has insisted that the Department collaborate with many partner agencies
and organizations to plan and prepare for management and containment of animal
disease outbreaks. NCDA &CS now
has active surveillance and investigation programs for detection of diseases in animals that
pose a risk to animal health, the economic infrastructure, or which may pose a
risk to human health. The NC
Diagnostic Laboratory System is fully accredited to perform diagnostics in all
species. The Rollins Lab located in FOOD SAFETY – By reviewing the Food Safety issue button, you will see tremendous accomplishments by the Department under the Commissioner’s leadership. Developing plans and resources to manage large scale food recalls or food contamination events requires the integration of local, state and federal partners. Without a doubt, NC must maintain the ability to respond immediately, calling on neighboring states as needed and seeking federal support when other resources are stripped. Assuring our public that NC has safe food for our families and animals requires the state maintain rapid response and emergency intervention capability. Commissioner Troxler has made this a priority in his administration.
DROUGHT – In 2007-08, our entire state suffered a disastrous drought severely
impacting agribusiness. After
traveling across NC and witnessing the magnitude of the problem, the
Commissioner activated an incident management team. Realizing
there was no specific funding source to manage this disaster, he requested the
team develop creative solutions to the looming agricultural crisis.
Assistance was provided by government agencies, private industry,
academia and non-governmental organizations - a true multi-agency coordinated
response. Using crop residues that
could not produce the normal seed or grain, the remaining material was turned
into forage for alternative livestock feed.
With the increase in gas prices, the cost of moving hay became an
economic concern for farmers. At the
Commissioner’s request, the Golden Leaf Foundation provided grant money to
support a transportation cost-share program allowing the costs of moving forage
across the state to be offset on a percentage basis. The program paid out over
$555,000 to NC citizens. With the lingering
drought, dwindling forage resources, and concerns about animal welfare, the
Commissioner requested funding through the Council of State.
The Governor’s office approved money to purchase hay from out of state
for sale to citizens. A total of
2,700 tons was sold at a cost of just over $500,000.00.
The Commissioner also sought and obtained funding from the Council of
State for pasture renovation efforts managed through the NC Soil and Water
Conservation service. Other drought
initiatives included federal grant funding to support a water wise education
campaign for NC’s $8 Billion dollar Green Industry, funding obtained from the
Tobacco Trust Fund and General Assembly during 2008 for pasture and pond
restoration and renovation.
DISASTER
TRAINING and EXERCISES – Under the leadership of the Commissioner, the Department responded to Homeland
Security’s request that all agencies have the capability to maintain
interoperability during catastrophic events like 9/11 and most recently
Hurricanes Katrina and Ike. To date,
the Department has over 800 employees trained in the incident management system
used across our nation. Commissioner
Troxler has personally received the advanced incident training, and has required
that of his executive staff as well. The Department is
represented on the State Emergency Response Team, the State Emergency Response
Commission and regional/national agricultural emergency organizations.
The Department has developed response capabilities including incident
management teams, Veterinary Response Corps and specialized strike teams to
assist with agricultural emergencies.
TECHNOLOGY –
The Multi-Hazard
Threat Database is a web based decision support tool, designed to improve
strategic planning, emergency response and resource management during any
natural disaster, terrorist attack or disease outbreak. The MHTD combines
a rich GIS database, web interface and dynamic mapping capabilities in one
central repository. Access to the MHTD is provided via a secure, web-enabled
database reporting tool, an online mapping application (Google Earth / ArcGIS
Server) or with a robust Geographic information System client application.
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