October 9, 2013
Reminder: Emergency exercise in play today, Thursday
Submitted by Communications and Marketing
Kansas State University will participate in the Kansas Department of Agriculture's emergency preparedness exercise today and Thursday.
The two-day functional exercise, based at the Biosecurity Research Institute, will enable the state Department of Agriculture and its partners in other state agencies, federal and local government, industry and the university to practice the state's foreign animal disease response plan. More than 200 individuals will participate in the simulated emergency that will be based on the hypothetical confirmation of foot-and-mouth disease in the United States.
According to Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Dale Rodman, the exercise will provide valuable preparation experience for the agency and all stakeholders as well as identify gaps in the response plan.
The building that will house the Kansas Department of Agriculture when it moves to Manhattan is under construction. The Biosecurity Research Institute in Pat Roberts Hall was therefore chosen as the exercise command center because of its commitment to helping the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the community, and the resources the institute can provide as a modern, state-of-the-art facility on campus.
While you may notice an increased presence of state authorities in Manhattan, regular campus activity will not be affected.
For more information, contact Mary Soukup, communications director at the Kansas Department of Agriculture, or the Division of Communications and Marketing at vpcm@k-state.edu.