NIFA, Extension Responds to 7.0 Earthquake in Alaska

Alaska was hit by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake at 12:29 p.m. on Nov. 30, with hundreds of smaller earthquakes since then. There were no deaths and all Extension staff in Alaska are safe. NIFA and the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) responded to the disaster by providing resources to Alaska Extension to help Alaskans recover from the disaster.

EDEN is a collaborative effort by extension services across the country to improve the delivery of services to citizens affected by disasters.

University of Alaska-Fairbanks’ Cooperative Extension Service (UAF CES) shared their own resources among their own network, including an informational PowerPoint by Art Nash, UAF CES Energy Specialist, on Emergency Management in the Extremes of the Last Frontier – Getting Alaska Residents Prepared. Additional resources include U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration resources on stress management post disasters, and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Rebuild Healthy Homes guide that was developed by Louisiana State University Extension. University of Minnesota Extension also provided tools for those assessing their personal financial situations following a disaster: Recovery After Disaster; The Family Financial Toolkit and Financial Recovery After Disaster Video Series.

NIFA provided funding (through the Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative for EDEN and Smith-Lever Special Needs Cooperative Grants) for many of the resources used by extension staff and volunteers in response to the earthquake.

Secretary Perdue Announces New OneUSDA Internship Program

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announces the “OneUSDA Internship” opportunity for Summer 2019. As part of the Federal Pathways Program, the OneUSDA Internship will provide students a way to explore serving their country through a career in government while gaining work experience in agriculture, natural resources, rural development, and other career fields.

“The improvements we’re making to internships at USDA will enable us to recruit the best and retain the best,” said Secretary Perdue. “Today’s young people are the future of America and there are few things more American than agriculture. We’re aiming to find young talent, with a diverse background, across all 50 states, to begin their careers as an intern with USDA.” Read the full USDA press release.