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Emergency Preparedness and Response

APHIS is an Emergency Response Organization
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For nearly 40 years, APHIS' central mission has been to protect the health and value of U.S. agricultural, natural, and other resources. But as America has changed, that mission has expanded and evolved. Today, in addition to protecting the health of livestock, poultry, and crops from foreign diseases and pests, APHIS also works closely with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide assistance and coordination during all-hazards emergencies, including natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina.

APHIS has a long history of successfully responding to traditional animal and plant health emergencies, such as outbreaks of Avian Influenza and Mediterranean Fruit Fly, and it continues to build and refine these capabilities, as well as to conduct test exercises and prepare for all-hazard situations. In other words, our job is to make sure we have planned and tested our capabilities in advance and that when faced with an emergency, we can swiftly dispatch the right experts to handle the situation.

In the News
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  • On 29 January 2010 the Food and Nutrition Service approved South Dakota’s request to waive the 10-day reporting requirement for replacement of SNAP benefits for clients in nine counties that experienced loss of food purchased with SNAP benefits due to weather-related power outages. Clients will have until March 9 to report losses. The State estimates the amount of replacement benefits to be $791,533.
  • On 28 January 2010, the Food and Nutrition Service approved Navajo Nation’s request to expand emergency food assistance to serve 1200 additional people for a new total of 2700 people through February 7, 2010. North Dakota’s request to waive the 10-day reporting requirement for replacement of SNAP benefits for clients statewide that experienced loss of food purchased with SNAP benefits due to power outages. Clients will have until February 28 to report losses. The State estimates the amount of replacement benefits to be $1,756,500. USDA Foods are being used for congregate feeding at two shelters on the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota.
  • On 26 January 2010, the Food and Nutrition Service approved extensions/expansions of emergency food assistance: The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe is authorized to distribute USDA Foods to as many as 4000 households on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota for an additional 5 days. USDA Foods are also being used for congregate feeding at shelters both inside and outside of the reservation for tribal households that are being sheltered. The Navajo Nation is authorized to distribute USDA Foods to approximately 900 more people for additional 7 days (for a total of 1500 people for two weeks) in remote areas of the Navajo Nation in New Mexico and Arizona.
  • On 22 January 2010, the Food and Nutrition Service approved two requests to provide emergency food assistance to tribal organizations due to severe weather. The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe is authorized to distribute USDA Foods to as many as 5000 households on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota for 4 days as a result of widespread power outages. The Navajo Nation is authorized to distribute USDA Foods to approximately 600 people for 7 days in remote areas of the Navajo Nation in New Mexico and Arizona where inclement weather has made roads impassable and reduced access to commercial food supplies.

APHIS Releases Mobilization Guide (pdf; 12.26MB)

APHIS Emergency Response Factsheet (pdf; 45KB)

In the Spotlight
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Last Modified: February 1, 2010