Kentucky Extension assists farmers after major flood
With the recent flooding in eastern Kentucky, not only did people lose loved ones, houses and belongings, but the flooding happened in a mountainous area, with hard-to-reach places. Roads were washed away, and people and animals were isolated. What was once fields of grass became covered in mud, leaving animals with no place to graze. After the devasting floods in eastern Kentucky, Extension put forth a quick response to solicit the help of equine industry groups to provide donations and expertise.
University of Kentucky Extension professionals led an effort, along with the Kentucky Horse Council, that resulted in vaccinating and deworming of more than 200 horses in eastern Kentucky and distributing more than 200 pairs of mud boots and more than 300 bottles of fly spray. They provided medicated shampoo and delivered thousands of pounds of donated hay and supplied halters, fly masks and buckets. Extension also worked to secure donations from several organizations and individuals.
In addition, county agents secured access to a dry storage facility for farmers and distributed a needs assessment survey to farmers to determine their needs, enabling Extension to assist hundreds of farmers. These efforts also led to the creation of a new position, area Extension associate, who will work with community partners to provide needs assessments, coordinated efforts, evaluation and program implementation around disaster preparation and recovery.
Link to full statement on website: http://landgrantimpacts.tamu.edu/impacts/show/6137