Homeland Security Plans Panhandle Exercise

The Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security (OKOHS) is coordinating an exercise in the Panhandle area to practice the local, state and federal response to a Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) outbreak, it was announced today by Governor Brad Henry's office.

The announcement said, "Exercising the response to an agricultural disaster is critically important for Oklahoma, as the state ranks in the top 10 nationally in a number of commodities, including: second in winter wheat, fifth in cattle, fifth in pecans, seventh in peanuts, eighth in hogs and tenth in chicken (broiler) production. This FAD outbreak exercise is a proactive endeavor for the state, particularly for the Panhandle where a majority of the cattle and hog industry is located."

“The Oklahoma agriculture industry is one of the cornerstones of our state’s economy and a crucial component of the nation’s food supply,” said Kerry Pettingill, Oklahoma Homeland Security Director. “We must be proactive in protecting the agriculture sector of business. The responders in the Panhandle are highly qualified and prepared for the enormous responsibility that would come with an agricultural disaster whether natural or man made. This exercise provides an avenue to test the plans in place and identify enhancements that may be needed.

OKOHS is collaborating with the state Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry; Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management; Oklahoma Highway Patrol; Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation; local private industry and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to facilitate this exercise.

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