Winter Farm Flood Health Threats: Risk Factors During Recovery

This presentation will highlight basic precautions to prevent possible diseases and injuries during and after flooding. Floodwater can be contaminated by pollutants including sewage, human and animal feces, pesticides and insecticides, fertilizers, oil, asbestos, rusting building materials, and others.

Winter floods can heighten the risk of health threats such as mold, tetanus bacteria, contaminated well-water, hypothermia and high stress. This is especially true on farms and ranches where inherent farm hazards such as machinery and equipment, livestock, and agricultural chemicals are displaced and co-mingle, putting all emergency response personnel, farm workers and family members in danger.

Chad Roy, PhD, MSPH

Director, Infectious Disease Aerobiology, Director, Biodefense Research Programs at the Tulane National Primate Research Center, Professor of Microbiology & Immunology, Tulane School of Medicine

Dr.Roy is a professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Tulane University Schoolof Medicine and also the Director of Infectious Disease Aerobiology at theTulane National Primate Research Center. Dr. Roy's research focuses onrespiratory health and the aerobiology of infectious diseases. Dr. Roy isa career aerobiologist, and has been active in numerous investigations for anarray of high consequence pathogens over the years. Currently, Dr. Royand his laboratory enterprise are heavily engaged in the COVID-19 response incooperation with the US NIH, CDC, and other international partners. Heserves on numerous ad hoc SME panels contributing to the ongoingresponse to COVID-19, including as an invited panelist with the World HealthOrganizations’ (WHO) committee on development of animal models for futuretesting of medical countermeasures.

Linda Emanuel, RN

Community Health Nurse, AgriSafe Network

Good health advocacy has been at the heart of Linda’s essence from her formative years as a farm girl in eastern Nebraska. Graduating from Nebraska Methodist School of Nursing in 1985, she worked as an R.N. in a variety of acute care hospital settings for over 30 years. She and her husband Tom raised three sons on a successful row crop operation that has been able to welcome the next generation and their families home to continue to diversify their family business. Linda served as a Fellow in the Nebraska LEAD program and has also received agrimedicine training at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Linda now serves on the advisory board for CS-CASH and a member of the AgriSafe team, as a Community Health Nurse.

Bruce I. Dvorak, Ph.D., P.E.

Professor of Civil Engineering and Biological Systems Engineering, and Environmental Engineering Extension Specialist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Bruce I. Dvorak, Ph.D., P.E. is a Civil Engineering and Biological Systems Engineering Professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He performs research and extension outreach on drinking water (both domestic and small rural systems) and environmental sustainability issues. He has published over 45 refereed journal papers and 30 extension publications. He is a member of the American Water Works Association Board of Directors and serves as the Associate Director of Outreach for the US EPA-funded Center “Water Innovation Network for Sustainable Small Systems”.

Christine Chasek, PhD, LIMHP, LADC, LPC

Associate Professor and Chair of the Counseling Department, University of Nebraska - Omaha

Christine Chasek is an Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska Omaha. She has strong rural roots and teaches many behavioral health classes in a Midwestern rural University. Dr. Chasek has more than 20 years of experience practicing mental health and drug and alcohol counseling as a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner and a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor in rural areas. Dr. Chasek also serves on the Nebraska Alcohol and Drug Licensing Board and is President of the International Association of Addiction and Offender Counselors.

Aaron M. Yoder, PhD

Associate Professor, Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Extension - Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Aaron Yoder grew up in central Pennsylvania where he spent time working on his grandfather's farm. He graduated from Penn State University with a BS and MS in Agricultural Systems Management and Environmental Pollution Control, respectively. He went on to complete a Ph.D. from Purdue University in Agricultural and Biological Engineering where he focused on the ergonomic evaluation of assistive technology for AgrAbility clients. Aaron is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and works with projects through the NIOSH-funded Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health. He is the president of the International Society for Agricultural Safety and Health and serves on the Board of Directors of the Agricultural Safety and Health Council of America and Progressive Agriculture Foundation. Dr. Yoder also maintains leadership roles in the eXtension.org/AgSafety Community of Practice, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, and the USDA NCERA197 Committee for establishing priorities at Land Grant University for agricultural safety and health research and education programs.