"In many cases, the communities most ill-prepared to deal with . . . 
terrorism incidents," Jason B. Moats writes in the introduction to 
this book, "are the rural communities that provide . . . food and 
crops." Having conducted training across the country for first 
responders in cities, small towns, and rural communities, Moats for 
the first time gathers here the knowledge gleaned from research 
and nearly twenty years' experience in emergency services and 
emergency training.

    Whether used in the field or in the classroom, this manual is 
designed to help rural communities prepare for an act of 
agroterrorism. It explains why the U.S. agriculture industry is a 
target for terrorists and how farms and farming communities across 
the country are vulnerable. The author lists known biological and 
chemical agents and their effects, explains model systems for 
supporting emergency response efforts, and lays out proven plans 
for gathering personnel and other resources in an orderly, 
coordinated way. In Agroterrorism: A Guide for First Responders, 
Moats spells out who should do what and when, providing a critically 
needed path through the bureaucratic maze of state, national, and 
interagency homeland security directives.

    With this book, Moats empowers those on the front lines in rural 
America, those charged with the responsibility of handling 
emergency crises in agricultural communities. Armed with the 
information they need, emergency response agencies, emergency 
managers, public health professionals, veterinary and animal health 
practitioners, as well as farmers and producers, will be able to 
answer the questions: "Where do we start?" "What do we do?" 
"Who is going to do it?" and "How do we pay for it?"

    Closing with a complete training program that includes practical 
exercises formatted for easy use, Agroterrorism: A Guide for 
First Responders contains resources vital for America's rural 
communities, emergency managers, and the agriculture sector that 
is so central to our national interest.

_________________________________________________________

JASON B. MOATS is training coordinator for the Enhanced 
Incident Management/Unified Command Program at the Emergency 
Services Training Institute, Texas Engineering Extension Service, 
Texas A&M University System. He is a Certified Hazardous Material 
Manager and Certified Technical Trainer who speaks often around the 
country on emergency management issues.


Number Ten: Texas A&M University Agriculture Series


What people are saying about this book

"It is a stark description of a stark topic—a 'what to know and how 
to do it' manual for people with mud on their boots. It pulls 
together the reasons the subject is important, the bureaucratic 
information responders must have . . . and practical steps that 
operators can actually take to plan for and respond to a crisis."
—David H. McIntyre, Director of the Integrative Center for Homeland 
Security, Texas A&M University