Florida has an ESF- 18 for Industry Partners that is designed
for communication with Florida’s businesses. Food businesses
were able to report status updates using an online portal when
they could resume operation, which assisted in determining
areas for assessment. Efforts are being made to enhance this
self-reporting system, which will be a benefit to the Florida
food agencies during disaster recovery and will allow consumers to know which businesses are open and operating.
After Hurricane Irma, the
FLIRRT food agencies assessed within a 2-week
period over 26,000
facilities by either
on-site visits or
phone assessments,
and reported over
630,000 pounds of
adulterated product
destroyed post-Irma.
Conclusion
The Texas and Florida
RRTs provide an example of
how the RRT system has improved response to human and
animal food emergencies. These teams along with the 20
others across the nation have become an integral component in the nation’s integrated food safety system. The rapid
response teams prove the effectiveness of multi-agency and
-jurisdictional responses incorporating federal, state, and
local officials. n
Joseph Corby is the executive director of the Association of Food & Drug Officials.
Steven Mandernach is the bureau chief for food and consumer safety at the
Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals.
Brenda Morris is the assistant director, Division of Food Safety, at the Florida
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Summer Williams is the emergency response coordinator, Division of Food
Safety, at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Tishara Coleman, MPA, REHS/RS, is a TRRT project specialist.
Resources
www.worldvision.org/disaster-relief-news-stories/hurricane-harvey-facts.
www.weather.gov/hgx/hurricaneharvey.
NASA. 2017. “Hot Water Ahead for Hurricane Irma.”
www.worldvision.org/disaster-relief-news-stories/hurricane-irma-facts.
www.weather.gov/bmx/event_irma2017.
FDA. “Food Safety in the Event of Disasters.” University of Tennessee Center for Agriculture and Food Security and Preparedness.
www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Emergencies/
ucm112713.htm.
www.foodsafetymagazine.com/magazine-archive1/
augustseptember-2014/lessons-learned-food-safety-preparedness-before-
the-next-natural-disaster/.
RAPID RESPONSE TEAMS
“The disruptions
following a natural
disaster can create
potential health
concerns.”
(continued from page 49)
JUNE n JULY 2017 75
Industrial Test Systems, Inc. • www.exactdip.com............................... 17
Kikkoman • KikkomanA3.com.................................................................. 51
Kreyenborg Plant Technology GmbH & Co .......................................... 68
www.kreyenborg.com
Meritech • 800.932.7707 • www.meritech.com........................................ 3
Michelson Laboratories, Inc.................................................................... 75
888.941.5050 • www.michelsonlab.com
Micreos • www.phageguard.com ............................................................... 7
Micro Bio • 248.288.6098 • www.microbiollc.com................................ 45
Micro Essential Laboratory Inc. • www.MicroEssentialLab.com ....... 70
Microbac Laboratories, Inc. ................................................................... 27
724.814.0973 • www.microbac.com/unseen
Microbiology International..................................................................... 15
800.EZ.MICRO • www.800EZMICRO.com
MilliporeSigma • Sigmaaldrich.com/food.............................................. 76
Nelson-Jameson, Inc. • 800.826.8302 • www.nelsonjameson.com ... 72
Neogen Corp. • 800.234.5333 • foodsafety.neogen.com .................1, 25
PerkinElmer Inc. • www.perkinelmer.com/pesticides .......................... 35
Pickering Laboratories, Inc. • www.pickeringlabs.com....................... 72
Q Laboratories, Inc. • 513.471.1300 • www.qlaboratories.com............ 66
R-Biopharm, Inc. • 877.789.3033 • www.r-biopharm.com................... 65
Radio Frequency Co. • 508.376.9555 • www.macrowave.com........... 49
Roka Bioscience, Inc. ................................................................................ 65
855.ROKABIO • www.rokabio.com
Romer Labs Inc. • 302.781.6400 • www.romerlabs.com ...................... 23
SAFE-pHix LLC • 719.661.8200 • www.safe-phix.com............................ 68
Smart Wash Solutions, LLC....................................................................... 71
831.676.9750 • www.smartwashsolutions.com
Solar Biologicals Inc. • www.solarbiologicals.com............................... 33
Spartan Chemical Company, Inc.............................................................. 5
800.537.8990 x211 • www.spartanchemical.com
Steamericas, Inc. • 844.US.STEAM • www.steamericas.com ...............73
Sterilex Corp. • www.sterilex.com/indicongel........................................61
Weber Scientific • 800.328.8378 • www.weberscientific.com ............. 11
Challenging the Future through Engineered Solutions
hiqesystems.com
844-511-5999
FSM6717pg1-2, 75-76.indd 75 6/1/17 12:09PM
