(AP) TOPEKA, Kan.

Four Midwestern states are collaborating this month to improve their response to natural disasters, terrorism and foreign animal disease.

The event is the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Region VII exercise called Vigilant Guard 09. It involves local, state and federal emergency response agencies from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.

This week, the states are simulating an introduction of foreign animal disease in Iowa, with Kansas activating its emergency operations center when the disease moves to the state.

Kansas also will host portions of the event at its Crisis City, a training venue at the Great Plains Joint Training Center in Salina.

The event concludes June 24. It is designed to identify gaps that may exist between response organizations.

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