The NDPC is a partnership of several nationally recognized organizations whose membership is based on the urgent need to address the counter-terrorism preparedness needs of the nation’s emergency first responders within the context of chemical, biological, radiological, and explosive weapons of mass destruction (WMD) hazards. Members include:
Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) in Aniston, AL
The Center for Domestic Preparedness is a vital component of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Preparedness Directorate and is the nation’s only congressionally chartered federal training facility for live chemical/nerve agents – also known as chemical weapons of mass destruction – for civilian emergency responders. Established in 1998, the CDP trains emergency response providers in 10 disciplines: Emergency management, emergency medical services, fire service, governmental administrative, hazardous materials, healthcare, law enforcement, public health, public safety communications, and public works.
One campus of the CDP is the Chemical, Ordnance, Biological, and Radiological Training Facility (COBRATF). The COBRATF features civilian training exercises in a genuine toxic chemical agent environment. This hands-on training enables responders to effectively prevent, respond to, and recover from incidents involving chemical weapons and other hazardous materials. On March 31, 2007, the Noble Training Facility (NTF) was integrated into the CDP. The former Noble Army Hospital was converted into a training site for health and medical education in disasters, including both acts of terrorism and manmade disasters. The NTF is the only hospital facility in the United States that provides hospital and healthcare workers with a location to train in disaster preparedness and response.
The CDP offers 38 courses that give emergency response providers a wide range of training. All courses are available as resident training and select courses are available through non-resident programs utilizing mobile training units.
The Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center (EMRTC), a division of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech) in Socorro, NM
The Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center (EMRTC) at New Mexico Tech (NMT) is the consortium’s lead partner for explosives, live explosives, and incendiary devices training. Founded in 1889 as the New Mexico School of Mines, NMT has evolved into a research-oriented public university specializing in science and engineering. The institution has earned a worldwide reputation for the quality of its research and academic programs. As a result, NMT has consistently garnered high ratings from several sources, such as US News and World Report and the Princeton Review. NMT conducts applied research in explosive technology, explosive materials engineering, information security, and modeling and simulation for numerous U.S. government agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Justice, State, Transportation, and Energy. The campus of NMT is located 70 miles south of Albuquerque, NM. EMRTC’s additional training site, Playas Training and Research Center, is located in the southwestern corner of New Mexico. As a major department of New Mexico Tech, EMRTC traces its roots back to the development of the variable timing fuse — commonly known as the proximity fuse — during World War II. In the past 60 years, the department has grown into a highly regarded research, development, test, and evaluation complex. Currently, EMRTC is a close-knit team of more than 100 highly experienced professionals who on a yearly basis perform 200-300 in-depth scientific investigations and studies involving energetic materials. EMRTC offers the consortium a unique blend of facilities, expertise, training development, and research opportunities.
The National Center for BioMedical Research and Training (NCBRT), at Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge, LA
The National Center for Biomedical Research and Training (NCBRT), Academy of Counter-Terrorist Education at Louisiana State University (LSU) is a founding member of the NDPC. The NCBRT has been involved in the development and delivery of training and related efforts in support of the Office for State and Local Domestic Preparedness Support since 1998, and now for the Office for Grants and Training (G&T). Since that time, the NCBRT has developed many courses and delivered them for the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, Health and Human Services, and Agriculture, as well as for state and local jurisdictions, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. Courses deal with weapons of mass destruction (WMD), counter-terrorism, and high-consequence events, for all disciplines including emergency management, law enforcement (including tactical operations), HazMat teams, public health, EMS, hospital, agricultural, and others. In addition to instructor-led courses, the NCBRT also offers 10 courses through eLearning. The NCBRT has also developed and delivered numerous workshops and seminars, developed scenarios and exercises, and has provided technical assistance to governmental and non-governmental entities. Not only are the capabilities of the NCBRT wide and deep, but can also be readily augmented by the scientists, researchers, and educators available from LSU, the flagship university of Louisiana. For more information about the NCBRT or to schedule a course, visit www.ncbrt.lsu.edu or call 1-877-829-8550.
The National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center (NERRTC) at Texas A&M University in College Station, TX
The National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center (NERRTC) was established in 1998 as part of the NDPC and approved in 2000 by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a national disaster response center. The NERRTC’s mission is to design, develop, and deliver training, exercises, and technical assistance for the nation’s emergency responders. NERRTC combines traditional classroom work, small group instruction, field exercises, participant activities, case studies and vignettes, multimedia scenarios, and computer-aided training and exercise simulations to train individuals and jurisdictions.
NEERTC is a center of excellence within the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), one of the largest providers of workforce training in the nation since 1919. TEEX is known for its innovative, customized programs, including hands-on and on-site training. TEEX is a state agency of the Texas A&M System. It is headquartered in College Station, TX with seven regional training centers and offices located around the state. These facilities support nine agency components, all of which offer workforce training in particular subject areas, and collaborate to provide TEEX customers with a seamless training venue. TEEX courses are taught locally throughout the state, at customer facilities, and at TEEX-approved locations both nationally and internationally.
Counter Terrorism Operations Support (CTOS)/The Nevada Test Site (NTS) in North Las Vegas, NV
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Nevada Site Office (NSO) runs the historic Nevada Test Site (NTS) located some 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas. NSO is a charter member of the NDPC, and has been involved in the development and delivery of radiological/nuclear (rad/nuc) training since 1998. NNSA/NSO provides weapons of mass destruction (WMD) training to teach first responders to detect, prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from terrorist acts through research, development, test and evaluation, training, and intelligence support activities. More than ten thousand first responders per year receive this highly specialized training conducted on behalf of DHS FEMA/NPD. These training courses and exercises are conducted at the NTS, in municipality-hosted locations via mobile training teams (MTTs), and online. The Nevada Test Site’s Counter Terrorism Operations Support Program (NTS/CTOS) conducts this training for the NSO. NTS/CTOS has developed and delivered six different courses dealing with response to, and prevention of radiological and nuclear WMD for a variety of disciplines. These disciplines include emergency management, fire service, law enforcement, HazMat teams, public health, EMS, hospital “first receivers”, and others. NTS/CTOS has numerous training capabilities that can be readily augmented by the scientists, researchers, and subject matter experts (SMEs) from the NSO’s Remote Sensing Laboratories, DOE’s National Laboratories, and private industry.
Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) in Pueblo, CO
On January 1, 1998, the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) was formed as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Association of American Railroads (AAR). Headquartered at the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Transportation Technology Center (TTC) near Pueblo, Colorado, its mission is “accelerating the use of clean, safe and efficient technologies by railways worldwide.”
TTCI offers technical training in freight and passenger vehicle dynamics, derailment analysis, wheel-rail interaction theory, vehicle suspensions,nondestructive testing, heavy axle loads, and vehicle/train modeling. TTCI’s Emergency Response Training Center(ERTC) provides training for private and public emergency response and security organizations that must respond to incidents involving hazardous materials. Over 38,000 responders have been trained at TTCI’s comprehensive training center, which includes live exercises at a simulated derailment.
National Disaster Preparedness Training Center at the University of Hawaii (NDPTC) in Manoa, Hawaii
On August 3, 2007, President Bush signed H.R. 1 “Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007”which authorized the establishment of the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center (NDPTC) at the University of Hawaii. UH is uniquely positioned to develop and deliver natural disaster preparedness training to governmental, private, and non-profit entities, incorporating urban planning with an emphasis on community preparedness and at-risk populations.
The focus of the NDPTC is on building community resilience to all hazards by developing and providing training to first responders, decision makers, policy analysts, and urban planners. Additionally, we will need to reach key management and administrators in the public and private sectors who are responsible for facilities with high occupancies such as hotels, condominiums, public venues, and schools.
The NDPTC will partner with key federal, state, local and international partners to develop and implement training on disaster preparedness, response, and recovery relevant to the special needs and conditions of Pacific island communities and others at risk from natural and technological hazards. In addition to meeting with the other Consortium members at our quarterly meetings, we have had productive meetings with FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute and others within the Department of Homeland Security involved with training and community preparedness, response and recovery. We have also interacted with the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado, Boulder as well as other national and international training and research partners. We have also been working closely with other entities and organizations within Hawaii and the region involved with disaster management. It is evident that the work of the NDPTC will play an important role in addressing needs of both Pacific island communities and also other coastal communities as well as those affected by natural disasters throughout the nation.
The NDPTC will provide training consisting of formal degrees and certificate programs, as well as specialized courses, workshops and conferences; coordinate the sharing of data and information related to disaster preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery; and serve as an incubator for new ideas, technologies, businesses and partnerships between academia, business and government.
Each of the institutions focuses on developing and delivering products and services according to their institutional base of expertise. Under this arrangement, the Consortium has achieved remarkable results in the nation’s unified effort to bring all levels of government, business, and the emergency response community to new degrees of preparedness. Together these members collectively assist in preventing, protecting against, responding to, and recovering from incidents of national significance.
The NDPC is sponsored through the Department of Homeland Security/FEMA National Preparedness Directorate. It is the principle means through which the Directorate identifies, develops, tests, and delivers training to state and local emergency responder
