The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday to officially open its Advanced Responder Training Complex in Anniston, Ala.
The student training and in-processing center will provide state, local, tribal and territorial emergency responders with the information, skills and abilities necessary to react and respond to mass casualty incidents. Annually, approximately 60,000 emergency responders from state, local, tribal and territorial governments participate in CDP training.
The new facility will house CDP Training and Education staff and staff associated with training support and delivery functions, and includes classroom space and a large area where students can be in-processed before training and gather with fellow responders.
“The Center for Domestic Preparedness is committed to training the best for the worst. Facilities like these reflect the importance of empowering and enabling local responders to protect their communities,” FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton said. “By investing in these facilities, state, local, tribal and territorial governments can ensure they have the skills needed to reduce risk and build their capacity to respond to emergencies and disasters.”
Hamilton participated in the ribbon-cutting and was joined by CDP Acting Superintendent Chris Chesney, Department of Homeland Security representatives and Thom Layou, FEMA national preparedness directorate deputy assistant administrator.