| Students training at FEMA's Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) |
The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Deputy Administrator, National Preparedness Directorate, Tim Manning, spoke at FEMA's Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) graduation ceremony today in Anniston, Alabama where he recognized CDP's 500,000th graduate.
"The training provided by the Center for Domestic Preparedness is critical to ensuring America's responders are prepared for the challenges they may face," Manning said. "Today, we celebrate the graduation of the 500,000th responder and, in doing so, we recognize the accomplishments and commitment to education made by all who have preceded him."
The CDP opened its doors in June 1998 as a training center for the nation's emergency responders.
When the center was established, the leadership anticipated training approximately 10,000 responders annually. But the CDP team has trained an average of more than 50,000 responders annually, in recent years, due in large part to the unique skills and training that are offered in a broad array of areas such as: emergency management, emergency medical services, the fire service, hazardous materials, healthcare, law enforcement, public health, public safety communications, and public works.
The CDP's mission is to train emergency response providers from state, local and tribal governments, as well as the federal government, foreign governments and private entities, as available. The scope of training includes preparedness, protection, and response.