Letter from the ChairmanSince the conclusion of the NDPC quarterly meeting in College Station, Texas, the members of the NDPC have undertaken several committee-based tasks which aid and govern NDPC programming. Not the least of which has been the launching of the support systems to accommodate the new DHS/FEMA student ID system. To date, several of the NDPC members have incorporated the numbering scheme into its course registration systems and other members are following.

The curriculum committee has developed a working group to explore the INFUSION factors presented at the College Station quarterly meeting. LSU has taken the lead on this multiplier effect for addressing the actual impact of NDPC deliveries. The inclusion of INFUSION impact will provide a broader picture of the exposure of NDPC programming.

NDPC members are ramping up and engaging the furtherance of the Student Evaluation process, aggressively moving into the third level of evaluation. Several NDPC members are having their evaluation pieces evaluated by their respective Institutional Review Boards to insure compliance with human subject criteria. This level of post course evaluation will also serve as a factor in the aforementioned INFUSION project.

Sequestration, has emerged as a hovering concern to many in the federal preparedness network. The NDPC and its affiliate partners (RDPC, UASI) are closely monitoring the implications of effects of a sequestration.

To all, enjoy the forthcoming holiday season, travel safely, and have fun.

Sincerely,

Daniel C. Walsh, Chairman/NDPC

FAll 2012

NCBRT Partners with EDEN to Improve Preparedness for Communities Affected By Disasters

Representatives from EDEN and NCBRT sign a partnership to share curriculum resources and training

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In February 2012, the National Center for Biomedical Research and

Training (NCBRT) announced their new partnership with the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN). The partnership was formed to improve preparedness, relief and recovery of communities affected by disasters.

Together NCBRT and EDEN will seek ways to enhance disaster related education and training, as well as improving access to that education through their networks.

EDEN is a collaborative multi-state effort by Extension Services that extends non-formal education to the local level across the country to reduce the impact of disasters through education.

“This partnership highlights the value of EDEN,” said Virginia Morgan, outreach program coordinator at Auburn University and current EDEN chair. “Through our nation-wide network of extension specialists and

See EDEN, page 4.

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The NDPC News • Fall 2012

A first responder at NMT/EMRTC recons a homemade explosives lab.

New Mexico Tech’s New Course on Homemade Explosives

The Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center of New Mexico

Tech (New Mexico Tech/EMRTC) is in the final stages of developing its newest course—Homemade Explosives—Awareness, Recognition, and Response.

The goal of this course is to assist the first responder in the recognition and identification of precursor chemicals and processes associated with the production of homemade explosives (HMEs). Additionally, responders will be able to explain the similarities and dissimilarities in the production of homemade explosives and illicit drugs.

The need for this course is the result of New Mexico Tech/EMRTC’s close working relationship with the National Bomb Squad Commanders Advisory Board (NBSCAB). NBSCAB first identified several issues associated with clandestine chemical labs. These

issues have been increasing over the past several years and are affecting the safety of emergency responders. One major issue comes from the correct identification of the lab’s purpose.

One common use is to manufacture methamphetamines; another is to create explosive materials and improvised explosive devices. And both types of labs are very often a fire and explosive hazard when discovered. Since these labs don’t require sophisticated or specialty equipments, they may be erected anywhere. Because the safety protocols for an effective response are dependent on the materials in the lab, it is critical that first responders be aware of the difference of the two types of labs. Likewise, the storage procedures for the collection of evidence to be used in criminal court proceedings are highly dependent on the clear identification of the material. New Mexico Tech’s

new course is focused on not only the identification of precursor chemicals but will also include two mock labs to help responders learn to spot the difference between the two types of labs. When completed, the participants of the HME course will also understand how to respond appropriately with regards to personal and public safety. This includes scene isolation and security in advance of specialized assets trained to deal with instances when homemade explosive materials, precursors, and improvised explosive devices are potentially present. As a result, participants will be able to provide information on the awareness of how to identify and prevent bomb-making activity to public and private sector organizations and individuals. Expect to see this course, HME—Awareness, Recognition, and Response delivered to emergency responders in the first part of 2013.

Training Facility) of the on-going emergency. Students from the Hospital Emergency Response Training (HERT) course quickly prepared to receive patients injured by the explosion, and the HERT team would soon see patients arriving by ambulance and on foot.

“I feel we need to practice like this all across the country to prepare ourselves for any kind of emergency or disaster,” said Trudy Mueller, an emergency room nurse from Conneaut, Ohio. “This training helps us work together and understand strengths and weaknesses. It is important to train with all the groups together, not just a single group.”

“Combining the EMO class, hazardous materials class, as well as the hospital emergency response course is amazing,”

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Long known for its unique, hands-on training classes for emergency response personnel, FEMA’s

Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP), recently combined three courses and 108 responders into an Integrated Capstone Event (ICE), giving students from multiple disciplines the opportunity to experience the full impact of a mass casualty incident.

Typically, each CDP class culminates with an end-of-course scenario specific to the objectives learned during the training, and many facets are notional. The ICE, however, eliminates much of this artificiality, and provides a realistic setting for the students to perform.

The scenario started with students from the Emergency Medical Operations

(EMO) course responding to a simulated explosion at a nearby college. As EMO teams arrived on scene, hazardous materials experts from the Hazardous Materials Technician (HT) course joined EMO as they received the first brief from the incident commander.“This [training event] gives you an idea of what is going to happen and how the different units are going to work together,” said John Combs, a police officer from Fayetteville, N.C. “As a first responder this gives me an idea of how the fire service, hazardous materials, EMS, and healthcare work. As a police officer I normally do not to take part in this kind of training—this is a good training day for me.”

As the scenario unfolded, calls alerted the local hospital (the CDP’s Noble

The NDPC News • Fall 2012

Integrated Capstone Event Expands Training for Responders

A FEMA/CDP responder rescues a role player in the ICE program.

The NDPC News • Fall 2012

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educators, we provide research-based disaster education to individuals and organizations at the local level. NCBRT’s excellent faculty and high quality FEMA-approved courses will significantly increase our ability to meet our mission of reducing the impact of disasters through research-based education.”

Currently through the partnership, Extension educators are teaching NCBRT’s course: “AWR-117: Preparing Communities for Animal, Plant and Food Incidents: An Introduction.” The program’s goal is to have 10 certified trainers teach at least three classes per year and have 30 participants per class.

With the completion of this goal, each state involved will have successfully trained 900 participants. Presently, Extension educators have taught about 229 participants.

Michael Moody, Associate Director of Research and Development at NCBRT, said, “Our initial efforts through this partnership will focus on food and agriculture, America’s most important infrastructure. By leveraging our expertise, outreach and delivery capabilities, we will be in a position to provide food and agriculture protection education to many communities throughout the nation.”

said Ryan Sell, a fire fighter/paramedic from Iolla, Kan. “We had groups involved from the inception of the incident, through each stage.”

The Integrated Capstone Events are scheduled each quarter and combine three or more courses in a variety of response operations. The goal is to work within the Incident Command System (ICS) and demonstrate how response disciplines work together in real-world events. “This was our second ICE and we continue to find things that we can fine tune and improve for future Integrated Capstone Events,” said Chuck Medley, CDP Training Delivery Branch Chief. “We’ve already identified steps we can take to enhance the scenario, manage our role players, and improve logistics.”

The next ICE is scheduled for the end of June. Each event allows students to identify team leaders, recognize planning, logistics, and manpower to fully provide a realistic training experience.

“Integrating multiple courses into a combined event is extremely important because it replicates what will happen in an actual community,” Medley said. “During a mass casualty event, every

element of emergency response will engage. Emergency responders need to learn to integrate now, and the CDP is committed to providing the training environment where they can learn to do that.”

CDP training focuses on incident management, and emergency response to a catastrophic natural disaster or terrorist act. The courses are fully

funded for state, local, and tribal response personnel.

To learn more about the Center for Domestic Preparedness, visit http://cdp.dhs.gov or call 866-213-9553.

FEMA’s mission is to support its citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we

work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond

to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

First responders suit up for ICE at FEMA/CDP.

Responder examining a ICE victim.

EDEN from page 1.

EDEN

Wright State University operates the National Center for Medical Readiness, also known as Calamityville. A state-of-the-art, collaborative training and research facility on 55 acres in Fairborn, Ohio, Calamityville® prepares the civilian and military medical communities to participate and react in an effective and meaningful manner with traditional disaster responders. This provides the nation with a more complete approach to finding patients, offering initial care, and safely evacuating them from acute disaster-related environments.

Here are some highlights of the program:

• The only disaster-oriented educational and training center sponsored by a U.S medical school.

Our Mission: Training, Testing and Research

• Resource for medical readiness and healthcare-related disaster preparedness

• Serves multiple regional and state agencies

• Wright State University and University System of Ohio center of Excellence

• Civilian and military faculty and staff from the Department of

The NDPC News • Fall 2012

Emergency Medicine, Boonshoft School of Medicine

The 445th Aerospace Medicine Squadron held a training exercise at Calamityville Sept. 9, 2012.

Calamityville at Wright State

Featuring realistic mockups of disaster situations, the National Center for Medical Readiness will offer a real-world training and research environment.

• Boots-on-the-ground experience in combat, disaster, tactical medicine and healthcare

• Transform First Responders into First Providers of on-scene medical care.

• Offer First Receivers the skills and experience necessary to deliver medical care in difficult and extreme environments outside the traditional setting.

• Bridge civilian and military combat, disaster and tactical medical response communities.

• Build disaster-resilient healthcare communities

• Regional support including: local governments, industry, academic institutions, and WPAFB (AFRL 711th Human Performance Wing, AFIT, and the School of Aerospace Medicine).

The National Center for Medical Readiness (NCMR) provides medically oriented education, training, product testing, and research opportunities for medical, public health, public safety, and civilian and military personnel operating within stressful, difficult and extreme environments. For more information, visit our website at:http://www.med.wright.edu/medicalreadiness

The National Center for Medical Readiness (NCMR) identifies the unique teamwork demands for medical decision-making and operations.

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The main focus of the course covers how to use social media for disaster management. Focusing not only on preparedness but also on the response to a disaster and also what can be done to recover. The topics covered allow participants to see how disaster managers can effectively use social media to adequately communicate, notify and share information with the general public in regards to a disaster or emergency event. The course gives a new perspective on communication and sheds light on a new channel of fast two-way communication, allowing valuable information to be shared and updated in real time.

Social media is changing the way the world communicates and receives information. Traditional media outlets are no longer the only resource that people use and trust. As social media usage grows the need to establish an

Social media usage has been rapidly growing at an exponential rate, “with over 1 billion users using various social media vehicles”1. As social media evolves there are various uses and benefits that are being discovered. That is surely the case with the National Disaster

Preparedness Training Center (NDPTC) at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu and their “Social Media for Disaster Response and Recovery” course.

NDPTC has taken the concept of using social media and has shown many areas how it can be helpful in both disaster and emergency situations/events.

Within the last year NDPTC has completed 33 Social Media course deliveries nationwide. It has quickly become one of NDPTC’s most popular and most requested courses. The course begins with an outline of social media and the basic usage elements and features and also touches on with the functionality of the most popularly used social media, Twitter and Facebook. The course shows participants the ease of profile creation and of sharing information, using interactive exercises where participants post on to Twitter and Facebook.

Social Media

1Lunden, Ingrid. 05/14/2012. Tech Crunch, “Users of Social Media Worldwide, Most on Mobile”, http://techcrunch.com/2012/05/14/itu-there-are-now-over-1-billion-users-of-social-media-worldwide-most-on-mobile/ (08/03/2012)

The NDPC News • Fall 2012

online presence increases. The NDPTC “Social Media for Disaster Response and Recovery” course allows disaster managers to learn critical skills and to capitalize on the ubiquitous nature of social media to be able to implement

the skills learned

in their own organizations’ disaster management plans.

Due to the successful nature of the social media course, NDPTC is currently partnering with the National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center at Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) to create intermediate and advanced social media courses. With these new courses NDPTC hopes to further expand on the uses of social media and to outline its full potential in communication.

NDPTC will add these courses to its variety of other disaster trainings to continue with its mission to provide education for disaster preparedness, response and recovery. For more information, please visit our website at ndptc.hawaii.edu.

University of Hawaii delivery of social media.

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The NDPC News • Fall 2012

For more information, go to: www.NDPC.US

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National critical infrastructure protection policies, tools and resources changed in 2011 and 2012 with the release of Presidential Policy Directive 8 (PPD-8) and the National Preparedness Goal. The new policies place emphasis on the importance of critical infrastructure resilience to homeland security and the need to increase participation of public and private sector partners in infrastructure protection. Getting this information out to jurisdictions across the country requires the ability and agility to deliver training at local levels that translates the policies to public and private sector partners and helps them learn together. 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Infrastructure Protection (DHS/IP) is the federal office responsible for many of these policies. The DHS/IP has called on National Texas Engineering Extension Service/Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center (TEEX/NERRTC) to deliver the national perspective on existing and

new policies at the local level. TEEX/NERRTC has successfully partnered with DHS/IP in the development and delivery of a one-day awareness-level course called Critical Infrastructure Key Resources Awareness (CIKR). By 2011 the course was developed and certified and ready for delivery. In the year and a half since certification, the course has been enthusiastically received by local jurisdictions and delivered to more than 1,100 participants – 200 percent more than projections.

Now that there are new policies, DHS/IP has once again reached out to TEEX/NERRTC to develop and deliver an advanced course at the management and planning level to facilitate the increased Federal focus on resilience and Critical Infrastructure Protection. The development of this new one-day course, Advanced Critical Infrastructure Protection (ACIP), began in early 2012, with delivery of the first pilot in May in Oakland, Calif. The third pilot, which includes DHS/FEMA subject-matter

TEEX/NERRTC Partners with DHS Office of Infrastructure Protection to Develop and Deliver New Courses to Address Resilience

expert observers, was in New Orleans on July 10. The course covers the new policies, training participants to develop jurisdictional resilience plans and encouraging the public/private sector partnerships necessary to help improve community resilience. During class activities, participants identify and prioritize critical infrastructure assets in their community, and the planning considerations for next steps.

Completion of DHS/FEMA certification is expected by October 2012. TEEX/NERRTC will then collaborate at the jurisdictional level to bring private and public sectors together in the classroom. Initial scheduling of the new course will focus on the jurisdictions that have already hosted the awareness-level course, building on their base of knowledge, and then move on to other jurisdictions. The NERRTC provides two days of back-to-back training, allowing the participants to move from awareness to management and planning in short succession. The projected number of participants in the first year is 200 in 12 jurisdictions.TEEX’s responders review a chart.

The NDPC News • Fall 2012The NDPC NewsNew Mexico Tech801 Leroy PlaceSocorro, NM 87801

The National Domestic Preparedness Consortium (NDPC) is a partnership of public and private organizations committed to serving emergency

responders by providing quality, cost-effective counter-terrorism training.

The NDPC is sponsored through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Preparedness Directorate. It is the principal vehicle through which DHS develops and delivers training to state and local emergency responders.

The consortium is comprised of several preparedness training centers: the Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, the National Center for Biomedical

Since its establishment in 1998, the NDPC’s impact on national preparedness has been substantial. The NDPC has conducted training in all 50 states and each U.S. territory. This training has benefited more than a million people since 1998.

Today, the consortium’s various programs meet the training and education needs of more than 60,000 emergency responders each year.

The consortium combines the missions of all its members with a commitment to provide a focused, threat-responsive, long-term national capability and capacity to execute and sustain comprehensive education, training, testing and exercise programs.

Research and Training at Louisiana State University, the National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center of Texas A&M University System’s Texas Engineering Extension Service,the National Exercise, Test, and Training Center at the Nevada Test Site, the Center for Domestic Preparedness, the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. in Colorado and the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center at the University of Hawaii. Each of these organizations has distinguished themselves nationally as experts across the gamut of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear explosive agents, as well as in all four homeland security mission areas of prevention, protection, response and recovery. The NDPC provides advanced-level training to those involved in WMD and all-hazards catastrophic events.

Featured in this issue 1 • Letter from the Chairman• NCBRT Partners with EDEN to Improve

Preparedness for Communities Affected By Disasters

• New Mexico Tech’s New Course on Homemade Explosives

• Integrated Capstone Event Expands Training for Responders

• Calamityville at Wright State

• Social Media

• TEEX/NERRTC Partners with DHS Office of Infrastructure Protection to Develop and Deliver New Courses to Address Resilience

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• About the NDPC

About the NDPC

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