Carney Visits Department of Homeland Security Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP)

Press Release

CARNEY VISITS DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER FOR DOMESTIC PREPAREDNESS (CDP)

Congressman Carney recently had the opportunity to visit the Department of Homeland Security Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) in Anniston, Alabama. As the chairman of House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Management, Investigations and Oversight, Congressman Carney conducted a site visit to CDP to view training offered by the federal government for first responders and also to see what more can be done to keep our communities and country safe from future catastrophes.

The Center provides first responders with excellent all-hazards training. It is the only facility of its kind in the country that utilizes live chemical agents when training first responders and offers training for dealing with chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) weapons. This advanced hands-on training enables first responders to effectively respond to potential real world incidents.

Responders serve as our nation's first line of defense and deserve the highest quality training available. There is no cost for the training and Congressman Carney encourages all qualified first responders from northeast and central Pennsylvania to apply for a course at the CDP.

Courses are offered for each of the following disciplines:
• Emergency management agency (EMA),
• Emergency medical services (EMS),
• Fire service,
• Governmental administrative,
• Hazardous materials personnel,
• Health care (non-EMS),
• Law enforcement,
• Public health,
• Public safety communication,
• Public works and other skilled support personnel that provide immediate support services during prevention, response, and recovery operations.

For a detailed schedule of classes offered, please check the CDP website at https://cdp.dhs.gov/.

If you or someone in your organization attends a class at CDP, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will provide for your round-trip travel to Anniston, Alabama, room and board, and training expenses at no cost to you or your organization.

One of the prerequisites for attending any course at CDP is successful completion of any awareness-level training program that has been approved by the DHS Office of Grants and Training (G&T). G&T ensures that any of their offered or approved programs provide for local training to enhance the capability of the nation to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorism incidents involving weapons of mass destruction (WMD), including CBRNE devices. For more information on G&T and its programs, call the G&T Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk (CSID) at 1-800-368-6498 or email at askcsid@dhs.gov.

Additionally, to find out what training programs are approved by G&T for acceptance into the CDP, please contact Pennsylvania's State Administrative Agency (SAA). The SAA creates the state training programs that are the prerequisites for the CDP. The SAA's point of contact is listed on the "Application Process" page.

CDP training for local first responders has the potential to provide real results for our region. Below is a testimonial from a local first responder who trained at CDP:

State Police Cpl. Andrew Wilk, of Kingston Township, attended the center for a four-day riot response training program in May. A trainer at the department's Northeast Training Center in Forty Fort, Wilk and 11 other troopers went to the center to prepare for the National Governors Convention in Philadelphia. He said the training was invaluable and he's already incorporated some of what he learned in classes he offers to local police departments including Wilkes-Barre.

"It was a real eye-opener," he said of the center and its offerings. He said he's not surprised so few from the area have attended programs in Alabama since they're not well-publicized.

"I didn't know about it myself," he said, until he was told he was going for the riot response course. "I'm glad I went and I hope others do the same." Wilkes-Barre Times Leader (7/28/08).

As always, Congressman Carney's office is available to help you. Please feel free to call, toll-free at (866) 846-8124, if you have any questions with the application process

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