CDP hosts eighth annual Tribal Nations Training Week

FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) is currently conducting its 8th annual Tribal Nations Training Week.

The event kicked off Sunday with a feast at the center’s Noble Training Facility, followed by a formal opening ceremony and informational presentations about climate change, missing and exploited children, and the national Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), at its headquarters building.

The 219 responders in attendance are now involved in a variety of courses focused on emergency management, hazard identification, healthcare response to mass casualty events, incident command, and public information.

Three of the healthcare-related courses will culminate in Integrated Capstone Events, also known as ICEs. ICEs promote interdisciplinary responses to mass casualty incidents and challenge responders with a series of scenarios in a day-long practical exercise.

The week also features two evening lectures – one about emergency communications, which will be delivered by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and one about tools and products for water resource management, which will be delivered by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Students are also encouraged to participate in a listening session regarding FEMA tribal affairs one evening this week, as well as tour the nearby Freedom Riders National Monument.

The goal of Tribal Nations Training Week is to enhance the response capabilities of tribal nations responders, with training tailored to their specific needs. This year’s theme is ‘Healing the Nations. Strong, Unified, Prepared.’

“This training is for you, by you, and with us,” said Tony Russell, CDP superintendent, during Sunday’s opening. “It is all designed to make you and your community more resilient.”

Russell challenged participants to network and learn from each other throughout the week, stressing that “…being here is all about community.”

Kelbie Kennedy, FEMA’s national tribal affairs advocate, also spoke to during the opening. She encouraged participation in the listening session and for all in attendance to be more involved in the development of FEMA policy for assistance to tribal nations.

“Nothing should be done in FEMA without having tribal nations’ input into the policy,” she said.