CDP tackles Ready Alabama at Auburn University

AUBURN, Ala.-Auburn University served as the setting for Alabama's tenth Ready Alabama Day. The Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) joined more than 40 emergency response and volunteer organizations in displaying the latest in response capabilities and training opportunities.

Part of the ongoing efforts to stress readiness and preparedness throughout the state, Alabama highlights its campaign each year by celebrating Ready Alabama Day as part of September's National Preparedness Month. This year's celebration was held September 11, in coordination with the National Day for Service and Remembrance.

Nearly 1,000 emergency responders and youth from area schools took the Auburn University campus to receive. firsthand look at response equipment, interactive demonstrations, and training courses that stress the importance of preparedness.

Emergency agencies provided large exhibits and realistic presentations that captured the attention of many in attendance. The CDP travelled with its Mobile Command Vehicle to demonstrate. field command center, and provided displays used to train first responders across the nation for mass casualty or Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive events. The goal of Ready Alabama Day is to increase public awareness regarding citizen preparedness for any disaster or emergency as well as demonstrating the state's response capabilities.

"The CDP is an integral part of preparedness and we are lucky to have it in our state," said Jon Mason, director of Serve Alabama, Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Volunteer Service. "This is the ninth year to hold Ready Alabama, and the CDP has supported every event. Ready Alabama is the perfect setting for recognizing National Preparedness Month, and what the CDP does to prepare first responders, not only from Alabama, but across the nation."

Other CDP displays contained an information booth providing CDP training information for first responders and Ready Kit information for both children and adults.. highlight for all age groups were the Human Patient Simulators the CDP uses in its healthcare courses.

"The patient simulators are always an attention grabber for the kids and grownups," said Robi Mobley, Human Patient Simulator Specialist. "They are impressive units that respond and sound like actual people and bringing them as a display here shows the public and responders how the CDP uses modern technology in teaching. Ready Alabama is always. great opportunity to show everything the CDP does to train and prepare emergency responders."

"The CDP has made terrific leaps to improve its training such as introducing biological agents to the nerve agent training it already provides," said Mason. "These are threats we could face in Alabama, or anywhere in the United States, and the CDP leads the way. The patient simulator technology and hands-on training are more examples. We are proud to have. national training facility like this as part of Alabama."

The CDP develops and delivers advanced training courses for emergency response providers, emergency managers, and other government officials from state, local, and tribal governments. CDP training focuses on incident management, mass casualty response, and emergency response to. catastrophic natural disaster or terrorist act. CDP training for state, local, and tribal responders is fully funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),. component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

FEMA's mission is to support its citizens and first responders to ensure that as. nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.