Rushville Firefighter Chuck Kemker is constantly on the go. As do many firefighters, Kemker is continually taking a variety of training courses. He is also the coordinator for the LEPC Local Emergency Planning Committee and is currently the certified instructor for the county’s first Citizens Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) that recently began training.

Recently Kemker also completed an extensive Homeland Security training exercise. The training was held at the Center for Domestic Preparedness, in Anniston, Ala. The training site is operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency. The CDP is the nations only federally chartered Weapons of Mass Destruction training facility.

“I was glad that I had the opportunity to attend the training. All of the expenses are compensated and it is an extensive program with well informed instructors. It was an eye opening experience,” Kemker said.

Training at the facility provides federally-funded, interdisciplinary training for emergency responders from across the United States and U.S. Territories, for 10 responder disciplines: Emergency Management, Emergency Medical Services, Fire Service, Governmental Administrative, Hazardous Materials, Healthcare, Law Enforcement, Public Health, Public Safety Communications and Public Works.

It is important to note that healthcare and public health training is conducted at the Noble training Facility which is the country’s sole hospital facility dedicated to training hospital and healthcare professionals in disaster preparedness and response.

Many training courses culminate at the chemical, ordnance, biological and radiological training facility. The location also host civilian training exercises in a true toxic environment.

“It is amazing that in using actual biological compounds there have been no injuries or deaths in the nearly 10 years of the training exercises held at the facility. That is a testament to the level of training being offered there,” Kemker said.

The advanced hands-on training enables responders to effectively prevent, respond to and recover from real-world incidents involving acts of terrorism and other hazardous materials.

“Years ago we never thought about responding to these types of situations but the world has changed and so have the calls we respond to,” Kemker said.

Those attending the CDP training are selected from the nation’s 11 million emergency responders. The training ensures that emergency responders gain critical skills and confidence to be better prepared to effectively respond to local incidents or potential weapons of mass destruction (WMD) incidents.

Frank Denzler can be contacted at (765) 932-2222 ext. 106 or via e-mail at frank.denzler@rushvillerepublican.com. To add a comment to this story visit our Web site at www.rushvillerepublican.com.