National Disaster Preparedness Training Center

02/28/2025

🚨 Secure Your Spot in NDPTC’s Emergency Virtual Courses! 🚨

🌟 Stay prepared and resilient—our virtual courses are filling up fast! Don’t miss the opportunity to enhance your skills with training designed for emergency preparedness and disaster management.

🖥 Explore engaging courses such as AWR-228: Community Resilience 🌍 and AWR-345: Uncrewed Aircraft Systems in Disaster Management ✈️

📍 Register now to secure your spot:
👉 https://ndptc.hawaii.edu/training/?course=&state=&training_method=6&start=

⏳ Act fast—spaces are limited! Don’t wait until it’s too late to be part of these essential training opportunities.

02/24/2025

🌟 In Case You Missed It 🌟
Check out our latest Third Thursday Event on YouTube! 🎥 This month’s topic:
"Empowering Communities Through Info Hubs: Lessons from Red Hill and the Maui Wildfires"
🌍 Topic: Empowering Communities Through Info Hubs – Lessons from Red Hill & the Maui Wildfires
🎤 Presenters:
✅ Mia Comeros – Pacific Water Resilience and Security Program Lead, Water Resources Research Center
✅ Lisa Webster – GIS Specialist, NDPTC / Hawaiʻi Coastal Zone Management Program Analyst
🔍 Key Takeaways:
✅ How innovative Esri Info Hubs are transforming community engagement and data accessibility in disaster response
✅ The role of cross-sector and university-wide collaboration in building proactive, long-term solutions
📲 Watch now: https://youtu.be/sxQCugBnIbU
✨ Please join us for the next Third Thursday event! Together, we build resilient communities! 🌏

This session explores the development of two Esri Info Hubs tailored to meet real community needs for engaged data dissemination. Presenters will share insig...

02/18/2025

Dawson Primes is in his 19th year as Director of the Tangipahoa Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, where he transformed a nonexistent department into a state-recognized agency. He has guided the parish through 13 Presidential Declarations and serves on the Board of Directors for the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Association, currently as Past President for the second time.

Dawson is the Regional Director Representative to the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and an Emergency Management Instructor with Integrated Readiness Solutions. Previously, he was appointed by Governor Kathleen Blanco as the Governmental Liaison for FEMA contractors developing Louisiana’s Long-Term Community Recovery Plan post-Katrina.

A 27-year veteran of the Louisiana Army National Guard, Dawson has deployed twice in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, earning a Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge. He also served on a Military Engagement Team, educating Haiti's national government on Emergency Management and EOC Operations.
Through NDPTC, Dawson enjoys sharing his experience to help communities improve disaster responses. Highlights of his work include instructing in the Mariana Islands. In his free time, he loves traveling, deer hunting, bourbon, and meaningful conversations. Known for his decisiveness, he believes in making timely decisions—good or bad.

02/14/2025

NDPTC Remote Deliveries, News, and Events -

Upcoming Virtual Course Deliveries All your favorite virtual trainings have been scheduled for 2025. Visit our website now to view the full schedule and secure your spot!

02/03/2025

🌟 Strengthen Your Preparedness with NDPTC! 🌟

Join us this February for two essential training sessions in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota to enhance your emergency management skills! These courses are open to everyone—you do not need to attend the Minnesota Emergency Management Conference to participate.

📅 Upcoming Courses:
🔹 Thursday, 02/13/25
⏰ 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM CST
💡 AWR-347: Climate Adaptation Planning for Emergency Management
📍 Register here: https://ndptc.hawaii.edu/training/delivery/3897/

🔹 Friday, 02/14/25
⏰ 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM CST
💡 AWR-331: Winter Weather Hazards – Science and Preparedness
📍 Register here: https://ndptc.hawaii.edu/training/delivery/3898/

Don't miss these opportunities to build resilience, enhance your skills, and contribute to stronger communities. Secure your spot today!

01/29/2025

❄️ Training Through the Storm! ❄️

This past week, Norfolk, VA faced a severe winter storm, but that didn’t stop us—or our incredible participants! On January 22, we hosted a training session with Cheryl and Monica leading the way. Despite the challenging weather, six dedicated participants braved the elements to attend. ⛄👏

Their commitment to disaster preparedness is truly inspiring. A big thank-you to everyone who attended and to our instructors for their hard work and flexibility in making this training possible! Thank you to the Elizabeth River Project.

Check out some moments from the session below! 🧤📸

01/28/2025

🌟 Start Spring Prepared with NDPTC! 🌟

Join us this March for two impactful courses delivered on:
🗓 Monday, 03/17/25
⏰ 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM HST

💡 Choose your focus:
1️⃣ AWR-228: Community Resilience
📍 Register here: https://ndptc.hawaii.edu/training/delivery/3917/

2️⃣ AWR-347: Climate Adaptation Planning for Emergency Management
📍 Register here: https://ndptc.hawaii.edu/training/delivery/3916/

Don't miss this opportunity to build your skills and contribute to resilient communities. Reserve your spot today!

01/28/2025

Climate change and recent disaster events underline the challenges island communities face. The Pacific Risk Management 'Ohana (PRiMO) will convene from Mar...

01/21/2025

The IAEM Call for Speakers is your chance to share your story, research, best practices, or case study. There are both in-person and virtual opportunities.

Deadline: February 14
Learn more: https://loom.ly/J-dFldk

01/21/2025

🌟 In Case You Missed It 🌟

Check out our latest Third Thursday Event on YouTube! 🎥 This month’s topic:
"Pacific Risk Management 'Ohana (PRiMO) Conference 2025: Building Coalitions and Local Solutions for Resilience."

👥 Hear from incredible speakers who have shaped PRiMO’s 20-year history of fostering collaboration and solutions for island resilience. 🌺

🔍 Key Takeaways:

Unique challenges faced by island communities due to climate change and disasters
How the PRiMO Conference (March 17–20, 2025, Honolulu, HI) supports collaboration
Resources and localized solutions for Hawai‘i and the Pacific region
📲 Watch now: https://youtu.be/j7NFn4COrSY?si=wX0KQW19JuxKXHI

✨ Please join us for the next Third Thursday event! Together, we build resilient communities! 🌏

Climate change and recent disaster events underline the challenges island communities face. The Pacific Risk Management 'Ohana (PRiMO) will convene from Mar...

01/17/2025

Dr. Sarah Miller, a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), has been an emergency management professional in the Seattle area since 2006. She is currently Assistant Professor and Chair of the Emergency Management program at Pierce College. Her 30 years of public service include work as a public safety dispatcher, search and rescue volunteer, contract EM coordinator for South King County, and Emergency Manager for the City of Auburn.

Dr. Miller partners with FEMA to deliver nationwide training on topics such as social media, climate change, and emergency operations. A graduate of FEMA’s National Emergency Management Basic, Advanced, and Executive Academies, she also contributes to IAEM as a CEM Commissioner and has served as IAEM Region 10 President.

She holds a Ph.D. in Emergency and Protective Services focused on AI in emergency messaging, an MPA in Emergency Management, and certifications in cybersecurity management, business continuity, and information security.

An avid hockey enthusiast, Dr. Miller has season tickets to the Seattle Kraken and Thunderbirds and has attended games in 11 states, Washington, D.C., and two Canadian provinces. Highlights include her first women’s professional hockey game and attending the Olympics.

01/15/2025

🌏 Let’s Build Resilience Together! 🌏

📢 Join us for our next NDPTC Third Thursday Webinar!
🗓 Date: Thursday, January 16, 2025
⏰ Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM HST
2:00 - 3:00 PM PST
5:00 - 6:00 PM EST

💡 Topic: "Pacific Risk Management 'Ohana (PRiMO) Conference 2025: Building Coalitions and Local Solutions for Resilience"

👥 Hear from speakers who have been part of PRiMO’s 20-year history of fostering collaboration and creating solutions for island resilience. If you’ve been involved with PRiMO, we encourage you to share your experiences during the webinar!

🔍 What You’ll Learn:
The unique challenges faced by island communities due to climate change and disasters
How the PRiMO Conference (March 17–20, 2025, Honolulu, HI) fosters collaboration for resilience
Resources, knowledge, and localized solutions for Hawai'i and the Pacific region

🌐 Explore the PRiMO Conference:
📍 https://coast.noaa.gov/primo/conference/

🎟 Register for the webinar here:
👉 https://us02web.zoom.us/.../tJAvce-opj4oEtck...

We look forward to seeing you there—spread the word and help us build a more resilient future! 🌺

01/13/2025

🚨 Secure Your Spot in NDPTC’s Emergency Virtual Courses! 🚨

🌟 Stay prepared and resilient—our virtual courses are filling up fast! Don’t miss the opportunity to enhance your skills with training designed for emergency preparedness and disaster management.

🖥 Explore engaging courses such as AWR-326: Tornado Awareness 🌪
and AWR-356 Community Planning for Disaster Recovery 🏘️

📍 Register now to secure your spot:
👉 https://ndptc.hawaii.edu/training/?course=&state=&training_method=6&start=

⏳ Act fast—spaces are limited! Don’t wait until it’s too late to be part of these essential training opportunities.

12/24/2024

Happy Holidays from our work ʻohana here at the NDPTC!🎄✨ As we celebrate the season, remember that preparedness is the gift that keeps on giving. Take a moment to review your emergency plans & kit; it’s the best way to protect what matters most and enjoy peace of mind all year long. Stay safe, stay ready, and enjoy the holidays! 💪🎁

12/18/2024

NDPTC is very proud of the team of instructors we have built. We will be highlighting some of our exceptional instructor cadre throughout the year. Please keep an eye on our monthly newsletter and social media platforms for more instructor spotlights.

Kevin T. Sur has been an instructor with NDPTC for over 11 years. He is the Director of Communications / Public Information Officer (PIO) for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS). Previously, Kevin has served in the External Affairs Cadre at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Washington DC, and several county and state emergency management agencies, hospital systems, and fire departments.

Kevin was deployed to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Sandy, Irma, Maria, and Ida as well multiple floods and tornado outbreaks in the Midwest. Kevin has worked several large-scale events including multiple NBA Championships, 2016 World Series, and several high-visibility law enforcement incidents including the Cleveland Kidnappings, Highland Park shooting, ongoing asylum seeker mission in Illinois, 2016 Republican National Convention, and upcoming 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago serving as the Lead PIO.

Kevin enjoys meeting public safety professionals/colleagues from across the US because establishing/building these relationships BEFORE a disaster is critical to their collaborative success.