Since 1998, the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) in Anniston, Alabama, has been offering free interdisciplinary training to the nation’s diverse responder disciplines: emergency management, emergency medical services, fire service, governmental administrative, hazardous materials, healthcare, law enforcement, public health, public safety communications, and public works. CDP provides realistic hands-on exercises, hazardous material, hospital mass-casualty, and law enforcement responses.

In April 2014, the Baltimore regional incident management team (IMT) traveled to Anniston to attend a pilot program developed for regional IMTs. The mass level of coordination needed during any disaster response must begin with training and awareness of the various resources available for local response efforts, including regional IMTs. The CDP and the Baltimore regional IMT are leading efforts to better train and integrate this valuable resource into local operational efforts before the next disaster.

Listen to Captain Michael Pfaltzgraff of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department describe his experience at CDP.

Michael Pfaltzgraff is a 16-year veteran of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department in central Maryland. He is currently the station captain at the West Annapolis Station. In addition to his responsibilities at his assigned station, he also is the Honor Guard commander and a public information officer for the Fire Department. He also serves as a logistics section chief for the Type III Baltimore Regional All-Hazards Incident Management Team. Outside of the Fire Department, he is an adjunct instructor and Maryland State Line-of-Duty Death Response Team coordinator for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.