WASHINGTON- The University of Hawaii’s National Disaster Preparedness Training Center will receive $4,800,000 to fund training programs designed to prepare first responders, policy makers and urban planners for tsunami, hurricanes and other natural and man made disasters, Senators Daniel K. Inouye and Daniel K. Akaka announced today.
The money comes through a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s National Training Program (HSNTP) for the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium.
The center received $4.8 million last year.
“The training center’s strategic placement at the University of Hawaii allows first responders from Hawaii and the Pacific Rim easy access to a variety of experts who are well versed in the complicated field of disaster management,” said Senator Inouye. “As an isolated state in the middle of the Pacific Ocean we must be prepared to protect our citizens from the unique dangers that confront our island home.”
“The National Disaster Preparedness Training Center at the University of Hawai’i increases our ability to prepare for many types of disasters,” said Senator Akaka. “These funds will help to train first responders and keep our loved ones and our communities safe.”