The Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium, led by The Center for Rural Development, is a DHS funded program providing training and resources to rural first responders. RDPC courses are offered both in-person and online, and are provided at no cost.
RDPC’s mission focuses on positioning rural and tribal communities to prepare for, prevent, respond, and recover from disasters by building capacity and skills through training.
Since the beginning, RDPC has worked diligently to develop and deliver training to small, rural and tribal communities throughout the United States. While Americans tend to have an idealized image of rural America, a common definition for “rural” is difficult to find and is one of the most popular questions asked of RDPC.
Consistent with the guidance from the U.S. Census Bureau, RDPC defines rural communities it serves as “any location with a population of less than 50,000 and with a population density of less than 1,000 persons per square mile.” In addition to the U.S. Census Bureau, most Federal agencies use a population threshold of under 50,000 to define a “rural” area.
RDPC interprets the phrase, “any location,” as applying to tribes, cities, towns, villages, parishes, communities, and counties, which provides a flexibility that ensures areas are not excluded unduly. For example, a city or township within an urban county fits the “rural” definition.
The citizens of rural communities face unique challenges when preparing for all-hazards. For instance, limited population and tax bases can create difficulties for community public safety agencies in terms of staffing, equipment, and other resources. By offering no cost training, RDPC can provide rural first responders with training opportunities that may otherwise cause budgetary difficulties.
Find training courses, catalog, schedules and more at https://ruraltraining.org