Disaster Response Complex (DRC)
The Disaster Response Complex at Idaho State is a unique facility recently added to the university’s research portfolio. It was created with a nearly $1.1 million grant from the Higher Education Research Council of the Idaho State Board of Education through the Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission. It is comprised of three focus areas:
- Research
- Curriculum and Certification
- Training and Exercise
Research
The Research aspect of the Disaster Response Complex (DRC) is focused on providing training for emergency responders and provides hands-on experience in a wide range of research areas, including:
- Design of training lanes using precast concrete to simulate various emergency scenarios
- The development of multiple emergency scenarios using experience and knowledge from disaster zones
- Training using virtual and augmented realities
- The use of GIS in emergency response
- The use of robotics in emergency response in confined or hazardous conditions
Curriculum & Certification
The second focus of the DRC, Curriculum and Certification, in which ISU plays a major role to bring it into practice. Curriculum and Certification includes:
- Development of curriculum in emergency response
- Offering courses in emergency response training
- Certification of first responders
- Offering additional more expansive coursework to existing ISU majors
Training & Exercise
The third aspect of the DRC, Training and Exercise, focuses on making the facilities available to interested parties to host and conduct various trainings and exercises.