EMI curricula are structured to meet the needs of this diverse audience, with an emphasis on separate organizations working together in all-hazards emergencies to save lives and protect property.

The campus has fully equipped air-conditioned classrooms, lodging for students, a Learning Resource Center, and dining and recreational facilities.

There also are several specialized facilities, such as the Simulation and Exercise Lab, a television studio Preparedness Network (PREPnet), and two computer laboratories that are integral to the instruction of many courses.

Due to concerns during the Cold War the CDSC's parent organization, the Federal Civil Defense Administration (FCDA), under Administrator Val Peterson, saw the Presidential Order to move the FCDA and the CDSC to Battle Creek, Michigan, to remove them from the increasing Cold War threat of Washington, DC, being attacked.

Also in 1979, President Carter dedicated the former St. Joseph's College, which closed with its merger of participants and faculty with Mount Saint Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Maryland, as the FEMA National Emergency Training Center (NETC).

NETC then became the home for the National Fire Academy (NFA) and the renamed Staff College which become the Emergency Management Institute (EMI), to reflect its now broader training role.

[4] EMI works to improve the competencies of United States officials at all levels of government to prevent, prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the potential effects of disasters and emergencies.

EMI has provided technical support to dozens of other Federal government agencies and State offices on advanced distributed learning technology development and application.

The EMI Higher Education Conference is held the first week in June for more than 400 college and university officials with current or developing programs in emergency management and hosts up to 70 separate discussion groups.

[3] The independent study program at EMI consists of free courses offered to United States citizens in comprehensive emergency management techniques.

EMI provides leadership in developing and delivering training to ensure that individuals and groups having key emergency management responsibilities at all levels of government, possess the requisite competencies to perform their jobs effectively.

The program works with colleges and universities, emergency management professionals, and stakeholder organizations to help create an emergency management system of sustained, replicable capability and disaster loss reduction through formal education, experiential learning, practice, and experience centered on mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery from the full range of natural, technological and intentional hazards which confront communities, States and the Nation.

[16] In addition Clackamas Community College was approved by the Oregon Department of Education to accept credit for EMI coursework.

Using the EMI training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.

[20] The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary requires auxiliarists to take mandatory Incident Command System courses through the Emergency Management Institute.

Failure to complete the training may make them ineligible to participate in Coast Guard Auxiliary exercises, drills, or response events.

[21] Auxiliarists are expected to take EMI courses that will help them to understand the Incident Command System's organization, basic terminology and common responsibilities.

The purpose of the monument is to honor the thousands of Civil Defense and Emergency Management professionals and volunteers who have worked hard and faithfully to protect the public from both man-made and natural hazards.

This monument particularly recognizes the numerous military and civilian volunteers and professionals who have gone beyond the normal call of duty to save lives and alleviate suffering in times of crises.

The centerpiece of the monument is a 15-ton block of polished white Vermont granite, shaped as a three-sided pyramid, representative of the Federal, state, and local governments and their efforts in working together to accomplish a joint mission.