The National Disaster Preparedness Training Center at the University of Hawai'i has been awarded nearly $5 million by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The center provides disaster training to ensure island communities throughout the Pacific are ready and able to respond, recover and rebuild after catastrophes.

Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawai'i, yesterday said in a news release that with the start of the hurricane season, the funding will help the university reach out to those across the Pacific with disaster planning and response.

UH has one of seven Federal Emergency Management Agency national domestic preparedness sites nationwide.