New $22M FEMA training center opens in Anniston

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is turning to its facility in Alabama to train the next generation of disaster responders.

FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston has officially opened a new student training and in-processing center at its Advanced Responder Training Complex. Federal and local officials were on site earlier this week to celebrate the ribbon cutting.

“The Center for Domestic Preparedness is committed to training the best for the worst. Facilities like these reflect the importance of empowering and enabling local responders to protect their communities. By investing in these facilities, state, local, tribal and territorial governments can ensure they have the skills needed to reduce risk and build their capacity to respond to emergencies and disasters.”

Cameron Hamilton, FEMA Administrator

FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness

Since it opened its doors in 1998, the CDP facility has already trained more than 1.5 million responders. And the $22 million renovation will provide new resources to the next group of responders.

The new facility is expected to provide a place to equip state, local, tribal and territorial emergency responders with the resources required to react and respond to mass casualty incidents with a wide variety of materials including:

• Chemical
• Biological
• Radiological
• Nuclear
• Explosives

The updated building includes classroom space and a large area where students can be in-processed before training and gather with fellow responders. It will also house the CDP Training and Education staff as well as staff associated with training support and delivery functions. 

“Before, during and after a disaster, emergency management is best when it is locally led, state managed and federally supported. By providing training on preparedness, protection and all-hazards response, CDP strengthens the local capacity of communities across the country.”

FEMA

The building is located at 61 Responder Drive in Anniston. You can learn more including how to sign up for classes using the facility’s website.