The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) will be holding Environmental Health Training in Emergency Response (EHTER) Operations courses on July 19-25 and August 23-29, 2026, at its training facilities in Anniston, AL.
The EHTER Operations training is a five-day course which provides participants with the operations-level knowledge and skills needed to respond to natural- or human-caused disasters, and to use appropriate protocols and equipment to achieve mission objectives. Participants are trained to assess a variety of environments, determine risks, plan for team response, select equipment and instrumentation appropriate to the event, perform the required tasks according to environmental health response protocols, and perform reporting and follow-up as instructed. This is a hands-on, application-based course where participants conduct responses to simulated disaster events. Participants address environmental health issues related to sewage contamination, emergency shelters, water contamination, mass feeding, environmental contamination, responder safety and health, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and building hazards. There is no cost to attend for those from state, local, tribal, and territorial jurisdictions. Federal responders are required to pay tuition, travel, food, and lodging.
Click here for additional information and to apply.
In addition to the resumption of the EHTER Operations course at FEMA/CDP, the EHTER Awareness Independent-Study course is also available. This course is one of the prerequisites for the EHTER Operations course.
The EHTER Awareness Course is a seven-hour, online training offered in partnership with FEMA’s CDP. The course addresses the role of environmental health responders in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies and disasters. It covers issues and challenges in the following areas:
- Disaster management
- Responder safety and health
- Safe water
- Food safety
- Wastewater
- Building assessments
- Vectors and pests
- Solid waste and debris
- Shelters
- Radiation
