About 800 cots can be set up in the new FEMA safety shelter, which opened recently on the Del Mar College West Campus. The $5 million, dome-shaped facility can withstand winds of up to 200 mph. Photo by Suzanne Freeman
About 100 fire and police cadets sweltered in the heat outside the Emergency Training Building and FEMA Safety Shelter on the Del Mar College West Campus during opening ceremonies of the new building. That should be the last time they have to suffer during training sessions, thanks to that same building.
The dome-shaped shelter was dedicated during a media conference Oct. 15. With police cadets flanking one side of the presentation and the fire department cadets on the other, officials extolled the benefits of the new building and unveiled a commemorative plaque.
Once inside, those virtues became obvious and enjoyable in the cooled facility. First responders can now train in 21,000 square feet of air-conditioned space designed to shelter up to 800 people during times of emergencies.
“As you can see, the entire community will benefit from this through the training capabilities,” Del Mar College president Mark Escamilla told Corpus Christi Business News. “This space will also bolster our preparedness for all emergencies.”
Along with seven offices for first responders to use during emergencies, the building includes classrooms and safe rooms for the university’s computer servers and telephone system. Eighty percent of the building is dedicated to the wide-open space under the dome, where students, faculty and others, including the disabled, can shelter from any emergency. The open space was designed to contain about 800 cots, part of FEMA’s requirement for funding most of the construction.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency paid for 75 percent of the $5 million building, which came in under budget. FEMA covered $4.2 million of a projected $4.3 million in estimated costs, while the college paid $1 million of an estimated cost of $1.2 million.
The single-story building has a 39-foot roof that was built to move up and down by as much as two feet during a storm. The dome was constructed much like an air ship, or blimp, using a giant, inflatable rubber balloon stabilized with foam, steel rods and concrete.
Two fire department cadets looking to graduate from training next month lamented not having the option to train in air conditioning during their 22 months in the academy.
“It’s very strenuous doing what we do,” said Daniel Taylor, who awaits assignment to his first shift. “I’m part of the 38th academy. The 39th academy just started two months ago. They will benefit more than we will!”
David Dominguez, who is part of Taylor’s class, said he was looking forward to moving into the new building over the next few weeks.
“We can do fire drills out of the heat,” he said. “I’m looking forward to using the facility, getting out of the heat and learning some skills.”
