ANNISTON FEMA FACILITY TO BE USED AS CORONAVIRUS QUARANTINE CENTER

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services made the announcement on Saturday.

We are concerned, obviously.

We just learned of this a few hours ago.

We start tonight with breaking news.

A federal emergency management agency center in anniston alabama will be used as a quarantine center for passengers of the diamond princess cruise ship who may be infected with the coronavirus: covid-19.

Thanks for joining us tonight.

I'm will robinson-smith.

And i'm megan reyna.

Within the past hour, officials from anniston and calhoun county gave a briefing on what they've learned from the federal government.

But as you just heard, they say they weren't given much of a heads up.

The center for domestic preparedness or c-d-p is about 50 miles south of boaz in calhoun county.

According to anniston mayor jack draper, the decision to move passengers to the c-d-p was a joint decision by the u.s. deparment of health and human services along with the federal emergency management agency or 'fema'.

He said they were told that those brought to the facility will not be showing symptoms. the c-d-p will be providing housing for those people.

Who arrive.

Calhoun county commissioner tim hodges says they are exploring their options now.

He says the lack of communication regarding the decision is unacceptable.

Whether this happens or not, or we can stop it or not, it can't happen this quick.

I mean, you do something over the weekend, nobody's working and people are hard to get in touch with, a lot of officials are out of town, you can't just say this is what's going to happen.

Hodges says they spoke with congressman mike rogers' office and said he opposes the move as well.

He added that they are also consolting with the congressional delegation and their attorneys to see if they have any power to stop the decision.

There are no passengers in anniston as