About Us

The Regional Emergency All-Climate Training (REACT) Center is owned and operated by Wisconsin Emergency Management, a division of the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs. The center offers training for military and civilian responders year-round to ensure a successful response to natural and human-made disasters.

Facilities & Amenities

• Modern classrooms equipped for immersive learning
• Expansive multi-acre training grounds for realistic field exercises
• On-site meals and refreshments to keep students fueled and focused
• Onsite lodging for convenience and seamless experience at our facility.

We’ve designed our campus to support intensive, uninterrupted learning—so responders can focus on building life-saving skills.

Realistic Disaster Simulations

Our outdoor training area features purpose-built structures that simulate collapsed buildings and complex rescue scenarios:

• Light and heavy rubble piles
• Office collapse simulator
• Multi-floor pancake collapse structure
• Specialized stations for breaching, burning, shoring, lifting, and moving

These environments allow students to practice technical rescue techniques in a safe, controlled setting that mirrors real-world conditions.

Equipment & Expertise

REACT provides all necessary tools and heavy equipment for structural collapse technician training. Thousands of responders have trained here, and we’re proud to serve as the home base for Wisconsin Task Force 1, the state’s elite urban search and rescue team.

Our Facilities

The REACT Center strives to provide the most realistic training venues possible while still maintaining a controlled, safe experience. Our 15-acre training complex allows us to train and exercise multiple disciplines and multiple units simultaneously, allowing our logistics staff the ability to easily support training needs. The REACT Center maintains a large inventory of training aids and props, including:

• Vehicles of all sizes that can be damaged and destroyed as needed
• Hazmat props, including:
  • Rail Car
  • Highway tank cars
  • Barrels, totes, cylinders
  • Clan lab set-ups, including glassware
  • IED / WMD simulation
  • Manikin support, including medical manikins
  • For our law enforcement customers, the High-Risk Entry Building and classroom space is available.” Rental fees will be based on services needed.
  • Leadership Development Course

To allow for the realistic exercise of larger task forces and military units, The REACT Center has worked with Volk Field CRTC to construct and secure training venues remote to our internal training ground, but still within the confines of the base. These venues include heavy collapse venues, large search areas, & natural bluff areas for rope rescue & extraction.

Light Collapse Simulators

Heavy Collapse Venues

Classrooms

Our Instructors

Our instructor cadre is the cornerstone of The REACT Center. All of our instructors and subject matter experts (SMEs) are currently employed and active in the emergency and disaster response community, which give them the real-world perspective and the experience required of the position. Examples of the experience and knowledge base of our instructors:

• Urban Search & Rescue / Technical Rescue
• Hazardous Material Emergency Response
  • State of Wisconsin Hazmat Response Teams
  • Local Response Teams
  • United States Coast Guard Strike Team
• Fire and Emergency Response
  • Most of our instructors & SMEs are currently career firefighters on various municipal departments from throughout Wisconsin. Positions range from firefighters to paramedics, equipment operators to chief officers.
• Emergency Management Coordinator
• Engineers & Construction professionals

Our Location

The REACT Center is located in Central Wisconsin on the Volk Field CRTC/Camp Williams military installation. The facility is near Tomah, WI on Interstate 90/94, between Madison and La Crosse.

Address and USNG

The REACT Center
1 Williams Street, Building 7
Camp Douglas, WI 54618-5002
 USNG/MGRS 15TYJ1912867447

Approximate drive time / distance to The REACT Center from:

• La Crosse, WI – 1 Hour/57 Miles
• Madison, WI – 1.5 hours/86 miles
• Milwaukee, WI – 2.5 hours/155 miles
• Minneapolis, MN – 3 hours/184 miles
• Chicago, IL – 4 hours/226 miles

Airport Information

La Crosse and Madison are the closest airports with commercial service. Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Chicago have major hub service.

Airports & Codes

• La Crosse Municipal Airport – La Crosse, WI – LSE
• Dane County Regional Airport – Madison, WI – MSN
• General Mitchell International Airport – Milwaukee, WI – MKE
• Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport – Minneapolis, MN – MSP
• O’Hare International Airport – Chicago, IL – ORD

Lodging Information

For reservations and pricing, please contact REACT.
608-427-2258
REACT@wisconsin.gov

Recommended Toiletries List

• Toothbrush
• Towel
• Washcloth
• Soap
• Antiperspirant
• Razor/Shaving Cream
• Flip-Flops (Optional)
• Hairbrush/Comb
• Sleeping Bag/Blanket