VIDEO: Florida’s Division of Emergency Management is preparing for the future with a massive expansion of its headquarters. A brand-new state emergency operations center (EOC) is under construction in Tallahassee, and it’s designed to help the state weather any storm, literally and logistically. The new building, located across the road from the current facility in a state office complex, will be more than twice the size of the current facility. Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie said the upgrade is long overdue.
“We’re going to be able to get about 220 people on the actual floor itself. Whereas today we only get about 80,” Guthrie said. The EOC serves as a coordination hub during disasters, hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding and other emergencies. However, the limited space in the existing building has made it more challenging for state agencies and partners to collaborate effectively. “When we cannot get in the same room and have those crucial conversations, have the coordination and communication element, it makes us weaker at what we do,” Guthrie said.
Beyond size, the new facility is structurally stronger. It’s being built to withstand winds of up to 200 miles per hour, stronger than any hurricane ever recorded. That resilience means emergency teams will be able to safely stay in Tallahassee and manage disasters without having to evacuate. “The fact we have a 200-mile-an-hour building allows us to withstand any of the perils that we’re going to face here in Tallahassee,” Guthrie explained. The new headquarters is also designed with growth in mind, offering space for future expansion as Florida’s emergency response needs continue to evolve.
