VIDEO: Washington County leaders gathered on Brink Drive Wednesday for a ribbon cutting and grand opening of the countyโs new Emergency Operations Center. The building has been in the works for decades, with county leaders saying they hope to strengthen disaster response. The center is equipped with training facilities, offices, a large operations room, a commercial kitchen, and short-term living quarters for emergency situations.
Director of Emergency Management John Luther says the new facility will make it easier for partners across different levels of government and volunteer organizations to coordinate in times of crisis. โWe’ll have training facilities and our operations room, where we can work with our partners, other elected officials, government officials, volunteer organizations โ just everybody involved in major emergency or disaster response,โ Luther said.
He says the building’s size will also allow for improved communication during emergencies. โIt will bring the decision makers together that work to resolve problems during a crisis โ help coordinate those folks and let them do what they do best,โ Luther said. Washington County Judge Patrick Deakins says the center is an improvement for local first responders, particularly those in rural areas.
