It was years in the making, but the Fayette County Emergency Operations Center funded by a $1 million federal grant opened Jan. 15 on Volunteer Way adjacent to the 911 center in Fayetteville.
“This really is a proud day for this community. We’re proud of this accomplishment,” said Fayette County Fire and Emergency Services (FES) Division Chief Pete Nelms, explaining that the new center will assist a variety of departments and agencies in their response to crisis events in times of need.
Nelms said construction of the 4,800 sq. ft. emergency operations center got underway in early 2013 after the the county received the grant award through the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.
Nelms said the center will be used for high-impact events and will be the coordinating center for a variety of emergencies. The center will accommodate the efforts of all 15 emergency support functions, such as law enforcement, emergency management, public works and fire and emergency services.
The command center area of the building, which can be partitioned off when needed, is outfitted with nine work stations, computers, wall-mounted monitors and televisions and has live networked feeds for services such as radar and computer-aided dispatch.
In all, the wealth of audio visual, communications, computers and security equipment are state-of-the-art.
The remainder of the large room, which can also be partitioned, is outfitted with movable tables and chairs along with wall-mounted TVs and monitors. The area can be used for training and other purposes. Other areas of the center include bathrooms equipped with showers, a kitchen and rest areas.
Attending the ceremony was Georgia Emergency Management Agency Director of Operations Charles Dawson.
“This is an exceptional facility,” Dawson said, noting that Nelms had applied for the grant for five straight years before it was awarded. ”Fayette County was one of only six in the United States to get funded that year. It speaks highly of the efforts of Chief Nelms and Chief David Scarbrough.”
The cost to construct and equip the center was approximately $1.1 million, with $950,000 of that amount coming from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
