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Virginia's New Emergency Operations Center



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Mar 10, 2006, News Report

Virginia now has a new, state-of-the-art Emergency Operations Center to help local governments and emergency responders serve and protect citizens during disasters and emergencies.

The $13 million Virginia Emergency Operations Center is designed to provide a collaborative workspace and updated technology to members of the Virginia Emergency Response Team. The VERT is composed of representatives from numerous state agencies, nonprofit organizations and private businesses who work as a team to serve Virginians during emergencies.

The new, 17,100 square foot facility is large enough to hold all the VERT members, giving them enough room to work side-by-side with federal and local partners. More than 45 miles of wiring and 260 computers and monitors give VERT members the technology they need to do their job. A 1,000-kilowatt generator stands ready to provide power in case of an outage.

"We are taking a giant leap forward in our capabilities," said Michael M. Cline, state coordinator for VDEM. "This new operations center gives the members of the state emergency response team the space and tools to help local governments respond to emergencies."
The old VEOC was a 2,500 square foot bunker built in 1951 to be the governor's fallout shelter in the event of a nuclear attack. It had major space and technology limitations and there was not enough space for the VERT to operate in one location.

The new VEOC was designed and constructed in partnership with the Virginia Department of State Police with input from local and state agency representatives. More information and a photo gallery are available on VDEM's Web site: http://www.vaemergency.com/newsroom/photos/fac/.
KW

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