But the center that will soon house Emergency Management Agency/Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (EMA/CSEPP) will be useful to the community in more ways than protecting citizens from chemical disasters. The EOC will also house the Madison County Fire Department headquarters and enhanced E-911.
In case of a chemical emergency, CSEPP will need the departments nearby to help man catastrophic outcomes. And when the fire department and 911 center aren’t combating a chemical crisis, they will still be utilizing the state-of-the-art facility during their everyday operations.
“Being prepared for a chemical emergency helps us prepare the county for any emergency because they all play off each other,” explained Howard Logue, EMA director.
For example, the fire department will soon boast several upgraded amenities, including four truck bays, housing for female firefighters, an upgraded kitchen and lounge area, and a washer and dryer for turnout gear. Previously, county firefighters had to wash their gear using the city’s facilities.
The enhanced-911 will have upgraded technology and space to grow, noted Michael Bryant, CSEPP coordinator.
“This program has greatly impacted the safety in our county and given us enough room to grow with our ever-expanding population,” Bryant said. “Right now, we have more sirens than any county in the state except Louisville and that is another direct result.”
For the time being, the departments are busy transferring furniture into the space and preparing for their big move, but the biggest changes, perhaps, will be within EMA/CSEPP.
While all entities plan to be within the building by March of this year, EMA/CSEPP has internal restructuring and technological advances to prepare for.
About 12 new employees will be hired so that workers can man the department during all hours the depot is functioning. That will typically relate to a schedule of 24 hours a day, Bryant said.
Technological kinks in the highly advanced system will also need be worked out before the center is fully-operational.
Currently, a data center features hundreds of yellow and blue fiber-optic wires snaking across its walls and ceilings. More will soon be added to the complex network, Logue said.
Until all the departments are together, most are anticipating the day they can finally commute to their new establishment that will join them all together.
With a laugh, Bryant said, “I hear the firefighters are good cooks so maybe they will share with us sometime. They’ll be in the building.”
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