NC leaders unveil new State Emergency Operations Center
North Carolina leaders unveiled the new $53-million State Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh, which will house the National Guard, Division of Emergency Management and communications offices for the State Highway Patrol and the Department of Transportation.
Posted — UpdatedPreviously, the agencies were spread across Raleigh.
“This is where the state emergency response team comes together and manages emergencies and disasters,” said State Emergency Management Director Doug Hoell.
About 520 employees will work at the 237,000-square-foot facility off District Drive, which allows authorities to get information “in real time,” said Highway Patrol spokesman First Sgt. Jeff Gordon.
It also helps the state deal with everyday emergencies, such as traffic accidents. Highway Patrol dispatchers can look at a wall of live cameras to give troopers an idea of what they're handling.
Emergency managers say the faster, clearer communication will help them make better decisions when they matter most.
“I would say that we are building a safer North Carolina,” Hoell said.
Construction on the building began about three years ago, and federal stimulus money paid for about $41.5 million of the project.
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