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Joint emergency operations center to get closer look

The county plans to hire a consultant to look into teaming up with Tampa for a new facility.

By KEVIN GRAHAM
Published October 5, 2006

TAMPA - It will take six months and $45,000 for a consultant to explore whether the city of Tampa and Hillsborough County ought to be bunk mates inside a proposed new emergency operations center.

Commission Chairman Jim Norman said Wednesday that other jurisdictions should realize at the outset that they'll be expected to help the county build and operate a joint center.

"Before one nickel is spent, I believe that needs to be said up front," Norman said. "Or there will be controversy from now on."

Commissioners plan this month to hire a consultant to review the existing county emergency center, after the county administrator presented them with a report that found it too small. Larry Gispert, Hillsborough's emergency management director, gave a presentation to board members that showed the need for an improved facility.

The center, at 2711 E Hanna Ave. in East Tampa, opened in 1993 with the capacity for 75 emergency responders. Gispert said twice that number crowd into the building during full evacuation scenarios such as hurricanes. He'd like to have room for representatives from utilities and businesses, such as Tampa Electric and Home Depot, which currently don't have a spot at the table.

When the center goes to full evacuation mode for days at a time, as it did during the 2004 hurricane season, dozens of workers sleep in the building. Most sleep on the floor or in a chair, Gispert said. The building only has 20 bunks.

Commissioner Mark Sharpe has worked with Gispert over the past year to come up with a concept of what may work best for a joint emergency operations center, which would include space for Plant City and Temple Terrace, along with Tampa.

State laws place the responsibility for handling emergencies on the county. Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio said she supports the idea.

A consultant is expected to look at expanding the current center and to seek alternatives in existing county buildings, along with estimating likely costs of a new facility.

[Last modified October 5, 2006, 01:08:46]