It will be a needed upgrade to existing emergency services that will cost little but pay big dividends. Coweta commissioners march 17 voted to spend a requested $6,772 to create an emergency operations center in the newly opened 911 Center on Walt Sanders Memorial Drive.

“The recent storms have demonstrated our need for a fully functional emergency operations center (EOC),” said county administrator Theron Gay. “In order to work out the multitude of tasks and carry out the command functions associated with any large scale emergency event our EOC must be fully equipped. All public safety agencies along with support services must be able to come together in a secure setting to map out the best approach in handling the emergency, taking into account safety, resources, time and various other considerations.”

Gay said he had spoken with all agencies involved in emergency operations, adding that each agency will have its own space within the EOC to handle its own area of responsibility.

The price tag for equipment to outfit the EOC, to be located in the 911 Center’s training room, came to $6,771.96. Gay said the funds to pay for the upgrade would come from 911 revenues.

The equipment required to outfit the EOC items such as a computer, projector, screen, wireless access point and software.

The vote by commissioners was unanimous.

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