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"The Emergency Operations Center is the
nerve center for the state's response to any disaster -- from
terrorist attacks to floods and tornadoes," Blagojevich said. "Since
9/11, our demands on the existing center have far surpassed its
space and capabilities. Thanks to this grant and matching state
funds, we can build a state-of-the-art SEOC that allows us to meet
all of the disaster response challenges that face us in today's
world."
Illinois' grant award was the second
highest in the nation among states vying for a share of $73.9
million in total grants. The state must provide a 25 percent match,
which can include the value of state land used for the facility and
architectural or engineering work conducted by the Capital
Development Board or other state agencies. Under terms of the grant,
the facility must be completed or nearly completed within 18 months.
The SEOC currently is located in the
Illinois Emergency Management Agency building in Springfield, near
the Capitol complex. During an emergency, representatives from as
many as 25 agencies report to the center to coordinate response
efforts.
The new SEOC will enhance the state's
ability to respond during any type of emergency, including those
related to acts of terrorism. In natural disasters, Illinois
annually ranks among the top states for most tornado touchdowns and
has experienced three 100-year floods along the Mississippi River in
the past 10 years.
[to top of second column in
this article]
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Plans include more space to accommodate
the increased number of SEOC representatives, as well as adjacent
meeting space for consultation with additional staff. Wireless voice
communications and videoconferencing capabilities will increase the
SEOC staff's ability to consult with the governor and other decision
makers around the state during a crisis, while a helipad will allow
officials to be quickly transported to a disaster scene.
The state's Radiological Emergency
Assessment Center, which monitors conditions in and around the six
operating nuclear power plants in Illinois, will also be relocated
to the new SEOC to increase coordination between those two centers.
Other less
high-tech needs of the center will also be met by the new facility,
including a media briefing room. A new location apart from the
existing IEMA building will also allow for the higher levels of
building security needed for such a facility, without disrupting the
daily operations of IEMA.
[Illinois
Government News Network
news release]
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