With a ramped-up hurricane season on the horizon according to a new forecast out, Alexandria residents can take comfort knowing a new $5.1 million Emergency Operations Center stands ready to deal with almost any emergency.
The purpose of the City's new EOC is to provide a space where representatives from multiple agencies can work together to provide resources during various types of emergency incidents, such as snowstorms, power outages, major fire incidents, and planned events.
Previously, Alexandria had to set up an EOC at the Lee Center in two classrooms. Every city agency can be represented at the new EOC, from the Department of Community and Human Services to City Communications to City IT.
The city did a "soft opening" of the EOC, which is located at 2003 Mill Road, earlier this summer when the Metro shut down.
“This is not just the City’s facility," said Assistant Chief and Emergency Manager Corey Smedley. "The new EOC belongs to all of us, including our community members. We welcome our local, regional, and other preparedness partners to use this space for training opportunities and meetings. It’s important for us to train in this facility as much as possible so that in the event of an incident, we can all successfully work together with a common knowledge and understanding.”
The new EOC, which is managed by the City’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, is in a secured building along with the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office.
The 8,750 square foot, state-of-the-art facility has 49 workstations, seven individual offices, two cubicle workspaces, and a conference room, with additional conference space and technological capabilities in the Sheriff’s Office.
The facility is designed not only for use during emergency situations, but also for training purposes. To prepare for expanding incidents that affect Alexandria and the region, the City is making the new EOC available for use by local and regional emergency managers, first responders and other preparedness partners in the community.
NOAA Revises 2019 Hurricane Forecast
One of the types of situations the EOC might deal with includes weather-related emergencies.
From August to October is peak hurricane season and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) revised its 2019 hurricane forecast Thursday.
Seasonal forecasters with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center have increased the likelihood of an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season to 45 percent (up from 30 percent predicted in May).
In May, forecasters predicted 12 named storms and three major hurricanes. But last week, they upped that prediction to 17 named storms and four major storms with winds of 111 MPH or more.
In previous years, hurricanes have downed trees and power lines and flooded area roads.
For more information about hurricane preparedness, including flooding information, food and water safety, post-storm cleanup instructions, a Virginia evacuation guide and more, visit alexandriava.gov/Hurricane.
