Moving Emergency Operations Center makes timely sense

One of the most important is that the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office is just too noisy and too busy to house an Emergency Operations Center, or EOC. 

In response, the Burnet County Commissioners Court recently decided to move the EOC to the basement of the Courthouse on the Square in Burnet.

This is a shrewd move because it reduces noise and distractions, gives the county more space to conduct emergency procedures and could improve communications.

Safety comes first, and the move to the courthouse basement makes sense (just keep it waterproof).

There is a large meeting area, a kitchen, restrooms, showers and plenty of space for computers, computer printers, copy machines, radios and telephones in the basement.

County Judge Donna Klaeger believes the area is more conducive to strategic planning; the business of coordinating an emergency response can be conducted there more efficiently.

Oddly enough, a long time ago the basement served as the county jail. 

This is a good move by the county if it helps ensure smoother operations and enhances public safety.

Transfer of the EOC from the Sheriff’s Office to the courthouse basement may be complete by the end of the year — just in time for the ice storms. 

When activated, the EOC is occupied by several members of county departments appointed to coordinate responses to threats including fire, flood and other emergencies. 

Those who assemble in the EOC during an emergency can include the county judge, commissioners, county attorney, sheriff, auditor, grant administrator, environmental services director; health authority and treasurer; emergency management and public assistance coordinators; fire department chiefs; public information, technology and regional liaison officers; the Chemical, Biological, Explosive, Radiological and Nuclear Incident Command Team; the Texas Forest Service; and many others. 

Also, a deputy sheriff is detailed to keep track of individuals as they move in and out of the center.  

There is another reason the county is moving to the basement: Better communications, which are a must in an emergency.

During mock drills held in November at four spots in Burnet County among first responders from Burnet and six neighboring counties, radio communication between emergency site command posts and the EOC in the Sheriff’s Office proved to be the biggest problem. 

The new location and increased training may help to alleviate some of those issues in the future.

The rain bomb that dropped at least 19 inches of water on many areas of the Highland Lakes, shut down roads and sent hundreds seeking higher or drier ground had a silver lining among the dark clouds: The disaster provided a real-time education for local emergency responders.

Moving the EOC to enhance safety operations is one of those rare beneficial lessons learned during an otherwise unfortunate time.