DeSoto County Emergency Operations Center Arcadia, Florida
Client: DeSoto County
Location: 2115 Northeast Roan Street
Site: A level, unoccupied parcel on a rural route with an adjacent wetland area. An adjacent field is reserved for staging in the event of an emergency.
Program Challenge: To create an emergency operations center of 3,485 square feet that meets the criteria for Category 4 structural survivability and also satisfies the functional needs of county officials day to day, but especially in a weather emergency or other crises. The building also needed to be equipped for 72 hours of stand-alone operation. The project was commissioned through a competitive grant process under House Bill 7121.
Solution: Rowe Architects designed the EOC to provide its users with a versatile, highly functional workspace insulated from external chaos. It serves as a command post for routine, daily operations as well as a centralized headquarters that accommodates up to 41 people during a hurricane or other catastrophe. At the heart of the building, a central operations room serves as a meeting area for crucial decision making with easy access to nearby office, mapping, planning, and communications spaces. The rooms are separated by sliding glass partitions which allows for reconfiguration.
To meet Category 4 hurricane requirements, the EOC was designed as a hardened structure with an exterior cavity wall system of 8” reinforced concrete masonry units faced with a 4” architectural concrete masonry veneer. A pre-cast concrete panel system was used for the roof deck and it is supported by the masonry exterior walls and interior structural steel columns.
A variety of other features equip the EOC for continued operation amidst emergency conditions. A retractable radio antenna allows for communication with outside agencies and can be lowered to avoid damage from high winds and projectiles. Storefront-style openings with impact-resistant glass provide natural light and a means to observe outside conditions. The window openings, as well as all exterior components (mechanical equipment, well head, generator and fuel storage), are encased in protective metal cages constructed with a galvanized steel bar grating panel system. For added protection, bi-fold aircraft hangar doors can be lowered over the storefront openings. An oversized lift station, well water, and a generator ensure that the EOC and all of its systems can operate unassisted for the specified 72-hour period.