Funds For Emergency Operations Center Awarded To Temple Terrace

TEMPLE TERRACE, FL — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' Framework for Freedom Budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24 includes $4.5 million for a hardened emergency operations center for the city of Temple Terrace.

The center will provide a safe emergency operations facility that can withstand Category 5 hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters.

The emergency operations center will include the city's information technology computer systems and a back-up police and fire dispatch center.

Currently, during an emergency, the EOC is housed in a classroom in the Temple Terrace Fire Station No. 1, which is only rated for Category 2 storms. More extreme weather necessitates relocating the EOC to Temple Terrace Elementary School, which is a hardened facility although not designed for this purpose, making the city vulnerable to weather emergencies, said Temple Terrace Mayor Andy Ross. Hardened structures are those built to withstand a range of potential hazards.

The new facility will provide uninterrupted emergency dispatch service for police, fire and emergency medical services before, during and after a natural disaster, serving the nearly 28,000 residents of Temple Terrace.

It also will ensure the safety of the city's emergency command staff.

"Securing state funding for a hardened EOC is a huge coup for Temple Terrace."said Ross. "As we craft our budget for 2023-24, we are committed to finding the additional funds to bring this project to fruition in the next two years. Maintaining emergency services for our residents and keeping our employees safe during hurricanes and other natural disasters is paramount, and this facility will ensure both."

He credited Fire Chief Ian Kemp for his efforts advocating for the EOC along with Police Chief Ken Albano, former city managers Charles Stephenson and Steve Spina, current City Manager Carlos Baa and consultants Louis Betz and Travis Mitchell.

"And, most importantly," Ross said, "we owe a debt of gratitude to Rep. Lawrence McClure, Sens. Danny Burgess and Darryl Rouson, Congresswoman Laurel Lee and Gov. DeSantis for their commitment to our city on this project."