Fire Rescue
General Information
Quick Tour
Entrance to Communications and Emergnecy Operations Center.
Main room of the EOC which can seat 48 people, each with power and computer network connections for laptops.
The media room, which can be used for media briefings, looks out onto the main room and has individual work stations for the media.
The conference room allows for decision and policy makers to meet outside of the main EOC floor.
Similar to the 72 hour supply kit the Office encourages individuals to have, the EOC has a three day supply of food, toiletries and cots for 50 workers.
Officially opened on January 8, 2001, the Alachua County Combined Communications and Emergency Operations Center houses Alachua County's Public Safety's Emergency Management Section. At a cost of $4.6 million, the center is a state of the art facility. It is located in East Gainesville at 1100 SE 27th Street, adjacent to the Sheriff's Office.
Built to withstand 150 mph sustained winds all external walls are reinforced concrete block masonry; the roof consists a of a steel deck with three inch concrete fill; all mechanical and electrical back up systems are contained within the exterior envelope; and all exterior glass windows and doors are protected by hurricane-strength shutters.
For security, the building features security cameras with 24 hour recording around the perimeter of the building. All exterior doors use electronic card reader systems.
In order to ensure operations even during extreme situations, the center has redundant electrical, water, and air handling systems. This includes a 1,000 KVA emergency generator with automatic transfer for supplying power for the entire building.
The center jointly houses the Communications and Emergency Operations Centers. The Communications Center is administered by the Alachua County Sheriff's Office. It serves as the single 911 answering center for the county and serves as dispatch for Alachua County Sheriff's Office, Alachua County Public Safety, Gainesville Police Department, and Gainesville Fire/Rescue.
The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is administered by Alachua County Public Safety through the Emergency Management Section. The EOC has over 1,500 square feet of operating space not including office and storage. Additionally, there are four separate break-out rooms with acoustical isolation from the main operation room. Other rooms include offices for staff, media room, rumor control room, and a conference room.
Mission Statement
To provide the resources to the community to develop a Culture of Preparedness against natural, human caused and technological hazards through education, training, and partnering programs.
Vision Statement
Alachua County Emergency Management is a value driven organization committed to the development and sustainment of a Disaster Resilient Community through an all hazards, risk based program. Alachua County Emergency Management will establish an innovative and progressive Emergency Management program that will be a recognized leader in the State of Florida.
Address and Contact Information
- Emergency Management
- General Email Contact
- Chief Will May, Jr.
- Public Safety Director
- David Donnelly FPEM, CPM
- Emergency Management Chief
- Danny Hinson CFM
- EM Planner
- Eric Bertsch
- EM Operations Coordinator
- Ebbin Spellman
- EM Assoc. Planner
