St. Joseph preps launch of new emergency operations center, a situation room in times of disaster

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Housed beneath St. Joseph's newest fire station lies the future home base for emergency coordination in the event of a disaster.

With roughly 3,000 square feet of space and fortified concrete walls nearly a foot thick, city officials are prepping the launch of a new emergency operations center located below Fire Station 8 on Mitchell Avenue.

Whether it's responding to flooding, a tornado or a public health crisis, the ongoing project is designed to provide a centralized and secure location for deploying resources and coordinating among a wide range of officials in critical situations.

“It's incredibly helpful to work through, in a time of disaster, flooding or whatever the problem may be. To have everyone in the same place, the ability to make decisions right there," City Manager Mike Schumacher said. "When they built Fire Station No. 8, they had the foresight to go ahead and build that in anticipation."

Constructed in 2022 along with St. Joseph's newest fire station, city leaders have ramped up discussions in recent months as they work to bring the once-dormant space online and operational for the first time.

In addition to the necessary technology for communication and press conferences, the EOC will also have existing equipment transferred over to provide backup dispatch service capabilities.

“Once we get some input and guidance from Council, then we'll go through the process to select the architect to kind of lay out the floor plan,” Schumacher said. "It's intended to really consolidate those decision makers in one location to communicate to the public on whatever's going on live."

Depending on the type of emergency and the scale of impact, flooding, for example, live-to-the-minute coordination is critical between numerous entities, from public works to the school district, public safety, utility companies and experts in science.

In 2019, thousands of residents in parts of south St. Joseph were forced to evacuate due to flooding on the Missouri River, which crested at a record 32.11 feet, breaking levees and causing damage across a four-state area.

“In these emergencies … Public Works immediately becomes important. Your stormwater teams become important. If you need to offer transportation to citizens to get them out of harm's way," Schumacher. "It would be nice to have utility partners right there with you as well. It's very much a collaborative effort."

While nothing has been finalized, the cost for the project is estimated between $800,000 and $1.2 million, paid for by unencumbered funds remaining from last fiscal year. Schumacher said the goal is to keep costs around $800,000.

One key to the facility is security. Although the EOC is located below the fire station, access is separate from the station itself. Backup generators for Station Eight also provide additional power if needed.

The EOC would not require any level of full-time staffing. Discussions are also currently ongoing with Buchanan County officials about the project as well.

With close to a dozen acres of land adjacent to the fire station and EOC, ongoing plans could be just the start of expansions in the future if funds allow.

"Through that process, there may be an opportunity for a second phase, if you will. So we'll continue working the project. We want to be very mindful of costs," Schumacher said.

First and foremost for the city and community partners, though, is solidifying a vision that can be brought to life.

To this point, St. Joseph has gotten by with its current infrastructure in times of emergency coordination, but officials see a prime opportunity to make necessary and beneficial upgrades.

"We're grateful we have it. And really, the folks that built the station did a great job of making sure that it's ready to go whenever the time comes to build it out. We're proposing that time has come," he said.