FEMA Extends Grant for New Mobile County Disaster Center

Posted on: Sep 3rd, 2015 | News and Announcements

Mobile County got a three-year extension on a $711,000 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), putting the county on track again to replace the aging facility that has served as its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for more than 50 years. ?This was truly a full-out effort by the Mobile County Commission, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and our congressional delegation to hold onto this grant for the funding of a new emergency operations center,? said Mobile County Commissioner Connie Hudson. ?Especially in a hurricane-prone area, we can?t be hobbled by inefficiencies that will impact the safety and welfare of our citizens. Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Secretary Spencer Collier was essential in helping move the process along. ?I am pleased that FEMA extended the Emergency Operations Center grant for Mobile County. This extension should allow Mobile County to build a first class EOC that will benefit state, local and federal partners during times of disaster. As the fiduciary agent, ALEA is committed to seeing the project completed. Special thanks should be given to Commissioner Hudson for her efforts on the extension request. Senator Sessions and Congressman Byrne also provided tremendous assistance.? The Mobile County Emergency Management Agency, which was the applicant for the grant, received two earlier extensions on the performance cycle of the grant, which required the county to build the facility, but full funding has been unavailable for the project. The Mobile County Commission has been banking funds since 2010 to help with construction of the new EOC. A preliminary design and engineering plan for the facility came with a $15.6 million price tag in 2011. Since then, the county has tried to scale back to a more affordable level, but the cost is still pegged at more than $10 million. The City of Mobile in 2012 donated 8.3 acres of property near the 9-1-1 Center on Ziegler Boulevard for the proposed facility. ?We are grateful for the extension that allows us to resume our efforts,? said Mobile County Commissioner Merceria Ludgood. ?Disaster response is an essential service for all communities and particularly for those of us on the Gulf Coast.? ###