Portage County unveils new emergency command center

RAVENNA TWP. − The Portage County Emergency Management Agency unveiled its new command center, which it said it hopes it never will need to use for a large-scale emergency.

The EMA hosted an open house Tuesday at the new facility, 2978 State Route 59 in Ravenna Township. The building cost $4,458,469, according to Shannon Kautzman, director of internal services. Construction, which came in under budget, was funded through the federal American Rescue Plan Act. Summit Construction was the contractor on the project.

Ryan Shackelford, director of the EMA, said local people are providing assistance in North Carolina, where crews are dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

"You never know when that day is going to be us," he said.

What's new about the building?

The EMA previously occupied space in the building that has housed the Portage County Sheriff's Office since the early 1990s. When it became time to look for a new space, the county decided to expand a garage that houses various emergency vehicles, including the county's water resources team.

"This is Portage County," Portage County Commissioner Tony Badalamenti said. "This is what I believe Portage County ought to be."

The new command center is attached to an existing garage, which was upgraded to provide climate-controlled storage and a drive-thru space that can be used for vaccinations and to distribute emergency supplies.

Inside, a large emergency operations center has huge screens for those in training or involved in emergency efforts. There's also a room for media briefings, which can be live-streamed.

Cameron Singer, IT director for the county, said technology in a conference room allows officials on site and elsewhere to collaborate during emergencies.

"It's very functional, very efficient to use," he said.

How is the building being used?

Shackelford said the building has been open for three weeks, and the emergency operations center already has been full more than once for training exercises.

Shackelford said there are about six states and counties that have similar facilities for emergency planning.

This year, he noted, there have been three "historical flooding events," plus a tornado that impacted Windham Township.

"Everybody worked seamlessly during those events, worked seamlessly during COVID, because it's all of us," Shackelford said. "If we get that call today that the community hopes we never get, we're ready and poised to respond with the facility as well as the people to respond to it."

Reporter Diane Smith can be reached at 330-298-1139 or dsmith@recordpub.com.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Portage County unveils new emergency command center