Will Gilmer County get an Emergency Operations Center? At its December 16th budget hearing, the Gilmer County Board of Commissioners discussed possible locations for an Emergency Operations Center (EOC). An EOC is a federally mandated facility intended to provide a command center for operations during civil emergency situations.

“In 2004, folks, when we went through the hurricane, we did not have an Emergency Operations Center and we’re supposed to,”

Community Development Director Jim Smith said. Elaborating, Smith said that the facility must be secluded and secure and that it is designed for “decision makers and department heads” to get together and direct the operations during emergency situations. Fire Chief Tony Pritchett commented that the County has received repeated warnings about the County’s lack of an EOC.

“Every time we have something (emergencies), we get slapped on the hand (and) get told, ‘next time, this is going to affect your all’s funding,’”

Pritchett added.

According to the discussion, a valid EOC cannot co-exist in a building that is used for another, full-time service. The County is considering facilitating the former Goodwill building located on Progress Road for a permanent

Watch video of the Board of Commissioners discuss an EOC