Volusia County’s Fire Rescue (VCFR) and Emergency Management divisions have been very active the last few months due to Hurricanes Ian and Nicole. Both divisions were critical in the preparation, activation and recovery efforts to keep our residents safe. Now, the county is hopeful to construct a new fire station and expand its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to enhance future capabilities.
The two divisions collaborated and entered a project proposal to the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) to be considered for a Building Resilient Infrastructure Communities (BRIC) award. The BRIC program makes funds available for hazard mitigation associated with climate change (hurricanes) and risk mitigation activities that promote resilience concerning those hazards.
The project presented would expand the infrastructure of the EOC by adding a dormitory and flex space while the new fire station would be built nearby at the intersection of Red John and State Route 92. Both additions would double as saferooms that can withstand major hurricane wind forces. The purpose of both projects is to give critical workforce employees a haven during high-risk incidents (hurricanes) in order to provide rapid response and recovery efforts immediately afterward.
If FDEM approves the proposal, it will be submitted to FEMA for a competitive selection process in March 2023. The total estimated cost of the project is $24 million, but Volusia County will only be responsible for 25 percent of the project’s cost, which is projected to be approximately $6 million.
“The proposed project exhibits our commitment to continuously looking for ways to increase capacity to protect the public in a fiscally-responsible manner,” said Emergency Services Department Director Jim Judge. “This project’s return on investment will be monumental.”
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