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Emergency Operations Center
CEOC designed for disaster response
The Volusia County Emergency Operations Center (CEOC) is the central command center for emergency response in Volusia County. Key disaster response officials, including the Volusia County Council Chair, the Volusia County Manager and the Emergency Management Director, convene in this specially-designed facility to make the strategic decisions necessary to protect the public during emergencies, which include hurricanes, civil unrest, wildfires and mass casualty incidents.
A bunker facility, the CEOC is situated west of Daytona Beach off U.S. 92. It was built in 1976 with a federal grant and is capable of operating during almost any type of disaster. The 8,000-square-foot building originally housed the Communications Center for the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. Today, its principal use is for Volusia County Emergency Management.
Operations room is the 'nerve center'
The Operations Room is central to the CEOC. It serves as the "nerve center" during emergency operations. Working space is provided for all disaster response Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) and representatives of Volusia's 16 cities. The Operations Room can accommodate 59 people and is equipped with extensive telephone, data and radio systems, which allow emergency response personnel to coordinate disaster operations. An audio-visual system, integrated with the CEOC's computer network, has the capapility to keep the emergency staff current on developing situations during emergencies, while also providing an excellent training facility with many different applications.
Public information a key function
Keeping the public informed during a disaster is a major responsibility of Volusia County Emergency Management. A Citizens Information Center and a Media Center provide accurate and timely information to the public during emergency operations. Through an agreement with Volusia County, WNDB 1150AM/WHOG 95.7FM radio and WCEU TV-15 are Volusia County's official emergency management information stations. WNDB, has a broadcast outlet at the CEOC. WCEU enhances the County's ability to provide critical public safety information with a direct, live television connection.
Access to the Emergency Alert System (EAS) allows emergency messages and warnings to be sent to area radio and television stations for immediate rebroadcast to the public.
Other enhancements include access via a video link to the Daytona Area Smart Highways (DASH) system operated by the Florida Department of Transportation. DASH allows television surveillance of the Interstate 4 and 95 corridors through Volusia County providing vital information during an evacuation.
The CEOC houses the administrative offices of the Emergency Management Services staff and the Policy and Recovery Group rooms.
State-of-the-art communications
A renovation and upgrade of the CEOC has enhanced the ability of emergency response personnel to coordinate and direct emergency response efforts throughout Volusia County. The CEOC is connected to an internal Local Area Network (LAN) and to an external Wide Area Network (WAN). Communications include amateur radio and computer assisted dispatch (CAD) for the Volusia County Sheriff's Office and Fire Services and interface with the countywide 800 megahertz communications system. The facility also is linked to Florida's Emergency Operations Center, other Florida counties and the National Weather Service (NWS) via a voice/data satellite communications system (ESATCOM). Weather information alerts are received from the NWS via satellite receiver. A broad range of weather information is accessible from the Data Transmission Network (DTN).
Alternate power sources available
A 300 kilowatt diesel generator provides backup power to the CEOC. The CEOC also houses the countywide 800 megahertz radio computers, criminal justice computer system and a County telephone switch, and has a 115 kilowatt LP gas generator as an additional backup. A kitchen, eating area and sleeping quarters make the CEOC self sufficient. Emergency food supplies and a separate well can sustain emergency response workers who may be isolated in a disaster.
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