TEMPLE TERRACE, Fla. – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Framework for Freedom Budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24 on June 15.
Included in this spending package is $4.5 million for a hardened Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for the City of Temple Terrace. This Center will provide a safe facility to withstand Category 5 hurricanes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters.
The Emergency Operations Center includes the City’s Information Technology computer systems and back-up Police / Fire Dispatch Center. Currently, in an emergency, the EOC is housed in a classroom within the Fire Station #1 – which only is rated through Category 2 storms. More extreme weather necessitates relocating the EOC to Temple Terrace Elementary School, which is a hardened facility although obviously not designed for this purpose, making the City extremely vulnerable to such weather emergencies.
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This new facility will provide uninterrupted Emergency Dispatch service to respond police, fire, and EMS before, during and after a natural disaster.
This facility will be used to service the City’s entire population of nearly 28,000 residents and visitors and those surrounding the City of Temple Terrace. It also will ensure the safety of the City’s emergency command staff.
“Securing state funding for a hardened EOC is a huge coup for Temple Terrace,” said Mayor Andy Ross. “As we craft our budget for 2023 – 2024, we are committed to finding the additional funds to bring this project to fruition in the next two years.
“Maintaining emergency services for our residents and keeping our employees safe during hurricanes and other natural disasters is paramount, and this facility will ensure both.”
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Mayor Ross credited Fire Chief Ian Kemp for his tireless efforts in advocating for the EOC. He also extended thanks to Police Chief Ken Albano, former City Managers Charles Stephenson and Steve Spina, current Manager Carlos Baa, and consultants Louis Betz and Travis Mitchell for their advocacy.
“And, most importantly,” Ross noted, “we owe a debt of gratitude to Rep. Lawrence McClure, Senators Danny Burgess and Darryl Rouson, Congresswoman Laurel Lee, and Governor DeSantis for their commitment to our city on this project.”
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