Merced County gets new emergency operations center

MERCED COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- A new emergency operation center is now up and running in Merced County.

Three different offices are now together under one roof at the former Castle Air Force Base near Atwater. Authorities say the location, space and technology there will help them better deal with everything from daily crimes to major disasters.

Dispatchers for the Merced County Sheriff's Office are now answering calls in a new state-of-the-art center. It has technology that makes it easier to pinpoint where help is needed, and which deputies are closest.

Sheriff Tom Cavallero says their old room at the main office lacked the space and framework for much needed upgrades.

"They've never had a purpose built dispatch space, and now more than ever it's important for them to be in an autonomous, secure area that protects both them and the dispatch infrastructure," said Cavallero.

The new communications office is located in a former military building that recently underwent a multi-million dollar renovation. It also now houses the county's fire administrative headquarters and new emergency operations center. Dozens of people attended a dedication for the facility Monday morning.

Cal Fire Unit Chief Nancy Koerperich says the building's location, layout and communications equipment will help local leaders better coordinate with the state during emergencies.

"We have an ability then to get information out to people better than we have had in the past," said Koerperich.

Former Sheriff Mark Pazin remembers working out of the basement of a county building during major floods in the past. And now as chief of the Governor's Office of Emergency Services Law Enforcement Branch he's witnessed communities across California dealing with devastating wildfires.

"Fold out chairs, fold out tables, a cellphone just doesn't cut it when thousands and thousands of acres are being burned, hundreds of lives are being disrupted, road closures, it just goes on and on," said Pazin.

That's why he joined other officials years ago in pushing for this new facility that's now come to fruition.

Officials say having this building next to the airport will also make it easy to get people and resources in and out during emergencies.

Altogether, the project cost just over $5 million, and it was paid for through a combination of grants and local funding.