Washington County gives sneak peek of new emergency operations center on South Campus

Washington County Judge Patrick Dickens and Director of Emergency Management John Luther led a tour of the county’s newly constructed emergency operations center on South Campus, describing spaces intended to support first responders, county staff and outside agency partners during planned events and disasters.

The facility includes a public foyer and conference room, staff offices, locker and shower space, a maintenance bay with washers and dryers, a chow hall with refrigeration and cooking capacity, a divisible training room and a hardened operations area with a video wall and backup communications capabilities, officials said.

“Over the past year, Washington County has made some significant investments in our infrastructure and how we're gonna support you through public safety and emergency response,” Judge Patrick Dickens said at the start of the tour.

John Luther, director of emergency management, described the foyer as “the place where you'll come in and be greeted and welcomed in, to do business here, whether it be training, whether it be business with us in…