Flagler County unveils new $10 million fairgrounds shelter and expo building designed for emergency use

A new multipurpose expo building and emergency shelter at the Flagler County fairgrounds is nearly ready for community use, county officials told residents at a local town-hall meeting. County emergency-management personnel said the facility received roughly $10 million in state funding and is built for high-wind resilience with on-site backup power and water redundancy.

County Commissioner Kim Carney introduced the project and asked Jonathan Lord of Flagler County Emergency Management to outline its capabilities. According to Lord, the shelter is designed to withstand winds up to 180 miles per hour, includes a backup generator, a well for water backup, a full kitchen, bathrooms and showers, about 10,000 square feet of shelter space and roughly 5,000 square feet of storage for emergency supplies.

The county emphasized the building was planned to reduce reliance on school-based shelters and to protect continuity of schooling after storms. "If we use a school as a shelter and school starts the next day, it takes two or three days to put the furniture back and get the school ready; this building helps avoid that disruption," Lord said.

County staff also described operational partnerships: the health department will help staff special-needs evacuees, the humane society will manage pet care in dedicated rooms, and the county is working with the Red Cross and local volunteer pools to rebuild surge capacity. "The goal is for the county to run the shelter first; the Red Cross and human services will support operations," Lord said.

Commissioner Carney said the facility will also be available for community rentals when not needed for emergencies. County staff indicated a projected completion or "green opening" by the end of June, subject to final connections and inspections. In discussion with residents, officials acknowledged routine operating costs such as electricity and said rental revenue would be used to offset those expenses.

Background: Commissioners told residents the county secured roughly $13 million in recent state conservation funding for land purchases and separately obtained funding for this shelter project through the state contract process. The county said it will continue fine-tuning operational plans and invited public input before final implementation.

The county expects to present final operational procedures and a formal opening timeline in the coming weeks.