Committee: County lacks dedicated EOC, should run regular exercises

Committee members pressed county emergency management staff about where the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) would operate during a major incident. Meredith, the county's emergency management director, told the panel, "We do not have a dedicated EOC," and said operations typically occur out of a police precinct or a mobile command vehicle that lacks adequate space.

Members recommended adopting a regular exercise schedule and prioritizing training budgets. A committee member suggested using a large, flexible site such as the airport terminal as a candidate EOC, and auditors and staff recommended at least three exercises a year to test communications, standard operating procedures and interagency coordination. The committee asked staff to incorporate training into future budget planning and to provide dates for exercises.