{"id":283506,"date":"2026-05-25T10:37:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T10:37:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/283506\/"},"modified":"2026-05-25T10:37:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T10:37:09","slug":"inside-floridas-new-emergency-operations-center-rated-for-a-cat-5-hurricane","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/283506\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside Florida\u2019s new emergency operations center, rated for a CAT 5 hurricane"},"content":{"rendered":"

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – It feels like they\u2019ve thought of just about everything at the new Florida State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC). <\/p>\n

From sliding doors that allow more people to pack into a room, to an on-site IT team to support such a large workforce.<\/p>\n

The new building is so large that they need an interactive map so folks know where to go.<\/p>\n

Executive Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management Kevin Guthrie explained the map.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe screen behind us is obviously 93 feet wide,\u201d Guthrie said. \u201cAnd we could display literally about 50 different displays up there all at the same time. So it has the ability to parse itself out. So that\u2019s one of our biggest new upgrades.\u201d<\/p>\n

The old emergency operations center could only withstand a CAT 3 hurricane, and so, personnel often had to be disbursed across the state. But this building can handle a CAT 5, and so when the next storm comes, officials will all be hunkering down here in the capital city.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven the office building side of the house is built to a CAT 5 standard. So we should be able to stay right here. So that\u2019s one of the first things that we enjoy with this building,\u201d Guthrie said.<\/p>\n

There are more than 190 desks on one floor, but they aren\u2019t always activated. The new operations center allows for smaller groups to meet, like in one room, where the governor is briefed.<\/p>\n

\"InsideInside Florida’s new emergency operations center, rated for a CAT 5 hurricane(Matt Hoffmann\/WCTV)<\/p>\n

Just next door is the media briefing room, which is much larger and more technologically advanced.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is about twice the size of what we used to have. We now have a little bit of a stage here… I said it before, our desks go up and down to include our podium here,\u201d Guthrie said during the tour.<\/p>\n

About 20 state agencies have their own room. Things were planned to a T. Sliding doors, not swinging ones. A warming kitchen, instead of an industrial one. Outside seating for those nice Florida days.<\/p>\n

Guthrie kept coming back to one phrase: Purpose-built. For taxpayers, Guthrie says it\u2019s an investment in Florida\u2019s safety, as they can monitor emergencies anywhere in the state right here in Tallahassee, in real time.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo it gives us the ability to scale for the taxpayer and not waste energy and waste electricity on a very, very big room that\u2019s purpose-built when we can do that in a conference room that\u2019s much smaller,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"Florida'sFlorida’s new State Emergency Operations Center(Matt Hoffmann\/WCTV)<\/p>\n

Make no mistake, the price tag is expensive. The whole facility, including a warehouse out back, costs $185 million, Guthrie said. But, he believes it\u2019s an investment for taxpayers, who might not need to pay for another operations center for a decade.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo we don\u2019t need to go build another building in maybe say the year 2050 or 2060, we can actually just build onto, purposefully, build onto the building we already have. So I believe this building will be sitting here a hundred years from now, and it was built for the long haul,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

State officials say it\u2019s a matter of when, not a matter of if, they\u2019ll have to activate the entire operation. Of course, we\u2019ll be there to cover it for you as events unfold.<\/p>\n

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