Ribbon cutting ceremony set for new emergency operations center

Officials will cut the ribbon on the East County Emergency Operations center in Indio today.

The center, which has been occupied since February, will serve as the hub for emergency operations and information technology for county facilities in the east valley.

It is in the county-owned building formerly occupied by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department before the department moved to Thermal, according to Benoit’s office.

The center will get audio-visual, video screens and communications systems installed in the next few months.

Telecommunications operations were moved from the County Administrative Center on Highway 111 and Oasis Street, which is being demolished to make room for a new jail, and a radio tower used by public safety agencies was also moved from the current jail.

The $11.1 million center is part of the $375 million in developments the county is making in Indio, including a new law building next to the Larson Justice Center. Work on the center started in July 2013.

“The new East County Emergency Operations Center positions the county in a much better place to ensure that we are fully prepared to respond to and recover from any disaster or emergency that could impact the Coachella Valley,” said Peter Lent, deputy director of Riverside County Fire Department/Office of Emergency Services.

“The capabilities in this new facility far exceed what were previously available. Additionally, this facility provides us valuable space that can be used for community education and training.”

The ribbon-cutting is scheduled at the center, 82-695 Dr. Carreon Blvd., at 11 a.m.