PINELLAS COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS EMERGENCY RESPONDERS BUILDING AND TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER

摘要

Long before Hurricane Katrina and the active hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005, there was Hurricane Andrew. In 1992, Category 5 Hurricane Andrew devastated the south Florida region, packing 165 mph winds and causing $30 billion in damage. With that hurricane, many state and local agencies were enlightened on what a major hurricane could do to local inhabitants and the surrounding infrastructure. This single hurricane rewrote building design standards and redefined emergency response plans. State and local officials began reviewing their current facilities and were surprised to find out that most buildings could not even withstand a Category 3 hurricane impact. Many first responders' warehouses and facilities may not even withstand a strong Category 1. With that review, Pinellas County embarked on a program to hardening facilities in the mid 90's and came to a realization there was a dramatic need to establish an emergency responder's facility that could house workers and equipment throughout the strongest of hurricanes, and be able to be the first out the door to start the cleanup effort. This paper will summarize the characteristics and abilities of the new Pinellas County Emergency Responders Building and traffic control center.