The Bartlesville/Washington County Emergency Management Council is making significant strides in transitioning to a new Emergency Operations Center (EOC), with hopes to fully operationalize by September. Currently, the team is occupying the new building but is facing delays in establishing full communication capabilities, primarily due to the city's warning siren system.

The siren activation system, which is crucial for public safety, is currently housed in the old location. The council is prioritizing the installation of a second activation box at the new EOC to ensure that the city remains protected during the transition. "We don’t want to shut that down and leave the city even for a day without that capability," emphasized a council member during the meeting.

Testing of the sirens occurs monthly, with the most recent test conducted today. However, the activation process requires personnel to be physically present at the old location, which complicates the transition. The council is committed to ensuring that all systems are functional before fully decommissioning the old site.

In addition to the EOC updates, the meeting included a presentation on grant activities by Melissa Mays, deputy director of Washington County Emergency Management, indicating ongoing efforts to secure funding for future projects. The council's focus remains on enhancing emergency preparedness and response capabilities for the community.