A well-designed Emergency Operations Center (EOC) must function as the most reliable building in a county—capable of supporting continuous operations, coordinating multi-agency response, and maintaining communications during the most demanding conditions. Spartanburg County’s Emergency Operations Center was planned and designed to meet those exact needs, and Hurricane Helene demonstrated how critical those decisions were. From redundant systems and resilient infrastructure to flexible operational spaces that support real-time coordination, the facility offered a real-world test of what makes an EOC successful when the stakes are highest.
Here’s what you’ll learn in this blog:
Why EOCs are becoming essential infrastructure for growing counties
The core design principles that keep an EOC operational during major weather events, system failures, and long-duration emergencies
- The role of flexible, scalable spaces in supporting multi-agency coordination
What real-world performance during Hurricane Helene revealed about successful EOC planning
While the south-east region typically plans for a wide range of emergencies, few events test a facility like a Category 4 threat. In September 2024, three days of sustained wind and rainfall knocked out utilities, flooded roadways and disrupted communications. Under those extreme conditions, the true value of the new emergency operation center emerged as the county’s backbone for response and recovery.
We were extremely fortunate to be in our new EOC complex during the historic event of Hurricane Helene. The appropriate facilities, space, technology, and reliable backup power allowed us to operate 24/7, coordinating the response and ultimately spearheading the recovery efforts. Had we still been in our small, outdated EOC complex, we would not have achieved the successful outcomes we did.”
– Doug Bryson, Director / Spartanburg County Office of Emergency Services
A Real-World Test of EOC Design
Designed for the Hypothetical
As Spartanburg County continues to grow, so does the demand for more emergency response infrastructure. In 2022, the county set out to create a centralized, modern facility capable of managing a wide range of hypothetical disaster scenarios. From tornadoes and hazardous material spills to large-scale fires and infrastructure failures, their goal was to build a highly adaptable facility that could support operations for the next 40 years.
The result was a 14,000 SF EOC designed to house emergency management services, hazardous materials coordination, and an alternate 911 call center. It is located with easy access to Business 85 and Interstate 85. It is also six miles from the main 911 center, enough distance to minimize the possibility of both locations being compromised during a disaster. Designers planned the building for 20 core personnel, but its flexible layout quickly proved invaluable.
Just two years later, Hurricane Helene arrived, and the facility was tested by a storm far beyond the original design scenario.
Planned for Scalable Staffing Needed During an Emergency
When Helene struck, the scale of the emergency required a significant and immediate increase in operational capacity. The EOC quickly expanded to accommodate approximately 100 emergency personnel and support staff without a lapse in function. The facility’s alternate 9-1-1 center was activated, and the county maintained emergency call service despite storm damage elsewhere.
Thanks to thoughtful planning, the building successfully supported over 100 personnel for more than three weeks. The kitchen, showers, toilets, and HVAC systems adapted effectively to the sudden surge in occupants. Staff converted semi-public spaces into sleeping areas to accommodate the temporary increase in personnel.
The surge in staff also highlighted the need for additional storage, and the county later installed lockers to support future events. Fortunately, the building’s wide hallways accommodated the added storage without requiring renovations.
Doug Bryson, County Office of Emergency Services Director, communicates with the EOC team.
A Flexible Communications Hub Supports Emergency Operations
The 3,000 SF emergency operations room quickly became the central coordination hub for field teams, county officials, and emergency response agencies. Integrated A/V systems supported real-time briefings and remote communications. Adjacent communications rooms were visually and technologically linked to the main space, allowing for seamless coordination across teams. A nearby training room converted into a non-emergency call center also helped manage the surge in calls.
Smart Spatial Planning Allowed the Building to Serve the Community without Compromising Security
The layout separates the building into designated zones which allows it to serve the community while operating secure areas for the 9-1-1 call center and emergency operations spaces.
The EOC’s entry, lobby, and media room are public spaces. These areas are where media and volunteers are welcome for emergency updates and receiving supplies. Past the public area, spaces transition to semi-public to private where vital emergency staff, EOC, and 9-1-1 center are located. Individual spaces were deliberately oversized and provided with additional power and data supplies. This design maximized the building’s flexibility to evolve in real time as teams identified different response needs.
Resiliency and Redundancy
Site drainage and stormwater design prevented water intrusion despite record rainfall. The building was constructed with storm-resistant materials including masonry and cast stone and high-impact missile-resistant windows. Built to Risk Category 4 seismic standards and critical operations power systems, redundant mechanical and data systems and generators, the building sustained Helene’s wind impacts and flooding without significant damage.
An EOC Storm-Tested Success
When the storm forced Spartanburg County’s response system into high gear, the center’s design proved itself. Spaces sized for 20 core operators rapidly scaled to more than 100 staff. Public-zone, semi-public, and secure operations areas flexed as roles shifted. Redundant systems kept mission-critical operations online even as the grid faltered. This resilient civic facility did what an emergency operations center is meant to do.
Learn More / Read Our Blogs:
- How to Plan and Design a Fire Station That Support Public Safety, Recruitment, and Resilience
- Designing Disaster-Resilient Healthcare Facilities
- or, see more of our public safety designs that support rapid emergency response, wellness, and community connection
