$1.5 Million to Construct New Facility for Hancock County Emergency Operations Center Secured by Senator Collins in Funding Bill in First Key Step

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured $1,500,000 for Hancock County Emergency Management Agency in the draft Fiscal Year 2023 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill.  The bill, which was officially released by the full Senate Appropriations Committee today, must still be voted upon by the full Senate and House.

“With natural disasters increasing in frequency and intensity, it is critical that Maine has the necessary resources to respond in order to protect public safety, property, and our economy,” said Senator Collins. “The current facility that houses the Hancock County Emergency Operations Center has space and technology limitations that could hamper public safety officials’ ability to respond to an emergency.  This new facility would help improve disaster preparedness and response operations in Hancock County to better protect families and local communities during accidents or natural disasters.   As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to champion this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”

Hancock County’s current Emergency Operations Center is antiquated and outdated.  The facility is located in the Hancock County Court House in Ellsworth, which lacks sufficient space and is unsuitable for the installation of newer technology related to radio telecommunications, voice, and data.  Additionally, due to the current space limitations, emergency equipment cannot be co-located with the agency and its personnel.  This means that sheltering for persons and animals, road closure signs, emergency scene lighting, fuels, emergency interoperable communications equipment, and field-deployed power generation must be located off site.

A new facility would provide sufficient space for personnel and equipment and ensure that the Emergency Operations Center is able to safely and efficiently respond to incidents in Hancock County and Acadia National Park.