Photo By Jordan Raiff | Construction is underway on the Rock Island District's new Emergency Operations Center...... read more read more
Every U.S. Army Corps of Engineers district office in the nation is required by regulation to maintain a dedicated Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to provide command and control during emergency situations. The regulation also outlines minimum standards for infrastructure—including power, HVAC, communications, and access—and calls for dual-use space: areas that can flexibly serve as meeting rooms, classrooms, or operational EOC space depending on the need.
With these requirements in mind and building on the deep experience of our Emergency Management (EM) team at the Rock Island District, we developed a concept for a modern, scalable, and multi-functional EOC tailored to both emergency operations and broader District needs. We worked closely with the Engineering Division, who brought this concept to life through detailed space design and technical planning.
To inform our concept, the EM team reviewed examples of EOCs across USACE and other agencies, while also evaluating lessons learned from past activations and staff augmentation efforts. The result was a vision for a space that adapts to the scale of the event while addressing gaps in training and meeting space within the district.
One of the core features of the new EOC, which is now in construction in the North Annex where Contracting, Construction and the MacKenzie-Wheeler Conference Room was located, is its flexibility. Partitioned walls will allow the space to scale based on the scope of an emergency but also make the area suitable for large trainings and District-wide events. For example, EM has hosted training sessions with over 60 participants—a challenge in our previous setup.
The new space, which is anticipated for completion sometime next spring, will have the ability to be configured as one large operations or training room or divided into two conference rooms for smaller meetings. A third, smaller conference room located within the EM office will provide additional flexibility for EM events or District use, such as breakout meeting space.
Recognizing that successful EOC operations depend on real-time coordination, we included design features to support seamless collaboration. A retractable glass wall between the EM office and the main EOC briefing room will allow staff to participate in briefings without relocating. A dynamic glass wall will offer further flexibility—it can be switched to opaque for privacy when non-EM events are underway or left clear to create a sense of unified space during activations.
The updated layout also includes a secure area with expanded storage capacity for deployment items like uniforms, laptops, and cell phones. More electrical outlets are being added to support efficient charging and equipment use. Additionally, a small area we’ve nicknamed the “bullpen” will provide flexible workspace for staging and prepping personnel, particularly ahead of deployments.
Although we appreciated our previous location on the third floor, relocating to the North Annex significantly improves accessibility. The new space will offer direct access from the parking lot—ideal for quickly onboarding personnel arriving to support the EOC. In large-scale events requiring staff from other Districts, this proximity will save valuable time and improve operational flow.
Beyond the physical facility improvements, a regional contract was also awarded to deliver state-of-the-art audiovisual enhancements. This includes upgrades to video walls, sound systems, and conference room controls—dramatically improving communication and situational awareness during high-tempo operations.
My Emergency Management team and I are eagerly anticipating the completion of the new EOC, which will greatly enhance our ability to support the District and our communities and partners during emergencies. Until then, should an event require activation, the 340 Training Room will serve as our temporary EOC—ensuring we remain ready to respond when called upon.
| Date Taken: | 09.18.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.18.2025 13:13 |
| Story ID: | 548597 |
| Location: | ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 13 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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