[Scan-DC] Wednesday: Ribbon Cutting and Tour of the New Prince George's County Public Safety Complex

[Alan Henney]

TOMORROW: Ribbon Cutting and Tour of the New Prince George's County Public Safety Complex
For immediate release: 

June 16, 2015 



For more information, contact: 

Scott L. Peterson,

Deputy Manager of Communications/Press Secretary



TOMORROW: Ribbon Cutting and Tour of the New Prince George's County Public Safety Complex

46,000 square foot, two story building will house the Office of Homeland Security



Upper Marlboro, MD –  Tomorrow, Prince George’s County will cut the ribbon and provide tours to elected officials and the media at the new Prince George’s County Public Safety Complex. This 46,000 square foot, two story building will house the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Administrative Offices, a new state of the art Emergency Operations Center, the Public Safety Communications Back Up 9-1-1 Center and the Office of Human Resource Management’s Public Safety Investigations.  The new building provides the Office of Homeland Security and Office of Emergency Management staff members the first opportunity to work in a building specifically designed and built to support the County’s preparedness and mitigation function. 



“Every year, every season, and every day, Prince George’s County is under the potential threat of emergencies from natural disasters, acts of terror, or hazardous accidents or incidents,” stated Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III. “The new Prince George’s County Public Safety Complex is a critical part of government infrastructure to best prepare and respond to emergencies and assist in the protection and security of our residents.  I want to thank the County Council, our Office of Homeland Security as well as the vendors and contractors who have helped to plan and construct this building on time and on budget.” 



The new building is specially designed, built and engineered to support this agency to include a new, state of the art Emergency Operations Center and administrative office space for the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security executive staff.  It will also house the 9-1-1 and dispatch public safety communications backup center.  This facility will be the central planning and coordination point for the County Executive, County leadership and regional coordinators during emergency situations, manmade or natural disasters and major weather events.  The Emergency Operations Center will have a 70-seat coordination area, critical communications access, executive planning areas, a mapping room, break out room and a media briefing room. 



In 2003 the Prince George's County Government established a new agency, the Office of Homeland Security, to coordinate the County's emergency preparedness and response efforts. The Office of Homeland Security is responsible for providing planning, coordination and domestic preparedness training and coordinates the County’s emergency management effort with Federal, State and local jurisdictions.  The new facility on Anchor Street was designed to support the critical and pivotal emergency preparedness role that the Office of Homeland Security and Office of Emergency Management hold.



Construction on the new Public Safety Complex began on July 23, 2014, and the first occupants are to move in during the first week of July.  The cost for this turn-key project was set at nearly 30 million ($30,000,000) dollars.  The cost included razing the 44 year old Central Communication Center, which was an old schoolhouse.  Although Motorola was the general contractor, the construction of this new facility included subcontracting with local and Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) contractors.  Approximately, $9,500,000 or 41% of the work was performed by MBE vendors and $11,200,000 or 48% of the work was provided by Prince George’s County vendors. 



WHAT:

Ribbon Cutting and Tour of the New Prince George's County Public Safety Complex



WHEN:

Wednesday, June 17, 2015 10:00 a.m.  



WHO:

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III

Prince George’s County Council Chairman Mel Franklin

Prince George’s County Council Member Andrea Harrison

Prince George’s County Sheriff Melvin High



WHERE:

Prince George’s County Public Safety Complex

7915 Anchor Street

Landover, MD