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MENDENHALL, Miss. – Congressman Michael Guest visited the Simpson County E911 Center this week to tour the facility and hear from county leaders about plans to expand it into a fully functioning Emergency Operations Center.
Simpson County does not currently have a dedicated Emergency Operations Center. Local officials hope to secure federal funding to help transform the 911 Center into a modern facility that could serve as the central command and control location during major weather events and other emergencies.
The proposed EOC would bring together fire departments, search and rescue personnel, Sheriff’s Department, EMTs, and other first responders under one roof, allowing them to better coordinate during severe weather and other crises. Simpson County regularly experiences strong tornadoes and other extreme weather events, and officials say this project would make a major difference in protecting lives and property.
“This is a very important first step for Simpson County,” said John Kilpatrick, Director of the Simpson County Emergency Management Agency. “An Emergency Operations Center would allow all of our emergency personnel to work together in one place when it matters most.”
Congressman Guest toured the facility alongside members of the Simpson County Board of Supervisors, Sheriff Paul Mullins, County Administrator Charlie Welch, and EMA Director John Kilpatrick. County officials shared their vision for how the project could improve public safety and strengthen emergency response across the county.
“The Board of Supervisors is very serious about the safety of our citizens,” said Board President Danny Craft. “We are grateful to Congressman Guest for taking the time to visit, listen, and see firsthand why this project is so important for our community.”
Officials say this visit marks the beginning of the process to make the project a reality, and they remain committed to pursuing all available funding opportunities to bring a new Emergency Operations Center to Simpson County.
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