CLINTON, Tenn. — More than $4 million is going into a new Emergency Operations Center in Anderson County intended to serve the county and surrounding areas in East Tennessee during weather events and natural disasters.
Anderson County Government held a groundbreaking ceremony at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at 288 Frank L. Diggs Blvd. in Clinton for the new facility.
Anderson County Emergency Management Agency Director Joseph Mead said the current facility no longer meets the agency’s needs because of limited space and outdated technology.
Project details
The approximately 12,000-square-foot center is being constructed on property owned by the City of Clinton. Studio Four Design, a Michael Graves Company, is the architect for the project. The construction contract was awarded to Evans-Ailey Construction, Inc.
Notice to proceed was issued Sept. 3, 2026. The 330-day contract has a completion date of July 29, 2027.
The project costs $4,870,000. Of that, $2,942,940 is being funded through the 2024 Emergency Operations Center Grant Program between the State of Tennessee, Department of Military, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, consistent with investments approved for Tennessee by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Anderson County is constructing the facility in alignment with an intergovernmental agreement between the City of Clinton and Anderson County Government.
Agency’s role in emergencies
Mead said the agency responds to weather events, natural disasters and large-scale county emergencies. He said EMA is the coordination agency in charge of logistics and overall coordination efforts for the county.
Mead said the agency is not part of any ambulance services but can sometimes assist.
The new center is designed to include upgraded technology and additional space for training.
County officials react
Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank said the center could be used in relation to Oak Ridge and federal operations or other kinds of incidents, including train derailments and other events.
Mead said he is grateful for the new facility.
“We’re gonna be able to communicate better, collaborate better with our partners and coordinate better with our partners during natural disasters,” Mead said.
The City of Clinton plans to locate a future fire station on the same property.