Minnesota breaks ground on new state emergency operations center
Nov. 2, 2023
Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Kristi Rollwagen and Deputy Director Kevin Reed review the renderings for the new State Emergency Operations Center.When an emergency hits Minnesota, Department of Public Safety (DPS) staff and our partners at all government levels get to work. We spring into action, making sure communication lines are open, that help is on the way and our resources are being put to good use helping to keep Minnesotans safe. That work happens in the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC).
Our Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) division broke ground last week on a new 37,000-square-foot facility that will house an improved SEOC, allowing emergency responders to make sure we are prepared for any emergency. The Blaine facility — slated for completion in 2025 — will serve as a home base for those coordinating a response.
“Minnesotans don't ever want to have to see this facility used," Gov. Tim Walz said at the groundbreaking. “They don't ever want to have to have a tornado, a flood, a fire, a pandemic, or anything else … but they happen. It's our job to be prepared and to see all of the coordination that needs to happen happens."
The new SEOC will house about 65 HSEM employees daily and will accommodate 150 to 200 people when activated, letting us gather local, tribal, state and federal government representatives, as well as nonpublic partner organizations, in the same room to make sure the needs of all Minnesotans are met.
“You never know which day it will be needed, but you can be assured that we will be ready to respond to the multitude of disasters and incidents that can happen at any time," DPS Commissioner Bob Jacobson said. “The public expects that we will be ready, and they should. They will get the very best from our dedicated public servants and leaders who will staff this location and faithfully serve the state of Minnesota."
Our current State Emergency Operations Center is in downtown St. Paul, which is a less than ideal location in an emergency. The area is crowded and lacks security, power is limited, and the tall buildings surrounding it create a communications canyon that can make getting a signal a challenge. While the SEOC was activated for 479 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic, those problems were made abundantly clear.
“An emergency operations center must be able to address the characteristics of survivability, security, sustainability, interoperability and flexibility," HSEM Director Kristi Rollwagen said. “This new $41 million facility has taken each one of these into consideration and will not only meet but exceed the expectation."
This project is an investment in the safety of every community across the state. Learn more about how Minnesota prepares for emergencies on our HSEM website.
