Lake County Gazette

U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Lincolnshire) tweeted on July 7 about the groundbreaking of Lake County's Emergency Operations Center.

"Proud to be at the groundbreaking of Lake County's Emergency Operations Center (EOC), also known as the Regional Operations and Communications (ROC) Facility in Libertyville," Schneider tweeted. "My team successfully secured $1 million in federal funding for the critically important project."

On July 7, Regional 9-1-1 Consolidation Partners and the Lake County Board got together to celebrate the project getting started. The facility is planned to be 37,426 square feet, and will be right next to the Lake County Central Permit Facility in Libertyville. It is expected that the facility will completed and operating by 2025.

“The Regional Operations and Communications (ROC) Facility is a critically important infrastructure project that will enable our first responders – law enforcement, fire, EMS, and dispatch - to respond more quickly to emergency events across Lake County and the region," said Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart. "The ROC Facility will be a model of excellence and will bring greater coordination and collaboration between the vital agencies who are dedicated to serving our Lake County residents."

According to content.govdelivery.com, it is estimated that 85,000 emergency calls are made in Lake County per year. Out of the 85,000 calls, 7,000 of those calls require mutual aid from surrounding agencies. When a call is transferred, minutes that could cost someone his or her life are lost. “When responding to a public safety emergency, minutes matter," said Greater Round Lake Fire Protection Chief Greg Formica. "This new facility will bring the necessary resources to the right place in the shortest amount of time, providing for the best possible outcome. In the end, this can be lifesaving."