Washington County unveils renderings of new Department of Emergency Management building

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Washington County presented renderings of its new Department of Emergency Management building on September 30.

Washington County currently operates its emergency management department in Lincoln, about a 40-minute drive from Fayetteville.

Washington County Judge Patrick Deakins realized there were communication and location issues with the current location and made it a point to work to bring a new facility closer to the center of the county. Renderings have been released for the new $8.5 million building – which will be on the county’s South Campus, alongside the Sheriff’s Department, Highway Department and Election Commission, among others.

“We’re going to have collective facilities where we can all meet and gather and share the same information under one roof,” Deakins said.

The building will have two halves.

As you walk through the front door, the right half will include various office spaces and conference rooms. The largest room on the right half will include a conference room that can accommodate up to 70 people and will be used, for example, to organize training for volunteer firefighters.

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The left half, which the county calls its “hardened” side, can withstand the winds of an EF5 tornado. In addition to the kitchen area and a smaller workroom, the featured space will contain up to 16 television screens in which all departments can congregate, receiving the most up-to-date information on severe weather emergencies.

“The various fire departments, central emergency medical services, we want to be able to house these people in good, high-tech facilities,” Deakins said.

The county is expected to begin work in “the coming weeks” with an expected completion date of summer 2025.

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