$9.5 Million Project To Replace Damaged EOC Breaks Ground
October 15, 2025
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday morning for the new Hardee County Emergency Management operations building being constructed on Orange Street in Wauchula.
The $9.5 million facility is being funded with a state grant from the Florida Division of Emergency Management to replace the current building which failed during Hurricane Ian in 2022 and forced those sheltered inside to evacuate during the height of the storm.
The 14,081-square foot state-of-the-art building will replace the current building which was constructed in 1926 and originally served as the county jail. The exterior walls will be constructed with 12-inch cast-in-place concrete and rated to withstand winds from a Category 5 hurricane. The new facility will include a situation room, two breakout rooms, a public lobby, press room, administrative offices, workspaces, restrooms, logistics storage, radio area and a GIS space. An emergency generator will also be installed on site to fully power the facility once electrical services are cut due to an approaching storm.
Construction is expected to begin later this month and be completed by December of 2026 and turned over to the county and be operational by January of 2027.
Read the full article HERE.