SHERIFF GOLDEN, CONGRESSMAN CHRIS SMITH & COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ANNOUNCE CRITICAL UPGRADES TO EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER AT THE START OF HURRICANE SEASON

 

FREEHOLD, NJ — Sheriff Shaun Golden is proud to announce critical and technological upgrades to the Monmouth County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), made possible through generous federal funding secured by Congressman Chris Smith and supported by the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners, as hurricane season begins.

“The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office extends its deepest gratitude to Congressman Smith for his continued support of public safety initiatives in Monmouth County,” said Sheriff Shaun Golden, whose agency oversees the Office of Emergency Management. “Thanks to this funding, our EOC will be better equipped with innovative technology to protect residents and coordinate emergency response efforts more efficiently. With forecasts predicting an active storm season, these upgrades will help us stay ahead of evolving threats and ensure we are fully prepared to serve and protect communities when it matters most.”

The series of technological upgrades designed to enhance emergency response and public safety operations include the replacement of an aging multi-monitor video wall that is essential for real-time situational awareness during emergencies and large-scale incidents. Additionally, enhancements to the Monmouth County Flood Warning System will provide county and local responders with real time weather and tidal data, enabling faster and more informed decision making during severe weather events in Monmouth County. The upgrades also include the deployment of tablets equipped with advanced and instant tracking capabilities to municipal reception centers and county operated shelters, that would assist with accountability of residents, reunification, and recovery.  Furthermore, the tablets will facilitate the collection of Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) in the field, an essential function for accurately documenting damages during natural or manmade disasters. A state-of-the-art weather station has also been installed, offering timely meteorological data and integrated lightning timers to ensure safety, and, upgrades to the phone system have been implemented to provide the ability for a surge call center during emergencies or disasters.

 

“The remarkable leadership and foresight of Sheriff Shaun Golden and the effectiveness of the County’s OEM which he runs has secured award-winning protection for the residents of Monmouth,” said Rep. Smith, reflecting on a national award ceremony in Washington in 2018 at which Sheriff Golden was recognized and the Monmouth’s 9-1-1 facility named one of the best in the country. “The recent $1.2 million in federal funding is being used to finance timely upgrades and make an outstanding operation even better,” Smith said.  “By operating as a central command center, Monmouth 9-1-1 Communication Center also allows local communities to communicate with each other during a large-scale crisis. With many local communities unable to afford costly upgrades to their own emergency response systems, Sheriff Golden’s office has provided a way forward for local and regional response centers to adapt to future crises. County residents can look to the center to continue providing first-class service to our local residents. As we head into the hurricane season, these improvements will prove pivotal and help emergency responders protect Monmouth residents, their homes and businesses, especially during severe weather events.”

“The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office stands as the premier public safety agency in New Jersey, thanks to the dedication of Sheriff Shaun Golden and his staff,” said Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone. “On behalf of my fellow Commissioners, I want to thank Congressman Smith for securing this funding to help us continue enhancing our public safety infrastructure.”

The much-needed changes to the Emergency Operation Center reinforces Monmouth County’s commitment to strengthen emergency preparedness and response. With the continued partnership of leaders like Congressman Smith and the dedication of county officials, residents can be confident that Monmouth County is more equipped than ever to face emergencies head-on and safeguard communities in times of crises.

Additional information can be found at mcsonj.org/ready.

 

For a downloadable version of this press release, click here: SHERIFF GOLDEN, CONGRESSMAN CHRIS SMITH & COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ANNOUNCE CRITICAL UPGRADES TO EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER AT THE START OF HURRICANE SEASON