County considers plan for emergency mass care facility

White County officials say they are taking a methodical approach to exploring the idea of constructing a building that could be used for responding to a pandemic or other emergency situation.

At an Aug. 24 called meeting, county commissioners voted to designate such a facility, as well as another building for storing emergency supplies, as potential projects to be funded – wholly or partially – by federal dollars from the American Rescue Plant Act (ARPA).

“We’ve known for a while that at some point the county’s going to need a multipurpose facility that can be used for the support of public health to be a mass care facility in preparation and response for future hazards or pandemics that have been identified within the county’s emergency plan, through our Emergency Management department under director [David]Murphy’s lead,” County Chairman Travis Turner said at the meeting. “This facility can also conduct emergency distributions, possible mass vaccinations, act as a storm shelter, as well as being used for other situations that are designated for the well-being of White County.”

The other building was said to be needed to store items such as emergency supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE), like face masks, that have been accumulated during the pandemic but are now being kept in rooms at the county administration building.

Turner said the county is grateful for its relationship with The Bridge Church, which has allowed its facility to be used for recent COVID-19 mass vaccination clinics, but believes the county needs its own designated mass shelter/building not dependent on a third party. He added that such a building would need to have adequate space and have a generator to sustain emergency operations in case of power outages.

Turner said the county is exploring a potential multi-use function to benefit the community when it building is not in use for pandemic mitigation or emergency responses. The county’s Yonah Preserve property has been mentioned as a possible location for the buildings.

The county is set to receive almost $6 million in ARPA funds, which are restricted to select uses. Officials say the county has until the end of 2024 to obligate the money to an initiative.

County Finance Director Jodi Ligon said last month’s designation by commissioners is a preliminary step in the planning process. She added that nothing formal has been submitted as the county awaits federal direction on what information related to proposed ARPA spending will need to be initially submitted in a report due by the end of October.

Turner and Ligon said, as part of the early planning process, officials have been researching ARPA guidelines while seeking input from county government advocacy organizations and from the U.S. Treasury Department as part of the effort to make sure the concept for a emergency response facility to aid pandemic mitigation, while serving a multipurpose function for the community, satisfies federal guidelines.

They also said officials are looking for any revisions to interim rules or conditions issued by the federal government that could alter plans for the ARPA funds.