Keri Brenner, The Olympian, Olympia, Wash.
Aug. 29–A new online map of all floor plans, utilities, hazardous materials, switches and exit routes at nine Thurston County buildings will be created to help in disasters and other emergency situations, officials said Monday.
«This system is designed to help the county prepare for all hazardous events, such a hostage situation, bomb threats or shootings,» said Bill Phillips, the county’s central services manager. «Law enforcement and firefighters need to know where to send people.»
Commissioners Diane Oberquell, Bob Macleod and Cathy Wolfe voted in favor of the $34,000 «Rapid Responder» project. Half of the cost will be paid by the Washington State Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, and creators and installers of the system.
«I believe even if we never have to use it, it will be $17,000 well spent,» Oberquell said.
Macleod agreed.
«After seeing the scope, I’m amazed at the low cost,» MacÂleod said. «It’s only about one-third the cost of a patrol car.»
Phillips said the county had been planning the mapping project for some time, but «recent events have heightened its importance,» he said.
Phillips was referring to the March 31 attack on a corrections guard by an inmate in an elevator at the Thurston County Courthouse complex in Olympia.
Since the attack, the county has added several security improvements, including a closed-circuit television system in the jail to avoid transporting inmates to court and a new weapons screening system in one of the courthouse buildings.
The association of sheriffs and police chiefs has mapped all of the state’s public schools, Phillips said. The information is on a Web site that can be monitored by emergency personnel. Satellite imagery and photos also are posted, he said.
The nine county buildings total 340,000 square feet. They include Buildings 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 at the Olympia complex, a public health facility, another building and an old shop and two offices, Phillips said.
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August 29, 2006
