Warwick to receive federal funding for Emergency Operations Center

WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) — The City of Warwick announced massive federal funding for a new emergency operations center aimed to improve response time and quality in the city Friday.

The new emergency operations center comes by way of a more than $500,000 federal grant secured by Congressman Seth Magaziner.

That will be used to move Warwick’s emergency operations center into the station 10 fire house, as well as for upgraded equipment.  

“With the rising cost of equipment and supplies these grants are becoming more valuable to us,” said Warwick Fire Chief Peter McMichael.  

Warwick officials, including Mayor Frank Picozzi, city councilors, as well as Rep. Magaziner and Speaker of the House Joseph Shekarchi gathered at Warwick Fire Department station 10 a.m. Friday, the future site of Warwick’s emergency operation center.

“The current location is outdated and the equipment is all outdated as well,” said McMichael.  

The new operations center was secured through a $530,000 federal funding grant and will better support Warwick’s more than 80,000 residents by moving the center to a centralized location.

There will also be an upgrade of the equipment inside to allow for first responders to better to do their jobs and respond to calls faster.

“In those emergency situations it is absolutely vital that help get to the people that need it as quickly as possible because every minute counts and it could make the difference between life or death,” said Rep. Magaziner. 

Chief McMichael estimates that the new operations center could take between 18 to 24 months to complete before it is fully operational.