Pickens County has flipped the switch on a sprawling new Emergency Readiness Center tucked behind the county administration building on McDaniel Avenue, a 32,000-square-foot hub designed to pull key emergency operations under one roof. The facility consolidates EMS administration, E-911 operations, training functions and climate-controlled storage so first responders can move faster when things go sideways countywide. According to Pickens County's website (pickenscountysc.gov), the county administration is listed at 222 McDaniel Avenue, Pickens, SC 29671, and the county phone number is (864) 898-5844.
What’s inside the new center
According to FOX Carolina, the building brings together EMS administration, training and logistics, E-911 operations and telecommunications in a single, modern complex. Inside, staff will work from an updated communications center with dedicated meeting rooms and secure work areas reserved for telecommunications personnel. The county has also parked its mobile command post there, along with an emergency rehabilitation unit, portable light towers and backup generators that can roll out when disaster hits.
“This facility represents an investment not only in our emergency responders, but in every resident of Pickens County,” Pickens County Councilman Chris Bowers said, as reported by FOX Carolina. He said centralizing operations should strengthen how the county prepares for and coordinates emergencies for decades to come.
Funding and earlier planning
County leaders say the project was funded with American Rescue Plan Act dollars. Earlier reporting by WYFF noted that the 32,000-square-foot structure is part of a roughly $12.1 million effort to replace an aging EMS facility off Walhalla Highway. The new center is meant to complement a multi-million-dollar radio upgrade aimed at fixing communications dead zones and giving responders more reliable coverage. Officials say the building is sized to handle current demand while leaving room to grow over the coming decades.
What comes next
County officials say the center is staffed and operational right away, with space carved out for training sessions and interagency coordination when major incidents occur. Leaders hope that bringing operations and equipment together under one roof will trim response times and better protect vehicles and gear that used to sit outside in the elements. A public open house with self-guided tours is scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m., and officials emphasize that the facility is ready to serve as the county’s operational hub during emergencies of all sizes.
