Full Notification

United States Congressman Norm Dicks (6th District – Democrat) announced that the House Appropriations Committee has approved $800,000 in funding for the Clallam County Emergency Operations Center. Dicks made the announcement during a tour of the facility in Port Angeles with Clallam County Commissioner Steve Tharinger, Sheriff Bill Benedict, and Undersheriff Ron Peregrin on Wednesday.

According to Sheriff Benedict, the funding will be used to enhance and improve the EOC, which is located in the basement of the courthouse. He indicated that time and technology has left the facility behind since its opening in 1981. The funding will enable local officials to improve the safety of citizens during natural disasters and other emergency situations by improving communications among responding agencies. The improvements will benefit the various federal, state, and local agencies that respond to emergencies in Clallam County, noted Benedict.

Representative Dicks is the number two ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee having served on the committee since he was first elected to Congress in 1976. He is the Chairman of the Defense Subcommittee of Appropriations.