Colorado Moving Emergency Center From Old Bunker To New Building

DENVER (AP) -- Colorado's emergency operations center is moving from a cramped underground bunker designed to survive nuclear war into a spacious office designed to manage the response to a terrorist attack, hazardous-waste accident or natural disaster.

``The Cold War is over,'' said Michael Beasley, director of the state Department of Local Affairs, which runs the state's emergency management. ``Our focus is on all hazards,'' anything from floods to bioterrorism, he said.

The 37-year-old bunker at Camp George West in Golden was designed to keep the governor and cabinet alive for 30 days in the event of a nuclear war. But it's too small for the numerous experts who would respond to a major disaster or terrorist attack.

The new operations center will open next year in the South Metro Fire District's new headquarters on Mineral Avenue at Interstate 25. It will have twice as much room as the bunker.

It will be linked to the state health department's surveillance system to watch for signs of an epidemic or bioterrorism attack, streamflow gauges to monitor for flash floods and weather software that can predict air currents to see where chemical fumes might migrate after a spill.

It will also allow easy access for television trucks to help get information out quickly.

Half of the $2.4 million cost of the new center is covered by a federal homeland security grant and the other half by state fees on energy and mining projects.

Grier said the Camp George West bunker will still be available as a backup emergency center and could be used in case of a nuclear attack.