April 16, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Myles Chamblee, Public Information Officer
Office: 256-435-0540; Cell: 256-499-8607; Email: mchamblee@calhounema.org
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U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS SITE ALTERNATE MEDICAL – SITE ASSESSMENTS UPDATE
Calhoun County, Alabama – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has completed their assessment of the six proposed alternate care facilities which included: Regional Medical Center, Old Beckwood Manor, Anniston City Meeting Center, Oxford Civic Center, Old Jacksonville Hospital, and Pete Matthews Coliseum. The USACE conducted facility assessments and determined two out of the six sites were the most feasible and practical facilities that could be used as alternate medical care sites to treat non-acute non-COVID-19 patients. The two final facilities are the Old Jacksonville Hospital and the Anniston City Meeting Center.
The USACE evaluation of each facility considered locations and included a thorough architectural, mechanical, plumbing, heating venting and cooling, electrical, and a fire protection assessment. The Corps evaluations, projected upgrades and estimated associated costs that could need to be implemented to stand up a fully functional hospital. The assessment suggested that if all recommend upgrades were implemented for the Old Jacksonville Hospital, it could cost approximately $440,000, for non-COVID-19 patients. Likewise, The Anniston City Meeting Center construction as a field hospital could cost approximately $1,270,000 to get it operational for non-COVID-19 patients.
The USACE has submitted their assessment to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for review. Calhoun County has not received any further update from FEMA. If an alternate care site in Calhoun County becomes necessary, The State of Alabama and FEMA would be requested to support and fund the upgrades to the facilities.
Based on current model projections, with the current Alabama Public Health Orders in place, including heavy social distancing as well as the current hospital’s censuses’, Calhoun County does not appear on track to exceed its healthcare capacity. At this current projection, an alternate medical care site does not currently appear to be necessary.
“It is our job to plan for the worst and work toward the best,” stated Calhoun County Director of
Emergency Management Michael Barton. “It is important to have the information from the Corps of
Engineers as a tool in our toolbox. We do not know for certain what the future months will hold”.
Virtual interviews can be conducted with:
Incident Commander: Louis Bass, CEO RMC (256-310-2536)
Incident Commander, Michael Barton, EMA Director (256-312-2890)
Michael S. Barton
Director
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
CALHOUN COUNTY, ALABAMA
507 Francis St. W. – Jacksonville, AL 36265
Phone (256) 435-0540 – Fax (256) 435-0556
www.calhounema.org