Whether a crisis affecting Interior is terrorism related or the result of a natural disaster, the Watch Office will be involved. As part of the Office of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Management, the Watch Office has been coordinating information, intelligence and emergency services since 2001.

The mission and capabilities of the Watch Office have been continually expanding since its inception, with a focused effort at being performance driven and customer oriented. Recently, Secretary Kempthorne expressed his desire to further improve the services that can be provided by the Watch Office. He set in motion a project that will result in a full-service Emergency Operations Center.

The new center will be designed, equipped and staffed to meet the needs of the department today and in the future. The plan is to relocate the existing Watch Office from the South Interior Building into the Main Interior Building as part of the modernization project. The center will include a sensitive compartmented information facility, situation room and executive conference room.

Taking the necessary steps today to be better prepared will result in improved law enforcement and emergency services tomorrow. Let’s face it, natural disasters and acts of terrorism are not going to go away. The department, by making the conscious choice to invest in an Emergency Operations Center now, will be better prepared to handle crises and provide critical support to decision-makers in the future.

If everything goes according to plan, the new Emergency Operations Center will be ready for occupancy by the end of 2007. Check out our Web page at http://ple.doi.gov.