Whether it’s a minor event or the beginning of a critical situation, it generally starts with a call to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).  The EOC, under the leadership of Capt. Joe Eckstein, is home to the 911 Center, Emergency Management Section and the Radiological Emergency Planning Section.

In 2007, the Emergency Operations Center, specifically the 911 Center, received national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies' Public Safety Communications Accreditation Program.  This achievement is noteworthy because only four other centers in the State of Florida and only 47 centers across the nation have earned this honor.

The EOC 911 Center handles all emergency calls for the county.  When you place an emergency call, it goes directly to the EOC 911 Center in Lecanto.  Dispatchers route these calls to the appropriate service: law enforcement (Sheriff’s Office), fire, and EMS.  Using an enhanced 911 system, communications officers are able to determine the address and phone number of the caller.  The Citrus County EOC is one of the few 911 centers across the state that effectively and efficiently houses all services together, ensuring that no time is lost in transferring calls.