California Governor's Office
Costa Mesa, California – California is doubling down on disaster preparedness. Governor Gavin Newsom announced this week that the state has broken ground on a new 60,000-square-foot Southern Regional Emergency Operations Center in Costa Mesa — a facility designed to bolster coordination, speed, and resiliency when the next major crisis hits.
Located on the site of the former Fairview Developmental Center, the new complex will serve as a second statewide command hub, complementing the state’s primary emergency operations center in Mather, near Sacramento. The new center will help California better respond to everything from wildfires and earthquakes to floods, droughts, and public health emergencies, while also serving as a failsafe if the main operations center is ever compromised.
“California is no stranger to natural disasters,” Newsom said in a statement. “Just this year alone we’ve faced earthquakes, heavy storms, and destructive wildfires. While the federal government guts national emergency management, California will continue to invest in our world-class emergency response and recovery abilities.”
The project — commissioned by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and managed by the Department of General Services (DGS) — reflects the state’s growing focus on resilience in the face of climate-fueled disasters. The new center will feature an office building, warehouse, and advanced utilities infrastructure designed to support surge operations and continuous activity during long emergencies.
“This facility is a tangible example of Governor Newsom’s commitment to building a stronger, more resilient California,” said Cal OES Director Nancy Ward. “It gives us the tools, technology, and space to make coordinated, decisive actions with our local partners — actions that will protect lives and property when disaster strikes.”
Officials say the site will serve roughly 23 million residents across Southern California, covering some of the state’s most disaster-prone areas, including Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and the Inland Empire. The facility will also meet Zero Net Energy standards and LEED Gold certification, powered by solar panels and battery storage systems to ensure operations continue even during grid failures.
“This investment is a commitment to strengthening California’s emergency response network and ensuring our communities are safer and more resilient,” said California Highway Patrol Commissioner Sean Duryee.
The facility is part of a broader strategy to decentralize California’s emergency response network. By situating major infrastructure closer to the population centers most likely to experience disasters, the state hopes to shorten response times and improve coordination between agencies such as Cal FIRE, the California Military Department, the CHP, and local governments.
Major General Matthew Beevers of the California Military Department praised the project as an expansion of the state’s “all-hands approach” to crisis response. “We remain focused on being ready to respond to the needs of California’s citizens during times of emergency,” he said.
With the center expected to become operational in the coming years, officials say it symbolizes something more than just infrastructure — it’s a statement of priorities.
“Emergencies don’t respect boundaries,” said Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. “That’s why having this campus in Southern California is strategic. It strengthens our ability to keep people and goods moving safely during crises — in a region that serves as a vital transportation and economic corridor for the entire state.”
