County Breaks Ground on New Emergency Services Building News Release
This is a draft image of the new Emergency Services Building and is subject to change.
Chambers County has broken ground on a new partially grant funded Emergency Services Building in Anahuac.
This building will serve as not only the headquarters for the Chambers County Emergency Services Department which includes Emergency Management, Employee Safety, EMS, Communications and the Fire Marshal’s Office, but will also house a new Emergency Operations Center.
Of the approximate $10 million price tag associated with this building, half of the funding will come via the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs Community Resiliency program. The remaining portion of the budget will be covered through the County’s General Fund and other local sources.
“Chambers County has taken great steps to improve the quality of emergency response for our residents over the past several years,” said Chambers County Judge Jimmy Sylvia. “We are proud to continue to invest in the wellbeing of this County through the completion of this project.”
While the project was initially inspired by the inadequacy of existing EMS facilities in Anahuac – with bays that were too small to house ambulances – the need was punctuated by the consolidation of the Emergency Management and Fire Marshal’s office with the EMS service. This consolidation underscored the need for a centralized headquarters that housed not only all departments, but also an updated Emergency Operations Center that will fit the needs of the growing County.
“This facility will allow us to better meet the needs of residents not only in Anahuac, but across the County,” said Emergency Services Chief, Ryan Holzaepfel. “Having a centralized headquarters with adequate space for staff, equipment and training will allow us to continue providing top quality service, maintain a skilled workforce and extend the longevity of our equipment.”
When asked about the project budget, Director of Economic Development and Grant Management Samantha Humphrey explained that “by leveraging grant dollars in addition to County funds, we are able to deliver a facility that is desperately needed at a fraction of the cost.”
The project is slated for completion in late 2025 or early 2026, depending on weather.
Contact the Department of Economic Development with questions at 409-267-2692.