At a cost of $3 million in SPLOST funds, Lowndes County has built a bunker worthy of any sci-fi flick you’ve ever seen.
Reinforced concrete walls that can withstand 200 mile-per-hour winds, a circular command center with backup electrical and water systems in the event of a natural disaster, and a helicopter pad just in case the governor or other officials need to fly into the area.
Wow. Who knew that Lowndes County needed such an incredible fortress? Do officials know something we don’t?
However, barring a nuclear attack, a flood of Biblical proportions, or a direct hit by a hurricane, it seems that such a facility is still “a bit much.”
With a new $20 million judicial complex and administrative building, it seems odd that such a reinforced structure couldn’t have been included in that building’s plans. A basement area, or even a secure “safe room,” built as part of the judicial complex would have made much more sense.
With 12,000-plus square feet, there is only one office in the operations center that will be manned full time. The rest of the space will only be used as needed, in the event of an emergency or for training purposes. So the building will stand ready but unused and virtually empty nearly all the time.
But now it’s done and the citizens own it. Perhaps the county can find other uses for the center until a natural disaster occurs. If a sequel to “Zombieland” brings producers back to Valdosta-Lowndes County, perhaps this bunker can join Wild Adventures as a filming location.
Still, if there ever really is a catastrophic event that calls for the use of such a bunker, then we will all be glad that Lowndes County officials had the foresight to build it.
Remember, folks laughed at Noah, too.
