October 13, 2025 – By this time next year, watching systems develop off the coast of Africa and move westward across the Atlantic Ocean towards the United States will feel a little less fraught in Flagler County.
A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for 1 p.m. November 5 (Wednesday) at the Fairgrounds located at 150 Sawgrass Road, Bunnell.
Construction will start in November on the Fairgrounds Expo Hall that will be constructed using rigorous hurricane standards on the property of the Flagler County Fairgrounds to serve, in part, as an emergency shelter. Currently, the county relies on Flagler Schools to stand up shelters in one or more of their buildings.
The importance of having a stand-alone building for use as a shelter is that – despite a lot of residential growth – the county’s population and public-school utilization has not increased and resulted in the construction of new schools, something that is common in other rapidly growing communities.
“This is a multipurpose building, and it is my hope that emergency management and sheltering will be the least of its uses,” said Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord. “I’d be happy if we only had to test the facility instead of using it for a hurricane. The rest of the time, this building can be used by the community for recreational purposes and host events and activities – but one that is built to hurricane standards.”
The one-story building will be constructed north of Cattleman’s Hall at the Fairgrounds off Sawgrass Road, which is close to the center of the county. The main open area will be about 10,000 square feet with additional footage added for storage areas, a kitchen, restrooms, and a foyer.
Construction is currently scheduled for completion in the summer of 2026.
The main building has been designed to serve as a community storm shelter capable of withstanding Category 5 Hurricanes. It will also be elevated higher than adjacent structures to help protect the facility from flooding.
Other features include the following:
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Restrooms with showers as well as adequate toilets and sinks for use when the facility is serving as a community storm shelter;
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A centrally located kitchen with storage rooms;
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An electrical system designed to provide power to special medical needs evacuees;
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A generator capable of powering the entire building and all electrical outlets and lighting at maximum capacity, inclusive of HVAC and kitchen appliances;
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The diesel generator and exterior HVAC equipment and connections will also be protected in a manner to allow for uninterrupted operation during a Category 5 Hurricane;
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And, back-up water and wastewater capabilities.
