$2.6-million facelift due for stateâ€™s emergency center in Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The State Emergency Operations Center is getting ready for a $2.6-million makeover.<br/><br/>The center is located in a tunnel near the state Capitol, and is where major rescue operations

Wednesday, March 22nd 2006, 6:06 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The State Emergency Operations Center is getting ready for a $2.6-million makeover.

The center is located in a tunnel near the state Capitol, and is where major rescue operations have been coordinated in recent years in Oklahoma like the 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Building and the May 3, 1999 tornadoes.

The incidents combined killed more than 200 people.

Officials say the center will be upgraded with more computer equipment and lines and more open spaces where people can coordinate emergency plans.

Officials say the renovations will begin in April and take about 18 months.

The changes were made possible by a grant from the US Department of Homeland Security and an appropriation from the Oklahoma Legislature.