The new Fairgrounds Expo Hall is designed to withstand Category 5 storms while serving the community year-round
Flagler County will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at 1 p.m. on November 5, 2025, for a new multipurpose facility designed to serve as an emergency shelter during hurricanes. The Fairgrounds Expo Hall will be built at the Flagler County Fairgrounds, located at 150 Sawgrass Road in Bunnell.
Reducing Hurricane Anxiety
Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord said the facility should provide residents with greater peace of mind during hurricane season, which typically runs from June through November each year.
“This is a multipurpose building, and I hope that emergency management and sheltering will be the least of its uses,” Lord said. “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 it is built to hurricane standards.”
Construction is scheduled to begin in November 2025, with completion expected by summer 2026.
Filling a Critical Need
Currently, Flagler County depends on local schools to provide emergency shelter space during hurricanes. However, despite significant residential growth in recent years, school enrollment has not increased proportionally, meaning no new schools have been built.
This stands in contrast to other rapidly growing Florida communities, where new school construction typically provides additional potential shelter space. The standalone emergency facility will give the county a dedicated shelter option regardless of school building availability.
The building will be constructed north of Cattleman’s Hall at the Fairgrounds, near the center of the county. The main open area will measure approximately 10,000 square feet, with additional space for storage, a kitchen, restrooms, and a foyer.
Hurricane-Resistant Features
The one-story structure is designed to withstand Category 5 hurricanes—the strongest classification on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with sustained winds of 157 mph or higher. The building will also be elevated higher than surrounding structures to protect against flooding.
Key features include:
Restroom facilities: Showers, toilets, and sinks are adequate for shelter operations
Central kitchen: Equipped with storage rooms for food and supplies
Special needs power: An electrical system designed to support evacuees with medical equipment requirements
Backup generator: A diesel-powered system capable of running the entire building at maximum capacity, including heating and cooling systems and all kitchen appliances
Protected equipment: The generator and exterior HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) units will be shielded to allow continuous operation during Category 5 conditions
Water and wastewater backup: Independent capabilities to maintain sanitation if regular utilities fail
Community Use
When not serving as an emergency shelter, the facility will be available for community events, recreational activities, and other public gatherings. This dual-purpose design aims to maximize the building’s value to county residents year-round while ensuring critical shelter capacity exists when needed.
The location at the Fairgrounds provides central county access and existing infrastructure to support large gatherings. Officials hope the facility will rarely need to serve its primary emergency function, instead becoming a regular community gathering space that happens to offer exceptional storm protection when required.
The post Flagler County Breaks Ground on Hurricane-Proof Emergency Shelter Next Month first appeared on Flagler County Buzz.
