THE MOUNT WEATHER EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER IS SHROUDED IN MYSTERY


By bblouin
Aerial view of mount weather emergency operations center.

Just about 64 miles from Washington D.C. in the Blue Ridge Mountains, you’ll find the Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center. A facility popularized due to the CW’s hit sci-fi series, The 100. What began as a place for the National Weather Bureau to conduct testing with weather balloons and kites has evolved into a doomsday shelter for government and military officials. In fact, it is the hub of emergency preparedness for our nation. Be it a nuclear holocaust or a severe flood, the Mount Weather Special Facility can handle it all. Suggested read: Robert O’Neill Controversies Mar Brewery Approval in Norfolk

The Mystery of the Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center

The Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center, also known as the High Point Special Facility, serves as the primary command center for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Virginia. It was originally acquired by the National Weather Bureau in the early 1900s. Since, it has become a crucial relocation site for top civilian and military officials in the event of a national disaster. This aligns with the U.S. Continuity of Operations Plan. Mount Weather houses the FEMA National Radio System (FNARS), connecting federal public safety agencies and the military. The facility gained public attention in 1974 after a plane crash. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, it is accessable via State Route 601 in Bluemont, Virginia, approximately 51 miles west of Washington, D.C. Established as a weather station in the late 1800s, the site evolved into a Civilian Public Service facility during World War II. The underground portion, "Area B," was completed in 1959. This was complementary the above-ground FEMA complex, "Area A," which spans at least 434 acres. It was used following 9/11 for leaders in Congress. There is even a program with the National Gallery of Art to preserve pieces should disaster strike. However, the show The 100 would thrust the Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center into popular culture. This only adds to its intrigue from the public.

The 100 Draws Inspiration From the Real Facility

Originally a novel series by Kass Morgan, The 100 TV show debuted on the CW in 2014 with the following premise: Ninety-seven years post-nuclear apocalypse, survivors inhabit the Ark, a space station orbiting Earth. Facing life-support failure, 100 juvenile detainees go to Earth to assess its habitability. Discovering various groups have survived—Grounders in clan conflicts, cannibalistic Reapers, and Mountain Men in Mount Weather—they navigate challenges to secure resources for the Ark's residents. Plenty more would happen during the show’s 100-episode, seven-season run. But the premise of humanity clinging on to life and surviving power struggles in a post-apocalyptic world inside the Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center remains a realistic scenario. Mount Weather emergency operations are still mysterious. There are many reasons for this. Considering the facility is for a doomsday scenario to save government elites, it’s easy to understand why. Related read: China Military Upset After US Ship ‘Illegally’ Enters China Sea

Mount Weather Emergency Facilities Also Help With Smaller, More Common Events

Nuclear holocausts, severe terrorism, or the discovery that Godzilla is in fact real might be enough to trigger the use of the Mount Weather Special Facility…but so too will more reasonable events. This includes states of emergency, severe weather events, and other disasters. Since the Civil War, here are some facilities you’ll find at Mount Weather helping out nationwide:

  • Agency Logistics Center
  • Disaster Finance Office
  • Disaster Information Systems Clearinghouse
  • National Processing Service Center–Virginia
  • Disaster Personnel Operations Division
  • Satellite Teleregistration Center

Considering the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is in charge of the facility, and FEMA is a part of the Department of Homeland Security, this makes sense. On the property, you’ll find the National Emergency Coordinating Center. Additionally, you'll find areas for responding to natural disasters throughout the country along with areas to train personnel for such events. Conspiracies and wonder surround the Mount Weather military base. However, the reality is everyday operations aim to help those in need. From high-profile government and military officials to the Everyman, the Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center plays a critical part in returning to normal after a disaster. Read next: The National Defense Reserve Fleet is the Navy’s Backup Plan


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