The Collier County Clerk’s Office Information Technology (IT) Department recently completed a successful test of the Clerk’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), ensuring full system functionality ahead of the peak of hurricane season.
The EOC serves as the central hub for government coordination and response during emergencies, especially hurricanes. When activated, it must operate seamlessly to support critical communications, emergency services, and inter-agency coordination. The Clerk’s IT team plays a key role in supporting these operations—ensuring essential systems like court access, public records, financial systems, and internal communication tools remain fully functional even under extreme conditions.
During the test, IT staff simulated emergency conditions, ran continuity-of-operations protocols, and verified the resilience of all systems connected to the Clerk’s infrastructure. This included validating secure remote access for key personnel, testing backup power and network connections, and confirming redundant data storage systems were performing as expected.
“The EOC is a lifeline during storms,” said Marc Tougas, Director of Clerk IT. “Our responsibility is to make sure the Clerk’s critical services stay operational no matter what. This successful test gives us confidence that our team and systems are ready to respond.”
The test was also an opportunity to collaborate with county emergency management staff and other constitutional offices, reinforcing the importance of coordinated digital infrastructure during disasters. The exercise demonstrated the IT team’s preparedness and reaffirmed the Clerk’s commitment to protecting public access and service delivery during emergencies.
With hurricane season underway, this proactive effort ensures that if and when the EOC is activated, the Clerk’s Office will be ready to serve the community without interruption.