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BRUNSWICK COUNTY, N.C. — After months of planning, Monday marked the first day of the consolidation between the Oak Island emergency management services and the Brunswick County EMS.

The county said the consolidation was necessary to receive a $2.1 million grant that will help them build a brand new building. They hope to have the building completed by 2014. While some may worry the consolidation will lead to delayed responses to Oak Island, Brunswick County representatives say it will have the opposite effect.

"We've had situations in the past, such as a fire on Holden Beach, where a cellular 911 call is actually answered on a tower in Oak Island. What happens then, is the 911 center in Oak Island answers the call and has to transfer it to the county," said Director of Emergency Services Anthony Marzano.

Brunswick County emergency management will also be asking the county for additional funding to be able to hire extra 911 call operators to help with the newly expanded coverage.

They plan on making their case at the board meeting on October 1.