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| Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Lesson |
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Introduction
The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is the hub of any emergency organization. On a day-to-day basis emergencies of all types occur and are handled by the EOC. In non-emergency times is is the venue where planning, exercise and other activities are performed. During an emergency, it is the place where emergency managers go to communicate and coordinate emergency response and recovery. Pittsburgh's EOC is located in the Point Breeze neighborhood of the city. As with many jurisdictions, Region 13's EOC is co-located with its 9-1-1 call center. |
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| Definitions: |
Emergency Operations Center (EOC): The physical location at which the coordination of information and resources to support domestic incident management activities normally takes place. An EOC may be a temporary facility or may be located in a more central or permanently established facility, perhaps at a higher level of organization within a jurisdiction. EOCs may be organized by major functional disciplines (e.g., fire, law enforcement, and medical services), by jurisdiction (e.g., Federal, State, regional, county, city, tribal), or some combination thereof.
Source: FEMA ICS Glossary.
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| The picture above shows the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Implicit in the picture are two of the goals of the EOC: situational awareness and the fostering of a common operating picture among the emergency management team. Up-to-date information is fed to the participants through large screen monitors. News, GIS, weather, field reports and other information is posted live. Emergency managers can get the "big picture" of any emergency. They can discuss their understanding of the facts and come to a consensus as to what actions might be taken. |
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| Definition: |
Situational Awareness: The ability to identify, process, and comprehend the critical elements of information about an incident.
Source: FEMA National Response Framework Resource Center www.fema.gov/emergency/nrf/glossary.htm.
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| Definition: |
Common Operating Picture: A continuously updated overview of an incident compiled throughout an incident's life cycle from data shared between integrated systems for communication, information management, and intelligence and information sharing. The common operating picture allows incident managers at all levels to make effective, consistent, and timely decisions. The common operating picture also helps ensure consistency at all levels of incident management across jurisdictions, as well as between various governmental jurisdictions and private-sector and nongovernmental entities that are engaged.
Source: FEMA National Incident Management Syatem www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/Glossary.shtm.
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EOC Staffing
EOC Director
- EOC Coordinator (ESC)
- Public Information Branch Coordinator
- Rumor Control Unit Leader
- Liaison Officer
- Agency Representatives
- Safety Officer
- Security Officer
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Operations Section
- Operations Section Chief
- Fire & Rescue Branch Coordinator
- Fire Operations Unit Leader
- Disaster Medical Unit Leader
- Search & Rescue Unit Leader
- Hazmat Unit Leader
- Law Enforcement Branch Coordinator
- Law Enforcement Operations Unit Leader
- Coroner Unit Leader
- Construction/Engineering Branch Coordinator
- Utilities Unit Leader
- Damage/Safety Assessment Unit Leader
- Public Works Unit Leader
- Health and Welfare Branch Coordinator
- Care & Shelter Unit Leader
- Public Health Unit Leader
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Planning/Intelligence Section
- Planning/Intelligence Section Chief
- Situation Analysis Unit Leader
- Documentation Unit Leader
- Advance Planning Unit Leader
- Technical Services Unit Leader
- Demobilization Unit Leader
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Logistics Section
- Logistics Section Chief
- Communications Branch Coordinator
- Communication Unit Leader
- Information Systems Unit Leader
- Transportation Unit Leader
- Personnel Unit Leader
- Supply/Procurement Unit Leader
- Facilities Unit Leader
- Resource Status Unit Leader
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Finance/Administration Section
- Finance/Administration Section Chief
- Time Keeping Unit Leader
- Compensation and Claims Unit Leader
- Purchasing Unit Leader
- Recovery Unit Leader
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Emergency Support Functions (ESFs):
When a large emergency occurs, the emergency managers must get access to public and private assets and to coordinate with other government agencies, utilities, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders. As you can see in the photograph above, there are desks for each of the defined emergency support functions. Having representatives from each of the ESFs. Speeds decision making and response.
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| Definitions: |
Emergency Support Functions (ESFs): Used by the Federal Government and many State governments as the primary mechanism at the operational level to organize and provide assistance. ESFs align categories of resources and provide strategic objectives for their use. ESFs utilize standardized resource management concepts such as typing, inventorying, and tracking to facilitate the dispatch, deployment, and recovery of resources before, during, and after an incident.
Source: FEMA NRF Glossary.
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| The federally (FEMA) defined Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) are: |
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ESF #1 – Transportation Aviation / airspace management and control
- Transportation safety
- Restoration/recovery of transportation infrastructure
- Movement restrictions
- Damage and impact assessment
ESF #2 – Communications
- Coordination with telecommunications and information technology industries
- Restoration and repair of telecommunications infrastructure
- Protection, restoration, and sustainment of national cyber and
- information technology resources
- Oversight of communications within the Federal incident management and response structures
ESF #3 – Public Works and Engineering
- Infrastructure protection and emergency Infrastructure restoration
- Engineering services and construction management
- Emergency contracting support for life-saving and life-sustaining services
ESF #4 – Firefighting
- Coordination of Federal firefighting activities
- Support to wildland, rural, and urban firefighting operations
ESF #5 – Emergency Management
- Coordination of incident management and response efforts
- Issuance of mission assignments
- Resource and human capital
- Incident action planning
- Financial management
ESF #6 – Mass Care, Emergency Assistance, Housing, and Human Services
- Mass care
- Emergency assistance
- Disaster housing
- Human services
ESF #7 – Logistics Management and Resource Support
- Comprehensive, national incident logistics planning, management, and sustainment capability
- Resource support (facility space, office equipment and
- supplies, contracting services, etc.)
ESF #8 – Public Health and Medical Services
- Public health
- Medical
- Mental health services
- Mass fatality management
ESF #9 – Search and Rescue
- Life-saving assistance
- Search and rescue operations
ESF #10 – Oil and Hazardous Materials Response
- Oil and hazardous materials (chemical, biological, radiological, etc.) response
- Environmental short- and long-term cleanup
ESF #11 – Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Nutrition assistance
- Animal and plant disease and pest response
- Food safety and security
- Natural and cultural resources and historic properties protection and restoration
- Safety and well-being of household pets
ESF #12 – Energy
- Energy infrastructure assessment, repair, and restoration
- Energy industry utilities coordination
- Energy forecast
ESF #13 – Public Safety and Security
- Facility and resource security
- Security planning and technical resource assistance
- Public safety and security support
- Support to access, traffic, and crowd control
ESF #14 – Long-Term Community Recovery
- Social and economic community impact assessment
- Long-term community recovery assistance to States, local governments, and the private sector
- Analysis and review of mitigation program implementation
ESF #15 – External Affairs
- Emergency public information and protective action guidance
- Media and community relations
- Congressional and international affairs
- Tribal and insular affairs
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EOC Systems
Quite a few vendors make computer systems designed to support the operation of an EOC. Some organizations have developed their own home-grown systems. In this section we will look at the systems used locally as well as popular national systems. |
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| Our local emergency response organization Region 13 www.pa-region13.org. uses an EOC system called Knowledge Center www.knowledge-center.com. Knowledge Center is produced by a local company named SSI Services. The image below shows a typical multiscreen setup. You can access a Knowledge Center brochure by clicking here. |
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| The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) www.pema.state.pa.us. uses an EOC system called WebEOC http://esi911.com/esi/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=30. WebEOC is produced by an Agusta, Georgia company named ESI Acquisition, Inc. www.esi911.com/esi. The image below shows a WebEOC screen. You can access a WebEOC brochure by clicking here. |
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| Many EOCs nationally use a popular EOC system called E Team www.nc4.us/ETeam.php. E Team is produced by a California company named NC4, Inc. www.nc4.us. The image below shows an E Team screen. You can access an E Team brochure by clicking here. |
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| Exercise: |
Evaluate the EOC systems discussed. Use the linked spreadsheet.
1. Identify the factors that differentiate these systems and make the systems useful for emergency management.
2. Identify a new EOC system other than the three discussed.
3. Evaluate the systems across all of the faactors you have identified.
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| Copyright © 2011 - 2014 Ken Sochats |
