NCJ Number
196652
Journal
Gazette Volume: 64 Issue: 1 Dated: 2002 Pages: 15-19
Date Published
2002
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes the role of Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) in the event of a critical incident.
Abstract
Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) are used for all major incidents, especially chemical-related or plane crashes. They are critical when there is a large impact area, a large number of organizations are involved, there are complications, or the situation occurs over a long period of time. EOCs were used in many Canadian communities on September 11, 2001, for handling diverted flights. On this and many other occasions, limited available resources had to be rationally deployed. The situation was best managed from an EOC where all involved had a shared overview. EOCs need back-up locations in case they need to be relocated. Although this is rare, it is a common occurrence that EOCs become so overcrowded that they stop functioning efficiently. Decisions need to be based on up-to-date and accurate information. In a community, the person with final responsibility in the decision-making process is the elected head of government. It is important during a crisis to have someone commanding widespread respect take over. The variety of skills needed in an emergency situation may not have been foreseen at the planning stage. This is why EOC personnel must be able to adjust quickly in a situation and be flexible when setting up. The most common problem with EOCs is that plans are made to manage emergencies but not made to manage EOCs. All personnel working must be well cared for; they need food, drinks, and supplies. There are other crucial support functions, such as repairing malfunctioning equipment and logging decisions. Communications is critical for EOCs and sometimes new technology can cause difficulties. One of the most useful functions that support staff can perform is making sure that radios are continually recharged and that batteries get replaced. EOCs are the key source for public information. The coordination of agencies is important in an emergency response situation. 4 endnotes, 7 references