Purpose
The purpose of this activity is to learn how to activate the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
Why?
Upon declaring an emergency or disaster, your community Emergency Operations Center (EOC) should be activated. The EOC provides a central place for people, information, and resources. Many communities initiate long-term recovery planning and operations in the EOC.
When?
Throughout the Emergency Operations Center’s activation. (Days 1-30)
Tips
- Include information on timelines of the state of emergency
- Documenting all impacts is an important component of community recovery efforts. Should the impacts of a local event overwhelm local capacities, the local government may apply to the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) for State assistance and the State may apply for Federal assistance. Recipients of state or Federal funding are responsible for maintaining accurate records of the disaster impacts that document and justify applications for assistance and support specific project funding requests.
- Begin planning for the transition out of response and into long-term recovery long before the EOC is deactivated to ensure a seamless process.
- Take advantage of other communities’ ESF work.(View Pitkin County's Emergency Operations Plan).
How does my community do this?
- Activate your community’s Emergency Operations Center. The EOC’s activation is guided by the local emergency operations plan.
- Recruit and mobilize recovery experts to assist in initial damage assessments. Through direct and/or informal engagement, recovery stakeholders should be engaged during the initial damage assessments to better capture information that is relevant to long-term recovery planning decisions.
- Transition EOC recovery efforts into long-term recovery command and coordination mechanisms. The Emergency Manager deactivates the EOC when your community transitions from response to recovery.
Community Call Out: Rio Blanco County
Rio Blanco County manages the early-, mid- and long-term recovery activities that happen in the Emergency Operations Center using a Community Recovery and Mitigation Annex in the County Emergency Operations Plan.