What is an Emergency Operations Center (EOC)?
An EOC is central location where officials can work together during large-scale emergencies or special events to monitor and assess the situation as it unfolds ensure that the response coordinated. EOCs are sometimes called nerve centers, situation rooms, war rooms or crisis management centers. The EOC is different than an Incident Command Post, which is usually located at the scene of an emergency.
What happens in the EOC?
Representatives in the EOC monitor activities associated with the event, whether it is an emergency or large special event. They manage and prioritize requests for resources, track resources that have been allocated, and prepare consolidated reports that aid in accurate assessments of the situation. They also coordinate the dissemination of information to the public.
How is the EOC organized?
The EOC is managed by staff from the Office of Emergency Management. Agencies are assigned to functional groups such as public safety and transportation which allows them to coordinate their activities with similar organizations. There are also staff that assist with coordinating and disseminating public information,
How many agencies serve in the EOC?
The EOC may be activated at any of three levels, which require different types of different staffing needs. EOC operations and staffing are flexible and can be ramped up or down based on current and future needs related to the incident.
In addition to City agencies, other representatives from state and Federal agencies and the private and nonprofit sectors may also staff the EOC. These representatives may be from utilities, transportation, hospitals and non-profit or community-based organizations.
How often is the Philadelphia EOC activated?
The number of times the EOC is activated can vary from year to year. Some typical examples when the EOC was activated during the past several years were:
- Four (4) winter storms during winter 2009-2010
- SEPTA Transit Strike – November 2009
- Phillies World Series Victory Parade – October 2008
- Phillies World Series Game 5 Clinching Game – October 2008
- Tropical Storm Hanna – September 2008
- I-95 Partial Closure Due to Support Column – March 2008
How does the City respond to an incident when the EOC is not activated?
Emergency response personnel set up an Incident Command Post on-scene. The Office of Emergency Management staff and representatives from various agencies meet as necessary to coordinate activities from the Incident Command Post. The Office of Emergency Management’s Mobile Command Post can be deployed to the scene, as needed.
What does it mean when the EOC has been deactivated?
As the situation stabilizes, the EOC may not need to be activated. In that case, the City will close the EOC. However, the Office of Emergency Management and other agencies and organizations will continue to monitor the situation and respond accordingly.
What do you do when there is no emergency?
The Office of Emergency Management staff is responsible for maintaining the readiness of the City of Philadelphia for all emergencies. When they are not working in the EOC, they are responsible for developing, implementing and updating emergency response plans; developing and participating in training; planning and conducting multi-agency emergency exercises; and conducting public education and community outreach programs to help families and businesses learn how to plan for emergencies.
How can I stay informed when the EOC is activated?
The general public and businesses can get updates from the OEM website, www.phila.gov/ready, OEM's social media sites on Blogspot, Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace and Twitter, by signing up for emergency text alerts from ReadyNotifyPA, by listening to KYW 1060 AM and other local media outlets. They can also call Philly 311 for City service requests and incident updates.
For situations requiring immediate medical assistance or public safety emergencies, call 911.