|
Emergencies in a metropolitan city as large as Philadelphia require a coordinated response. OEM works to ensure information gathering, decision making, and resource allocations are carried out efficiently.
During an emergency, OEM assists the Incident Commander by coordinating with a variety of agencies and organizations, to ensure the response is timely and efficient. While most emergencies are small and localized requiring the resources of only a few agencies, large-scale citywide or regional emergencies require the cooperation, coordination and collaboration of numerous entities.
Incident Management System
Philadelphia uses an incident management system that aligns with the National Incident Management System and the National Response Framework.
Incident Monitoring
The staff of OEM track incidents affecting Philadelphia 24 hours a day, seven days a week, such as by monitoring radio frequencies used by the City's emergency responders, local and national news, and weather conditions. OEM also maintains the City's communication link with state and federal agencies as well as the private sector and non-governmental organizations, and notifies City officials when incidents or issues of concern arise.
OEM maintains on-call Interagency Coordination Teams that respond to emergencies around the clock to assist Incident Commanders with coordinating the response to an emergency incident. Interagency Coordinators respond to larger incidents to facilitate communication between agencies and to fulfill requests for resources needed in the response.
Mobile Command Post
OEM maintains Command Post 1 (CP-1), a mobile Incident Command Center, that provides an on-scene emergency command center to coordinate the deployment of resources between multiple agencies. CP-1 is equipped with specialized communications technologies and allows OEM staff to analyze data through the use of Geographic Information Systems.
Emergency Operations Center
During major emergencies, OEM activates the City's Emergency Operations Center (EOC). With space for more than 30 representatives from local, state, and federal agencies and private and non-profit entities, the EOC functions as a central clearinghouse for information coordination, resource requests, and decision making.
Our technical staff are responsible for the overall readiness of the technology infrastructure of the City’s Emergency Operations Center and Mobile Command Post 1 as well as the tactical technology field equipment that is deployed to the scenes of emergencies.
OEM works to ensure that agencies involved in an emergency response provide a unified, accurate, and timely message to the public. OEM delivers emergency warnings through the broadcast media using the City's emergency public communication systems, and provides email text alerts about current emergencies to subscribers. During large-scale emergencies, OEM opens a Joint Information Center to coordinate outreach to the media.
Recovery and Relief Efforts
Following an emergency, OEM works with government agencies and nonprofit organizations which provide assistance to disaster victims and manage relief efforts, donations, and spontaneous volunteers. |