Standard Operating Procedures of an Emergency Operation Center

An Emergency Operations Center (EOC) provides a central facility for coordinated emergency response. The EOC includes the city manager, emergency management staff, fire and police personnel, and representatives from local government and private organizations with emergency management responsibilities. Operations centers in the United States use National Incident Management System. The operating procedures identify the staff functions and actions. When there is not a standing staff, it identifies which organizations will provide personnel.

Primary Responsibilities

• The standard operating procedures address the overall goals and duties of the center itself. This includes guidance to other agencies, coordination with staff, field offices and visitors, and preparation of situation reports and briefings to the governor.

EOC Actions

• The standard operating procedures also establish specific actions of the EOC. These include communications agencies at all government levels and affected jurisdictions addressing state and federal agency needs, additional staffing needs, purchasing response-related items, delegating mission tasking authority, identifying and procuring necessary office equipment, and deploying field communications.

Specific Personnel Duties

• The plan also details the specific duties of each of the major positions in the EOC. This includes the duty officer who takes initial situation response steps until the staff arrives, the operations chief, planning and intelligence chief, logistics chief and the finance/administration chief.