[BARC-List] What Is An EOC?
Arthur N1NHZ
[email protected]
Thu, 30 Oct 2003 19:33:44 -0500
Here is the best description that I have read of the term "EOC" as we=
=20
currently use it in connection with disaster/emergency communications.
This is fresh in our minds right now because of the upcoming EMA=20
Simulated Emergency Test (SET) on Saturday, November 8. For additional SET=
=20
information, please visit:
http://ares.ema.arrl.org/article.php?sid=3D120
>--- [email protected] wrote:
> Date: 29 Oct 2003 23:59:22 -0000
> From: [email protected]
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: [emergcomm] Digest Number 888
>
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> THE EMCOMMWEST BULLETIN - No. 182 - 28 October 2003
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> A Weekly Bulletin for ARES and other EMCOMM Operators
> and Public Safety Officials in =93the west=94...and beyond.
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>
> WHAT IS AN EOC? - by Graig Pearen =A91999 (Reproduced with
> permission)
>
> INTRODUCTION
>
> IF you ask an administrator what an EOC is, they will tell you that it is
> a conference room. An Amateur Radio operator will view it as a radio room
> and most others have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. This
> document will briefly introduce the reader to an EOC.
>
> AN EOC is an Emergency Operating Center. An EOC is the location where
> response agency leaders meet to coordinate the response to an emergency=
or
> a disaster. Obviously, making an uninformed decision or not passing
> information to the response personnel would make a bad situation worse. A
> comprehensive communication facility is a key part of an EOC. An EOC can
> not exist without these two basic components but more is required for
> efficient operation.
>
> In reality, an EOC is composed of many parts and there are several
> "levels" of emergency operating centers. Some companies such as
> telephone and power companies have EOCs, as do cities, counties,
> regions, provinces and states. Chances are that if you encounter an EOC,
> it will be a municipal EOC. All EOCs operate similarly so this document
> will concentrate on the municipal EOC (city, town, village, or regional
> district) also referred to as the "local authority" in some documents.
>
> THE municipality (city) owns the municipal (city) EOC. It may be a
> permanent facility or a designated location that can be converted for use
> as an EOC at a moment's notice. It is very common for a city owned
> facility such as meeting rooms to be designated as the primary EOC. Other
> buildings in the community may be designated as alternate
> locations if the primary site has to be evacuated. Letters of agreement
> are written between the city and the owners of these facilities.
>
> THE PARTS OF AN EOC
>
> AN EOC consists of one or more conference rooms, a communication room, a
> media center, a rest area, washroom facilities, kitchen (optional), and a
> backup power system to supply power for the heating, lighting, and=20
> communication equipment.
>
> CONFERENCE ROOMS
>
> THE heads of all the agencies involved in mitigating the disaster use the
> conference room. The nature of the event will dictate who the
> participants are. The basic group typically includes the emergency=
program
> coordinator, city manager, police, fire, ambulance, public works, one or
> more elected officials, and representatives from any other agency that is
> involved.
>
> THE use of radios and cellular telephones is discouraged or forbidden in
> this room because of the interruptions that they cause during
> important meetings. This has repeatedly been very difficult to control
> because the people involved all have a "take charge" type of
> personality. They should be encouraged to leave their cell-phones and
> radios with their communicators in the communication room.
>
> MAPS, multi-media facilities, AM and FM radio, and television should all
> be available in the conference room. A clerk will log all significant=20
> events on
> a status board that is visible to all. Another clerk will record in=20
> detail all events
> and decisions to provide a paper trail of the entire emergency response=
=20
> operation.
>
> IN some areas, Amateur Radio operators are utilized to transmit live=
video
> back to the conference room using their equipment. If so, then provision
> for video reception and passing instructions to the camera operator must
> also be provided in the conference room.
>
> COMMUNICATION ROOM
>
> THE communication room will contain all the communication facilities
> including radios, telephones, fax machines, copier, cellular phones,
> satellite phones, radio & cell phone charging stations, etc.
> Communication room personnel will include the Emergency Communication
> Coordinator (the room supervisor), radio operators, message clerks, and
> possibly runners to deliver the messages.
>
> EACH agency that is represented in the conference room should have two
> radio operators per shift in the communication room. Two people are
> required so they can work together during peak times and give each other
> rest breaks. The person who is not operating the radio can
> operate the agencies telephone and cellular phone. Each agency must
> supply their own radio operators because only their staff knows the
> methods, procedures and terminology used within that group.
>
> AMATEUR Radio (Ham Radio) operators will have one or more
> workstations in the communication room depending upon their job
> assignments as described in the city's emergency plan. Usually the Radio=
=20
> Amateurs
> are used to assist with the emergency social services functions, which=20
> include
> the reception centers and non-government organizations (NGO) such as Red
> Cross and the Salvation Army. Amateur Radio is also utilized in support=
of
> search and rescue activities (both land and air),
> inter-community, and inter-regional communications, and as a backup to=
all
> the commercial radio facilities used by the involved agencies.
>
> ALL written messages received in or sent from the communication
> room will be numbered and logged in either the incoming or outgoing=
message
> register by the message clerk(s).
>
> ALL radio operators will maintain a log of messages received and sent by
> their radio station to confirm when messages were sent and whom they were
> sent to. This shall include tactical (verbal) messages passed directly
> between the originator and the recipient.
>
> ALL radios and telephones should be equipped with headsets. This serves
> three purposes. It reduces the background noise level, prevents
> conversations received on one radio from being re-transmitted on
> another channel, and reduces operator fatigue.
de Arthur N1NHZ, 73
Boston (MA) Amateur Radio Club
Membership Services Committee at Work
One full member AND 120 associate members
Please visit: http://www.aabb.eboard.com
For additional information