In 2009, in a small town in WI, a man at a Fourth of July party accidentally launched a military flare onto the roof of a meatpacking plant. By the time the blaze was put out, over $200 million in damage had been done, hundreds of people had been evacuated and the fire had the distinction of being the largest structure fire in Wisconsin history.
The City of Cudahy, WI, thanks to having an EOC and having done relevant training exercises, were able to effectively manage 140 police officers, firefighters and paramedics and ensured that not a single person was injured or killed.
With the number of large-scale incidents, both natural and man-made, occurring around the country these days, agencies are using their EOCs at an unprecedented rate. EOC training and education have also gone through a lot of review and advancement since the 9/11 attacks (the New York City EOC was located in one of the World Trade Center towers which was destroyed), and they’ve been further refined following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
EOCs are designed to allow for centralized emergency management.
What Are EOCs
To step back for a second, let’s look at what an EOC is. EOC stands for Emergency Operation Center. They are designed to allow for centralized emergency management.
Whether you are dealing with an earthquake, a terrorist attack, an Ebola outbreak or a wildfire, chances are that your police agency isn’t going to be acting alone in dealing with it. You will be working hand-in-hand with other first responders such as firefighters and paramedics, and depending on the severity of the situation, even the National Guard. EOC s allow for better multi-agency collaboration during an emergency.
Why Are They So Important
During an emergency, quick and clear communication are of the essence. EOCs help the information and communication flow quickly between the necessary agencies and departments. When multiple agencies are involved in responding to an emergency they help make sure that they are working together, not getting in each other’s way, and that there is a solid line of communication between on-site and off-site officers.