LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE --
During an emergency, response actions are anything but
routine. As base responders scramble to help, there is a central command and
control team responsible for ensuring the continuity of operations: the
Emergency Operations Center.
Practicing for real world events helps hone the
actions needed for an effective response and during a recent major accident
response inspection, the EOC was put to the test.
An appointed incident commander has control of the
scene. However, if support and information coordination exceeds the capacity of
the incident commander, he or she may request the installation commander to activate
the EOC.
“The EOC receives requests from the incident commander
and coordinates the support they need,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Daniel
Werner, 19th Civil Engineer Squadron commander. “We help them resolve the
incident and also relay information up to the Crisis Action Team so wing
leadership is informed and can make timely strategic decisions.”
Werner serves as the EOC director once it has been
activated and he relies on a dedicated team of individuals to make the mission
happen.
“The EOC is made up of a director, a manager and 15
emergency support functions,” Werner said. “They include logistics,
engineering, security, communications, public health, public affairs and many
others.”
Those with authority to make decisions and commit
resources for their functional areas serve as the representatives for the
emergency support functions and all that information funnels through the EOC manager.
“My role as the EOC manager is to collect information
about the incident and provide the EOC director with updates so he can make more
informed decisions,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. James Archebelle, 19th Civil
Engineer Squadron Emergency Management Plans and Operations NCOIC. “I inform the
EOC director about the support and functional expertise we have as I direct and
manage those resources at the incident.”
As with all facets in life and military operations,
communication is key.
“Managing the information provides the method to
disseminate indications and warnings, make tactical decisions at an incident
site, and formulate operational decisions regarding multi-incident
circumstances,” Archebelle said. “Managing that information allows us to limit
the distractors prevalent in most incidents as much as possible, allowing the
EOC to focus on the mission at hand.”
Not every emergency requires an EOC to be stood up but
when it is, they have the resources available to meet any need.
“Because each incident is different, the make-up of
the EOC can be tailored to meet the needs of the response,” Werner said.