DIRECTION AND CONTROL

 

FICTITIOUS COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN
 Updated: March 18, 2006

 

 
I. PURPOSE

 This Annex outlines the direction and control procedures for emergency operations and identifies the personnel, facilities and resources which will be utilized in the coordinated response activities.
 
II. SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS
 
  A.  Situation:
 
    * Direction and control of normal day-to-day emergencies is performed by senior on-scene emergency response personnel (i.e., law enforcement, fire, rescue, EMS) in accordance with local ordinances, policies and procedures.
 
    * Many hazards exist within or near the County which have the potential to cause disasters of such magnitude as to warrant centralization of the direction and control (Emergency Operations Center) function in order to conduct effective and efficient emergency operations.
 
    * Municipalities within the County may exercise independent direction and control of their own emergency resources, outside resources assigned to the municipality by the Fictitious County Emergency Operations Center, and resources secured through existing mutual aid agreements with other municipalities.  Requests for state/federal government assistance will be directed to the Fictitious County Emergency Management Coordinator prior to activation.
 
    * Centralized county‑wide direction and control (Emergency Operations Center activation) is desirable when one or more of the following situations occur:
 
    - there exists an imminent threat to the public safety/health;
    - extensive multi‑agency/multi-jurisdiction response and coordination are necessary to resolve or recover from the emergency situation;
    - local resources are inadequate/depleted and significant mutual aid, state and/or federal resources must be utilized to resolve the emergency situation;
    - the disaster affects multiple political jurisdictions within the County which are relying on the same emergency resources to resolve the emergency situation;
    - local emergency ordinances are implemented to control the emergency situation.
 
    * The County Emergency Operations Center serves as the central direction and control point for county‑wide emergency response activities.
 
    * The primary County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is located in Fictitiouston.
 
    * In the event the primary Emergency Operations Center is inoperable, an alternate Emergency Operations Center may be established in the Fictitious County Government Center or other appropriate location.
 
  B. Assumptions:

 

    * The designated Emergency Operations Center will be activated upon the threat or occurrence of a major emergency/disaster and designated personnel will report to the Emergency Operations Center in a timely fashion.
 
    * The County Emergency Operations Center facility and equipment is adequate for coordinating county‑wide emergency operations.
 
    * Sufficient procedures have been developed to effectively direct and control disaster operations/recovery.
 
    * Emergency operations and coordination at all levels of government will be carried out according to plans and procedures.
 
III. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
 
  A. General
    1. Emergency operations shall include all activities which are directed toward reduction of the immediate hazard, establishing situation control and restoration of normal operations within the County.
 
    2. The responsibility for the direction and control of disaster situations is vested in the County Board of Commissioners and is routinely exercised through the Emergency Management Coordinator or the County Manager.
 
    3. The Emergency Management Coordinator will activate, organize and operate the Emergency Operations Center in a flexible manner based on the magnitude of the situation.
 
    4. The organizational structure of the Emergency Operations Center will be arranged according to the type of incident, agencies and/or jurisdictions involved, objectives and strategies selected to resolve the situation and the demands of the emergency.  Municipalities, when needed, will provide representation in the County Emergency Operations Center for inter-jurisdictional coordination when the event severely affects the jurisdiction, or as requested.
 
    5. The Chairman of the Board of Commissioners and County Manager will be notified by the Emergency Management Coordinator when Emergency Operations Center activation is warranted to direct and control emergency operations.
 
    6. The Emergency Operations Center is the operational area from which emergency response activities can be directed, controlled and coordinated and utilizes the facilities of the County Communications Center.  It will be managed in accordance with the County Emergency Operations Center Standard Operating Procedures. 
 
    7. On-scene activities of emergency response personnel will be managed utilizing the Incident Command System.
 
  B. Staffing

The name of the group may change as well as its' composition, but the functions will remain the same. "Groups" will also work in close association with one another, often sharing the same physical space and often crossing groups to work with and coordinate with others.
 
    1. The Executive Group, under the direction of the Chairman of County Commissioners, consists of the elected officials, jurisdictional management and liaison officials, jurisdictional Public Information Officer (PIO) and is responsible for: 
 
      a. the approval of policies and strategies pertinent to the emergency/disaster situation.
      b. conducting briefings of the Emergency Operations Center staff to assure coordination of information.
 
    2. The Operations Group, under the direction of the Emergency Management Coordinator and consisting of the designated representatives of the agencies conducting emergency operations (law enforcement, fire, rescue, EMS, others as appropriate), is responsible for the direct supervision of county operations including the allocation of resources necessary to implement the approved strategies and policies.
 
    3. The Technical / Planning Group, consisting of the radiological officer, damage assessment officer and other technical advisors pertinent to the type of emergency/disaster, may be established to:
 
      a. collect, evaluate, display and disseminate information regarding the incident and status of resources;
      b. maintain a journal, post data and maintain status boards;
      c. analyze the predictable probable course of emergency incident events;
      d. develop strategies (action plans) and alternatives to control operations for the incident; and,
      e. anticipate resource requirements.
 
    4. The Logistics Group, consisting of the communications supervisor, and representatives of emergency support agencies (i.e., shelter and mass care, public works, communications, etc.), may be established to coordinate the acquisition of supplies, equipment and other resources (public and private) necessary and approved to resolve/recover from the emergency or disaster situation. 
 
    5. The Finance Group, under the direction of the County Finance Officer, may be established to:
 
      a. compile and maintain documentation of purchases, acquisition and utilization of emergency supplies, equipment and other services;
      b. perform financial and cost analysis to develop conclusions on efficient methods of resolving and recovering from the emergency/disaster situation.
 
IV.

CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT
 
  A. Staffing assignments for positions in the Emergency Operations Center will allow for continuous 24-hour operations. Selection and assignment of personnel will be the responsibility of the agency.
 
  B. In the event that the primary Emergency Operations Center is not functional, an alternate Emergency Operations Center will be activated.
 

 

APPENDIX 1

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

FOR INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM

 

  

ADMINISTRATIVE COMMAND

CHAIRMAN of the BOARD / COUNTY MANAGER

INCIDENT COMMANDER

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

 

* City / County Elected Officials * Emergency Medical
* City / Town Managers * Law Enforcement
* Finance * Rescue
* Purchasing * Communications
* Public Information * Fire Services
    * Volunteer resources (Red Cross / Salvation Army)
    * State Response resources
    * Federal Response Resources
    * All other resources not listed under