State EOC Operations in Agro Event

1. State EOC Operations in Agro Event John H Campbell Operations Chief MO State Emergency Mgt Agency

2. Agenda • Definitions • Roles of EOCs in response operations • Specific actions in Ag events

3. Definitions • Disaster—An event resulting in great loss or misfortune • Response—Actions taken immediately to stabilize an emergency condition • Recovery—Actions taken to restore areas and facilities to their pre-disaster condition • Stafford Act—legislation which authorizes the federal government to provide assistance to state and local governments affected by disasters

4. Definitions • EOC—Emergency Operations Center—a facility that provides an environment for multiple agencies to coordinate effective and efficient use of assigned resources in response and recovery to a disaster. • ESF—Emergency Support Function—A mechanism that consolidates multiple agencies performing similar jobs into a single cohesive unit

5. Definitions • Protective actions—Actions designed to safeguard public health and safety (evacuations, boil-orders) • Precautionary measures—Actions taken in advance of protective actions to reduce potential disaster impacts (facility restrictions, boil-advisories) • SEMA—State Emergency Mgt Agency • FEMA—Federal Emergency Mgt Agency

6. Philosophies of Emergency Mgt • All disasters start and end at local level • Local officials are in charge of response and recovery activities • State, Federal, and non-governmental resources are brought in to support local response when needs from a disaster exceed capability of community to respond/recover

7. Philosophies of Emergency Mgt for Agro Events • Event will likely be detected by local vet, animal owner, meat inspector, etc • Protective action decisions (i.e. quarantine, depopulation, etc) may be made at state or federal level • Local, state, and federal officials operate as a team during recovery phase

8. What is an EOC? • Multi-agency coordination center • Central focal point for an organization to execute a coordinated, effective response • Encourages collaboration within/between response disciplines • Multiple, redundant communication systems

9. EOC Missions • Maintain situational awareness for policy-makers • Allocate existing resources based on guidance contained in emergency plans and guidance issued by policy-makers • Determine unmet needs; seek assistance on filling unmet needs based on guidance from policy-makers • Provide information to public • Support responders in the field

10. Typical EOC Organization

11. Chief Official • Ultimately responsible for response activities • Leads policy group discussions • Executes duties with authority as provided in emergency response plan

12. Policy Group • Group consisting of elected officials, department heads, etc • Provide guidance to responders on priorities and policy • Typical policy decisions might include • Curfews, embargos, etc • Restrictions on usage of facilities (electric, water) • Other issues

13. EOC Coordinator • De facto “incident commander” for EOC staff • Communicates and implements decisions made by policy group • Supervises systems to ensure that close contact is maintained with incident sites to develop common operating picture and anticipate potential resource requests • Local Emergency Mgt Director may fill this role in many jurisdictions

14. Operations/Coordination Group • This group consists mostly of representatives from various agencies who help carry out the EOC’s core functions through ESFs • Develop/maintain situational awareness • Develop/maintain status and capabilities of resources in area of expertise • Work with other agencies in developing solutions to resource shortages • Work with Logistics Section to request outside assistance as necessary

15. Operations/Coordination Section

16. Planning • Through Situation Unit, implement systems for acquiring and reporting information specific to the disaster • Information comes from variety of sources to include Ops/Coordination Group, the public, the media, elected officials, etc • Suggest issuing Situation Reports (SITREPs) on periodic basis to communicate critical information • Develop Incident Action Plan

17. Logistics • Generally responsible for ordering outside resources to assist in response • With assistance from Ops/Coordination Group, maintain status of resource deployed • Also responsible for internal supplies for EOC and staff (i.e. food, communications, office supplies, etc)

18. Admin/Finance • Responsible for implementing systems to track time and costs associated with response activities • Can potentially activate a Procurement Unit to assist with acquisition of outside resources

19. Joint Information Center • Provide information on actions the public needs to take to protect themselves from impacts • Provide information on precautionary actions being taken by officials to reduce impacts of disaster • Provide information on the scope of the disaster • Provide information on assistance available from authorities as a result of the disaster • Respond to media queries • Set up phone bank operations to assist with outreach efforts

20. Activation Levels • Most jurisdictions have three levels of activation • Minimal—Emergency Management staff only • SEMA, Level-1; FEMA, Level-3 • Partial—Staff from selected agencies • SEMA & FEMA both call this Level-2 • Full—Staff from all response agencies outlined in the Emergency Operations Plan • SEMA, Level-3; FEMA, Level-1

21. Specific Actions for Ag Event • Dept of Agriculture assumes leadership role • EOC activated to minimal level when Foreign Animal Disease case is suspected; activation escalates if disease is confirmed • Most protective action decisions (i.e. quarantines, depopulation, etc) will originate from state/federal level

22. Summary • EOC Missions—Situation awareness, resources management, public information • Staff for ESFs maintain visibility of issues in their area of expertise, provide info to Planning and Logistics Sections • Ag event may result in different people leading the response, and may result in protective action decisions being made at state/federal level

23. Questions ?????