An emergency operations center, or EOC, is a central command and control facility responsible for carrying out the principles of emergency preparedness and emergency management, or disaster management functions at a strategic level in an emergency situation, and ensuring the continuity of operation of a company, political subdivision or other organization.
An EOC is responsible for the strategic overview, or "big picture", of the disaster, and does not normally directly control field assets, instead making operational decisions and leaving tactical decisions to lower commands. The common functions of all EOC's is to collect, gather and analyze data; make decisions that protect life and property, maintain continuity of the organization, within the scope of applicable laws; and disseminate those decisions to all concerned agencies and individuals. In most EOC's there is one individual in charge, and that is the Emergency Manager.
Emergency Operations Plan
Emergency Operations Plan
The Standard Operating Procedures includes Emergency Action Plans which specify criteria for activating emergency operations centers.
A: Coordination entities
false
Unit control centers
emergency operations center
Emergency Operations Center
Unit Control Centers
Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center was created in 1959.
The general answer is that, in emergency situations, the duties of the incident commander is to protect life safety, property, and the environment in that order. Life safety always comes first. Sometimes judgments must be made on property vs. the environment, particularly when protecting the environment involves important resources that are used by significant populations, such as drinking water. Emergency operations centers generally leave these decisions up to on-scene incident commanders and focus on resource managment and recovery efforts.
From the FEMA training manual linked, this is true.