Us-EMC

The Emergency Operations Center is the primary coordinating facility for major emergencies and disasters. During such an event, critical officials activate the emergency operations center to utilize its capabilities in coordinating the responsibilities assigned in the Osceola County Emergency Operations Plan.

THE OSCEOLA COUNTY HEALTH & SERVICES BUILDING

& EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CENTER

The Osceola County Health And Services Building was officially opened in 2006 to house the Osceola County offices of Central Michigan District Health Department, Building Inspector, Soil/Sedimentation, and the Emergency Management Center. In addition to its primary purpose of being the jurisdiction’s emergency operations center, the Emergency Management Center is designed to support all aspects of emergency services program elements including training, exercising, public education, and program administration. The layout was designed by the local emergency management staff based on research of over 50 other E.O.C. floorplans.

THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER

The primary emergency operations center area consists of a large meeting room that was designed to accommodate 12 emergency functions, consisting of 3-4 officials per function, and auxiliary staff of 3-12. This staffing is the average staffing required for regional or large emergencies and disasters as well as accommodates large training and education sections. The meeting room is further dividable into 3 separate areas to accommodate smaller, but separate activities simultaneously. This is additionally beneficial during disaster exercises.

Significant capabilities include: a dedicated multi-line telephone system, individual EOC position worktables, 3 dedicated computers, network & wireless internet capability, LCD projector system, 3M Digital Wall Display Board, center-wide audio system, 2 cable televisions for monitoring media broadcasts or displaying data, floor based network /phone/power plugs.

THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER / AREA C

Although part of the emergency operations center, the rearmost partition is designed to act as a standalone operational area. This section mimics virtually all the operations center’s capabilities in a condensed section that allows a limited activation of E.O.C. staff to operate in an accommodating area without interrupting an existing training or education session in the front and mid operation center sections (A & B). During major operations and full activations, it allows for dual capabilities to both, the front and rear of the emergency operations center.

EOC equipment assigned to this area includes 2 computers, 1 cable television, 3M Digital Wall Display Board, room for up to 24 individuals. This section additionally has direct access to the communications room, emergency management offices, storage room, and primary supply cabinet.

THE COMMUNICATIONS ROOM

The Emergency Management Center’s communications room facilitates the primary interoperable communications technology that allows the Emergency Operation Center to coordinate to local, regional, and state public safety entities. This area facilitates 3 public safety communications stations, 1 amateur radio workstation, and 1 general workstation.

Equipment includes: 1 Michigan Public Safety Communications Service (MPSCS) 2 VHF multi-channel radios, 2 UHF multi-channel radios, 2 fax machines, 3 multi-line telephones on dedicated numbers, 2 networked computers, 1 dual band amateur radio, 1 tri-band amateur radio, 1 Emergency Alert System station, and additional portable communications equipment.

STORAGE AREAS

To support the unique operations of the Emergency Management Department and Emergency Operations Center, the facility has 3 unique and dedicated storage areas.

The primary storage area in Section C, houses shared emergency equipment that is utilized by the combined emergency services within the jurisdiction that otherwise would not be able to be supported by a single agency. This includes hazardous materials equipment, MPSCS radios, and other items as well as housing the facility server.

Area A storage houses the Audio Video equipment necessary for training and education presentations.

Area B storage is dedicated for E.O.C. functional “ready kits” (w/emergency plans, supplies, etc.) , power supplies, maps, phones, and other items dedicated for Emergency Operations Center activations. . There is also a dedicated E.O.C. supply cabinet in Area C that provides the necessary paper, pens, computer disks, etc. necessary for administrative and emergency operations.

SUPPORT AREAS

Conveniently located near the operations room, the “Breakout Room” provides a kitchenette for serving small meals and allowing a separate area for taking a break during operations.

Although located outside the Emergency Management Center, the lobby provides access to the restrooms and an area for a security checkpoint during activations.

The Osceola County Building Department and Soil/Sedimentation areas are also accessible during major emergency operations for either damage assessment, public information, or executive operations.

The Emergency Management Center

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICES

A primary function of the Emergency Management Center is the day to day management of the emergency management program. Offices for the staff (Coordinator and Specialist) and Director accommodate routine operations as well as provide space for executive operation during EOC activations.

This convenient integration between daily emergency management activities and emergency operations center results in significantly improved EOC maintenance and response readiness.

OTHER NOTES

Osceola County Emergency Management maintains a list of possible alternative EOC locations in the event the primary facility becomes inoperable. In addition, the Mobile Command Unit is maintained to act as the field extension of the EOC to ensure communications and coordination between the EOC and the Incident Command Post (See the equipment page for information).