Emergency Management Director how-to
How to Activate an Emergency Operations Center
A well-run EOC coordinates the whole response.
Quick answer
A well-run EOC coordinates the whole response. In short: decide; notify; set, then complete the remaining steps below.
Step by step
Decide on activation level.
Notify staff and partners.
Set up communications and systems.
Establish objectives and incident action plans.
Track resources and information.
Brief officials and the public regularly.
Safety reminders for emergency management directors
- Plan for responder safety in every operation
- Manage fatigue during long activations
- Use clear, accurate public messaging
- Coordinate safety with all agencies
Key terms
ICS · NIMS · EOC · EOP · Hazard mitigation · Continuity of operations: see the full emergency management director glossary.