Agenda - City of Santa Monica

CITY OF SANTA MONICA’S
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER
The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) serves as the centralized point to manage
overall city response to major disasters. The EOC operates under the Standardized
Emergency Management System (SEMS). EOC staff coordinates interdepartmental
activity, implements city policy, determines the mission and priorities, engage in long
range planning and coordination with outside agencies, and provides direction and
authority to act. It is the link between the city and outside resources. The EOC provides
the cost recovery efforts for the city, by tracking and reporting the personnel, supplies
and equipment used by the various departments and agencies.
Under SEMS, the city has responsibilities at two levels, the field response and local
government levels. At the field response level, all department and agencies will use the
Incident Command System (ICS) to standardize the emergency response and report
emergency related information to the emergency management organization in the City’s
EOC.
The Santa Monica EOC reports to the Los Angeles Operational Area (OA). SEMS
regulations require an operational area EOC to be activated when a local government
within the operational area activates its EOC, and/or when two or more cities within the
Operational Area have declared a local emergency.
EOC LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION
The EOC is divided among the Management, Operations, Logistics, Planning and
Finance sections. Emergency power is provided by a diesel generator. The emergency
fuel reserve is sufficient for 10 days (2,500 gallons). Re-supply of emergency fuel will
be obtained in house via a Public Works fuel truck that can get fuel from the pumping
station at the City Yard. Power will provide for lighting panels, selected wall circuits,
telephones and radios. The EOC has the capability to house and feed staff for 48
consecutive hours. On-site services include kitchen, bathrooms, food and water supply
and sleeping cots.
The alternate EOC will be activated only when the primary EOC is damaged,
inaccessible, and/or evacuation of EOC staff members becomes necessary. When the
use of an alternate EOC becomes necessary, those occupying the primary EOC will be
asked to relocate to the alternate EOC site. If the primary EOC is unusable before its
activation, staff members will be asked to report to the alternate EOC site. The
Logistics Section will arrange for relocation of EOC staff members to the alternate EOC.
Direction and control authority will be transferred from the primary EOC to an alternate
EOC when necessary by the EOC Director. All Section Coordinators will advise their
emergency response field forces of the transition to the alternate EOC.
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