Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Playbook

About the Program

Category: Risk and Emergency Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

Disasters have increased in recent years. When emergency services are overwhelmed, activating County Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) in a unified, organized manner, is essential. Counties are Operating Areas (OAs,) serving a vital role in national response to emergencies. San Diego County Office of Emergency Services (OES) developed an innovative EOC Playbook to guide EOC staff and ensure consistency during those early, hectic hours and days of emergency response. The Playbook filled a gap in our emergency management program with a comprehensive step-by-step guide to fast-track EOC activation and addresses essential, time-sensitive processes from EOC activation through response, recovery and demobilization. The EOC Playbook increases County efficiency and enhances EOC staff training and readiness for infrequent activations, amidst high stakes. The guide includes in-person, remote and hybrid EOC models. The EOC Playbook was written, edited, tested, and implemented by County OES staff, without additional cost, from 2021 to 2022. We’ve utilized it during fire and winter storm seasons and updated it with lessons learned. It was tested again successfully on February 2, 2023 for a Level 1 OA EOC activation, helping coordinate response across 20 local EOCs. It is a valuable guidebook that can help other counties.