OC Public Works Department Operations Center Redesign and Enhancement Program

About the Program

Category: Risk and Emergency Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2015

The OC Public Works, Department Operations Center, serves as the helm for the allocation of resources during emergency events including heavy rains, wind and fire for the County of Orange, California. Responsible for 350 miles of flood control channels, 4 dams, 7 pumping stations and 319 road miles, the Department Operations Center (DOC), is essential in coordinating flood response and infrastructure preservation during environmental emergencies. After the destructive winter storms of 2010, staff from OC Public Works, Operations and Maintenance, evaluated the efficiency and effectiveness of the existing DOC. By February 2011, an in-house team composed of managers and field staff identified key areas of improvement and formulated a plan for the massive redesign and relocation of the DOC. Goals set for the new DOC included; updating technological assets, streamlining operations, the physical relocation of the center and establishing best practices in public works emergency management. This challenging task was accomplished in two short months thanks to the collaborative team-based approach featuring multiple divisions within OC Public Works including; Operations and Maintenance, Information and Technology, Facility Operations, Procurement and Environmental Resources. Today, the OC Public Works DOC serves as an industry leader in excellence in public works emergency management.