The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is an organizational structure designed to support the management of emergencies or disasters. The structure of the EOC can vary depending on the specific needs of the incident and the agency involved.
However, in general, the EOC structure is designed to complement the on-scene incident organization, rather than aligning with it directly. The on-scene incident organization, typically managed through the Incident Command System (ICS), is responsible for managing the incident itself and coordinating the response activities of personnel on scene.
The EOC, on the other hand, is responsible for providing support to the on-scene incident organization by coordinating resources, communicating with outside agencies and stakeholders, and providing strategic guidance and decision-making support. The EOC is typically staffed with representatives from key agencies and functional areas, such as operations, planning, logistics, finance, and administration.
In some cases, the EOC may have a similar organizational structure to the on-scene incident organization, with staff organized into sections or units based on their functional roles. However, the EOC is designed to operate at a higher level than the on-scene incident organization, focusing on the overall management of the incident and providing support to the on-scene responders.
In summary, while the EOC and on-scene incident organization may have some similarities in their organizational structure, they are designed to complement each other rather than align directly. The EOC provides support to the on-scene incident organization, focusing on resource coordination, strategic decision-making, and external communication.