Notes on the Science of Extreme Situations, Paper No. 10

AN EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER FIELD STUDY - HANOVER COUNTY, VIRGINIA

by Kevyn Fields

Copyright 2003 by Kevyn Fields. All rights reserved. Permission to reproduce copies for instructional use and individual copies for personal use as needed is granted to University faculty, researchers, and students.

THE FACILITY

(1)  The Hanover County, Virginia, Emergency Operations Center, is located at the rear of the Fire, Emergency Medical Services, and Public Safety Building on United States Highway 301 in rural Hanover County.  This vinyl clad structure is three and a half years old, and replaces a previous fire department administrative headquarters.  The emergency operations center is not listed on signage.

OPERATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

(2)  The operations room of the emergency operations center is 80 feet in length by 72 feet in width and windowless, with a partition in the center that creates two rooms when necessary.  Half the room's tables and chairs are arranged in a U shape with a walkway down the center of the U. This area is used by the incident commander (the Director of Public Safety) and senior agency representatives.  The seating arrangement on the other side of the room is classroom style; tables and chairs are placed in rows facing in one direction. 

(3)  The emergency operations center is staffed by 30 to 35 representatives from the agencies and functions listed in Table 1.  Each key agency has a position nameplate.

Table 1.  Hanover County Emergency Operations Center Staffing

  • Public Safety Division (Fire and Emergency Medical Services)
  • Communications
  • Radiological
  • Sheriff's Department
  • Public Information
  • Logistics
  • Department of Health
  • Hanover County Schools
  • Virginia Cooperative Extension Service
  • Virginia Department of Transportation
  • Emergency Evacuation
  • Other agencies as appropriate
  • American Red Cross and other community volunteers

Source: Fields 2003.

(4)  An electronic status board is displayed in the center of the room on an easel.  Twelve computer outlets are provided for individual agency use.  The one permanently installed computer in the emergency operations center is located in the left rear corner of the operations room and allows projection of weather and other information.  The emergency operations center is supported by business management and Cameo hazardous materials software.  Two 8.5 foot by 10 foot projection screens pull down from the ceiling, and are located at opposite ends of the room.   

(5)  Communications include both radio and telephone, with individual cellular telephones and lap top computers as backup communications systems.  Three trained county residents provide radio communications through the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services.  Telephone communications are provided in four telephone rooms, each set up as a small office and provided with district telephone books, and by a facsimile machine.  A ring down phone system provides the capability to directly contact senior state officials.

(6)  Emergency operations center supplies include current standard operating procedures, checklists, and the County Emergency Operations Plan.  A photocopier is available for use, and standard office supplies (paper, staplers, pens, pencils, etc.) are provided. 

SURVIVABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY

(7)  The facility is above ground and is not hardened against the impacts of severe weather or attack, although County government is reviewing plans to construct a new hardened facility.

(8)  A backup generator provides some capability to power the emergency operations center in the event of a power outage.

(9)  Support facilities include a dining room, kitchen, and break area located in one room, with a great room appearance.  The facility has separate male and female bathrooms and showers.  There are 16 bunk beds, eight for men and eight for women.  The living area, sleeping area, and bathrooms have separate entrances and are not obvious as being attached to the facility from within the operations center.

(10)  The building is served by a typical heating, ventilation, and air condition system for a facility its size.

(11)  The water and sewage systems are not independent; therefore, it would be difficult for the emergency operations center to remain operational for an extended period of time in the case of outage.  There are sufficient stocks of food and water for 72 hours, ample toiletries, and first aid supplies.  However, sustainment with a full crew of 35 people for 72 hours if the staff was unable to leave the facility would be difficult.

FACILITY USE

(12)  The emergency operations center conducts an activation exercise each spring to evaluate the County Emergency Operations Plan and to ensure staff familiarity with personnel, equipment, facilities, supplies, and other resources.  The last activation of the emergency operations center occurred during the invasion of Iraq in response to declaration of an Orange alert level, and the center remained activated through April 2003.

ALTERNATE FACILITIES

(13)  Hanover County's Training Center, less than one mile distant, is designated as the alternate emergency operations center.  Staging and evacuation areas for nuclear power plant response are located in adjacent counties.

WORKS CITED

Fields, Kevyn. field notes from site visit to the Hanover County Emergency Operations Center. Richmond, Virginia, United States of America: not published, 21 May 2003.