An Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is a central location from which local governments can provide interagency coordination and executive decision making in support of incident response and recovery operations.  The purpose of the EOC is to provide a centralized location where public safety, emergency response, and support agencies coordinate planning, preparedness, and response activities.

The EOC does not typically provide command or control to on-scene response efforts, but does carry out the coordination functions through:

•1.   Collecting, evaluating and disseminating incident information

•2.   Analyzing jurisdictional impacts and setting priority actions

•3.   Managing requests, procurement and utilization of resources

The Fauquier County Department of Fire Rescue and Emergency Management (DFREM) are constantly monitoring the County for threats, unusual events, or situations. A Staff Duty Officer (SDO) is on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is advised of any such events by dispatch. It is important to note that although DFREM is constantly monitoring the progression of events within the County, the EOC is not considered activated. During day-to-day operations where no specific situation is occurring, the EOC is not activated.

Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Activation

Activation of the EOC will be determined by the Director (County Administrator) or his designee or the Emergency Management Coordinator or his designee.  The level of activation depends on the type and severity of emergency. In the event the EOC is activated, the Emergency Coordinator will make notifications to EOC Staff, County Administrator, and appropriate County Department Heads.

The EOC operates at one of three levels.

Increased Readiness

Increased Readiness indicates a situation has developed or threatens to develop which will potentially require action under the Emergency Operations Plan. A local emergency might be in place in anticipation of significant state-level involvement. There might be augmented staffing at the EOC. Local emergency declaration may be made in anticipation.

Recovery Operations means activities are shifting away from the EOC towards a recovery phase for implementation of various state/federal recovery programs. The EOC, while it may still be involved in the event, is returning to decreased status levels.