Emergency Operations Center
DISTRICT EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER (EOC)
DISTRICT EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER (EOC)
DISTRICT EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER (EOC)
The Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) has established a robust Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to ensure effective response during emergencies. This centralized hub plays a crucial role in managing and coordinating emergency responses across the district, which encompasses numerous school sites and facilities.
EOC OVERVIEW
The EOC for CUSD is designed to oversee and manage emergency situations, ranging from natural disasters like earthquakes and wildfires to more localized incidents such as campus disruptions or medical emergencies. Its primary functions include:
- Coordination and Communication: The EOC serves as the central point for decision-making and coordination during an emergency. It brings together key district personnel, including representatives from school administration, safety, and support services, to facilitate a unified response.
- Resource Management: The EOC is responsible for the allocation and deployment of resources, including personnel, equipment, and supplies. This ensures that each school site has the necessary support to handle the situation effectively.
- Information Management: The center handles the collection, analysis, and dissemination of information regarding the emergency. This includes communicating updates to parents, staff, and the broader community to ensure everyone is informed and prepared.
- Safety and Security: The EOC is instrumental in implementing safety protocols and procedures, ensuring that all safety measures are followed and that any risks are mitigated.
IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
A key component of the CUSD emergency preparedness strategy is its communication system, particularly the use of hand-held radios. Each school site is equipped with these radios to maintain consistent and reliable communication with the district office, even in the event of a complete power outage. This system is vital for several reasons:
- Reliability During Power Outages: In emergencies that cause power outages, traditional communication methods like phones and email may become inoperable. Hand-held radios provide an alternative means of communication that does not rely on electrical power, ensuring that school sites can still reach the EOC and vice versa.
- Redundancy and Resilience: The use of hand-held radios adds an additional layer of resilience to the district’s emergency communication infrastructure. By diversifying communication methods, CUSD reduces the risk of complete communication breakdowns.
- Training and Drills: School staff receive training on the use of these radios and participate in regular drills to practice emergency communication. This ensures that everyone is familiar with the equipment and procedures, allowing for smooth operation during an actual emergency.
IN PRACTICE
When an emergency occurs, the EOC activates and begins coordinating the response. School site leaders use their hand-held radios to report on the situation, request assistance, and receive instructions from the EOC. This real-time communication helps the district to assess the situation accurately and deploy resources where they are most needed.
MOBILE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER
MOBILE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER
MOBILE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER
In an effort to support the school site in establishing an incident command system, CUSD had developed a mobile command unit. This vehicle can be deployed to any school site in CUSD within one-half hour. The vehicle contains:
- EOC Radios
- Maps and floor plans of all school sites and neighboring areas
- Generator, lights, tables, chairs, and canopies
- Water, bullhorns, and signs
The mobile command unit is a resource for school sites. It is not meant to replace supplies that should be housed at the site. The team member(s) deployed with the mobile command are experts in safety/NIMS. This team does not take over command from the principal but supports the principal by guiding them through the crisis and working as a liaison with law enforcement/fire.
CALL CENTER
CALL CENTER
CALL CENTER
Our district office is equipped with an emergency call center that can reroute phone lines from any school site during a crisis. This setup ensures that the school can concentrate on managing the emergency while all calls are answered with up-to-date information. Once the situation is under control, calls are seamlessly redirected back to the school site.
