Release Date:
August 6, 2008

Course Description:
This course examines the role, design, and functions of
Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) and their relationship as components of a multi-agency coordination system.  The course provides training about staffing and organization, information, systems, communications and equipment needs at the EOC; activating and deactivating the EOC; EOC operations; and EOC testing, training and exercising.  It uses activities and case studies about EOCs and multi-agency coordination systems at the Federal, State and local levels of government.

Course Objectives:
After completing the course, participants will be able to:

1. Relate EOC operations to National Incident   Management System (NIMS) requirements.
2.   Describe the role that EOCs play in overall multi-agency coordination.
3. Describe the relationship between EOC and the on-scene Incident Command System (ICS) structure.
4. Identify staffing, information, systems, and equipment needs at the EOC.
5. Determine whether their EOC organizations are conducive to effective coordination.
6. Identify potential alternate locations suitable for EOC operations should the primary EOC facility becomes damaged or inoperable.
7. Create a test, training, and exercise plan for critical EOC operations.
8. Develop a strategy and schedule for reviewing EOC resource requirements and technology.

Course Length:
4 hours.

Target Audience:
The audience includes: Federal, State, local and Tribal emergency managers; first responders to include incident commanders from all disciplines, private industry, and voluntary agency personnel responsible for coordinating activities during a disaster.

Continuing Education Units:
EMI awards 0.4 CEUs for successful completion.

Location:
Online.

Classroom Version:
Classroom version available for delivery by States as G775.

To Apply:
This course is available at http://www.training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS.asp.  When you have completed the course, you may take the online test, fill out the student information and submit the test for scoring.  FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute’s Independent Study office will notify you via email of the results.  If you successfully complete the test, a link will be included in the email for you to access and print your course certificate.

Questions:
For questions about administration, you may contact the Independent Study Program Office at Independent.Study@dhs.gov or (301) 447-1200.  For questions about content, please contact the course manager, Tom Gilboy at (301) 447-1535 or by email at Tom.Gilboy@dhs.gov