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The Goodfellow Mobile Emergency Operations Center, whose purpose is to provide the Incident Commander with an Emergency Operations Center on scene and to support long-term operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Anne Gathua)
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Goodfellow acquires Mobile Emergency Operations Center
Posted 5/10/2011 Updated 5/10/2011
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by Senior Airman Anne Gathua
17th Training Wing Public Affairs
5/10/2011 - GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- April 20th saw the arrival of the Goodfellow Mobile Emergency Operations Center,a unit that will provide the incident commander with an Emergency Operations Center on the scene.
The MEOC is equipped with communications equipment that allows transfer of data to and from the 17th Training Wing EOC, Crisis Action Team, Command Post, as well as local and state agencies.
"Being prepared and interoperability have become catch words to responders in today's emergency response environment," said Wayne Click, Readiness and Emergency Management flight chief. "The likelihood of having to support long term operations has increased drastically over the past several years. In today's world, the importance of an MEOC is critical to supporting long term operations."
Mr. Click said the MEOC is designed to support operations that may run into days, weeks or months.
"During day to day operations, the Fire Department and Security Forces personnel respond to emergencies with command and control equipment necessary to support the response," Mr. Click said. "The Fire Department's Chief 2 vehicle is equipped with maps, radios, and enough communication equipment to support the scene for short term operations."
The new MEOC is a 39 foot trailer equipped with support features such as a radio mast, generator, workstations, TV monitor stations, dish satellite system, night vision camera with remote control, conference room, telescopic scene lighting, whiteboards, a galley with a microwave, coffee pot, sink, refrigerator and a bathroom.
"Recently the Wing had an Active Shooter exercise that lasted two days, though realistically this type of response would probably last for weeks or even months," Mr. Click said. "Response to an Active Shooter scene would require long term operations. The recent wild fires in Tom Green County are another example of the city, county and state responders utilizing MEOC equipment to support long term command and control operations. The MEOC is designed for and best utilized in these types of responses."
Mr. Click said the new MEOC would increase Goodfellow's emergency response capability and enhance the objectives of saving lives, property and the environment.
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