The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) serves as the central coordination point during disasters for governmental and private partner efforts.  The EOC is led by the EOC Director - generally one of the emergency management professionals who work in the Office of Emergency Management.  The EOC focuses on:

• Situational awareness and reporting
• Resource acquisition and allocation
• Coordination between elected and senior officials at the local, state, and federal level
• Restoration of community lifelines

Center staffing varies based on the disaster, with as few as one person during times of "standby" monitoring, such as leading up to an expected severe weather event), and up to hundreds during major disasters that impact multiple jurisdictions.   It can also be the location where incident command personnel work when there are multiple, simultaneous disaster sites (using what is called Area Command).  The EOC is also sometimes activated to support large special events so that people and resources are ready should something happen. 

The EOC relies upon critical help from public safety and emergency response agencies, public works, utilities, communications, health and medical organizations, and cooperating entities to stabilize and restore the community lifelines and help with recovery efforts.  Some of the key partners are members of the local Community Organizations Active in Disasters (COAD), and include:

• American Red Cross
• Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico
• Community of Hope
• Faith-based organizations
• Team Rubicon
• United Way

To find out more about the Southern NM COAD, click HERE or select the link on the left side of the screen.