MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- When a natural hazard, such as Typhoon Usagi, threatens the station, emergency response teams stand ready to respond to the first call of distress or sign of damage.
Since there are several units on base dedicated to responding to emergencies, a central point of information – the Emergency Operations Center, or EOC – is necessary to ensure response efforts are coordinated.
The EOC is a station office which serves as a communication and information hub, allowing key station personnel to make informed decisions during a large-scale emergency. The EOC is made up of emergency response personnel from the station Fire Department, Branch Health Clinic and Provost Marshal’s Office as well as representatives from all station units.
“The EOC centralizes communication,” said Devin A. Johnston-Lee, station fire chief. “In (emergency situations) the EOC allows our efforts to be coordinated while ensuring the units have the support they need to handle any incident.”
To prepare for natural disasters such as Usagi, EOC personnel conduct monthly equipment and resource checks, ensuring communication devices such as radios are working and emergency personnel contact databases are up to date. These tests, while sometimes time-consuming, ensure emergency personnel and other EOC members will be able to communicate with each other in the event of a disaster.
“We want to make sure all the equipment is up and running so that when there is an issue, we can coordinate our efforts and take care of the problem as quickly as possible,” said Joe Shines, station disaster preparedness officer and Emergency Operations Center manager.
Incidents handled by the EOC include natural disasters such as typhoons, earthquakes and floods as well as man-made disasters, such as chemical spills and emergencies in a time of war.
An example of how the EOC operates occurred during a recent typhoon, when the roof on an older building on base began to leak.
“We were notified that there was some damage to the building,” said Shines, a native of Seattle. “At the time we couldn’t get a hold of any of the employees that worked at the building, so we did what we could to minimize the damage.”
The EOC members patched the roof and moved computers and other equipment from the leaking area. When the storm passed, the building was repaired.
“Not being able to contact those folks was the biggest issue,” said Shines, who added that after the incident an emergency recall roster was created. “The emergency recall roster and training have really paid off."
In recent years, the majority of issues the EOC has dealt with have arisen from typhoons, flooding and minor damage caused by earthquakes. By keeping response teams prepared, using resources wisely and keeping communication lines open, the EOC minimizes threats to life and property.
“Our ultimate goal is to keep people safe and make sure everybody comes through incidents harm-free,” said Shines. “We do that by staying prepared to handle anything that could cause devastation and affect mission accomplishment.”