Emergency Operation Plan: Command and Control

Note: When one member conducts operations on another member's campus or facility, the member will defer to and follow the direction of the host member's EMP.

Executive Management Team (EMT)

The Executive Management Team (EMT) will evaluate information from various sources during the progress of the event and advise the President on appropriate actions requiring his/her decision. The EMT is also responsible for the review and approval of the EOP.

The EMTs role is that of policy and major decisions. Typically, this would be centered on planning and preparation prior to and the recovery from the incident, the long-term effects of the incident, and the need to restore the university to normal operations. The EMT would be directly involved in incident stabilization primarily if major expenditures or policy decisions were needed to complete the stabilization. Accordingly, the responsibilities of this body include:

  • Final plan approval and final major policy decisions.
  • Allocation and direct distribution of resources required to reduce identified vulnerabilities.
  • Allocation and direct distribution of resources required to accomplish the purposes of this EOP.
  • Assist in the request of needed resources from outside resources that are unavailable internally.
  • Delegate necessary authorities for incident stabilization and protection of life and property.
  • Identify critical business functions that must quickly be restored and maintained.
  • Determine long-term (greater than 30 days) effects the incident may have on the university.
  • Monitor the recovery process to ensure the recovery is proceeding according to plan and to provide guidance/assistance as needed.
  • Ensure the Incident Commander is functioning in a responsible manner. This process should be undertaken through joint briefings between the EMT and the Incident Commander.

In the event that an incident is deemed severe enough to require additional staff, the Incident Commander will notify the appropriate EOP staff.

The EMT will report to the Emergency Control Center (ECC) during incidents. The ECC will be covered in later sections.

Emergency Response Team (ERT)

The Emergency Response Team (ERT) is activated, based on the type and nature of the incident, primarily to manage and assist in the operational aspects of the university's response to an emergency event.

  • It should be noted that for any given incident, it might not be necessary for all members of the ERT to be part of the incident stabilization and recovery effort. The Incident Commander will be responsible for notifying members of the ERT when their services are needed.
  • The ERT is comprised of management personnel representing functional areas of the university that have critical Emergency Operation Plan execution responsibilities.
  • The ERT works under the authority of the Executive Management Team (EMT). Assignments and responsibilities will be in conjunction with the EMT listed responsibilities.

Assumption of Responsibilities

Assumption of Presidential Responsibilities

In the temporary absence of the President, there may be certain decisions which cannot await the President's return. Temporary absence means that the President is away from campus and cannot immediately be reached by telephone or other means or it may not be practical to contact the President.

It shall be the responsibility of the person on campus next in line to assume this authority in the order as listed in Texas A&M University Procedure 02.05.99.R0.01 Assumption of Presidential Responsibility.

Assumption of Emergency Response Team Responsibility

This Emergency Operation Plan consists of team members divided into the Executive Management Team and Emergency Response Team. In the absence of a listed Emergency Response Team member a backup team member may be called upon to assume the departmental decision-making roles for that emergency response team member.

The Executive Management Team Members and all Emergency Response Team Members will be notified when the Emergency Operation Plan is activated or when the Emergency Operation Center is opened.

Emergency Management Coordinator (EMC)

The EMC is a member of the Emergency Response Team and will provide, plan oversight, emergency operation center support, organizational support for response activities, and assistance as needed for the University Police Chief, exercise development, and support of the university's continuity plan maintenance. The EMC acts as a liaison between the Incident Command and EMT.

The EMC for ETAMU is the Emergency Management Program Manager.

  • The EMC consults with Emergency Operation Team members throughout the year to ensure resources are made available for plan knowledge, support, and execution.
  • The EMC ensures that the ETAMU Emergency Operation Plan is compatible with the City of Commerce Emergency Operating Plan.
  • The EMC serves as the Emergency Operation Center Controller.
  • The EMC is responsible for plan maintenance and training of NIMS.
  • The EMC is the university contact with local and regional emergency planning organizations.
  • The EMC is responsible for the distribution of the EOP to all team members and local agencies.

Incident Commander (IC)

The Incident Commander (IC) is the ONLY position that is always filled. It may be filled by the first primary responder on scene, and then replaced by a superior respondent trained in ICS. In the initial response to incidents, the IC operates from the Incident Command Post (ICP). If incidents expand, the IC will activate the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) and notify the necessary staff. The IC also has the following responsibilities:

  • Has the overall responsibility of command and control over response management of the incident, either from the EOC or ICP.
  • Ensures incident responder safety.
  • Protects health and safety of the general public and the environment.
  • Provides information to internal and external stakeholders.
  • Maintains liaison with other agencies.

The IC will be delegated through the Executive Management Team. Depending on the incident, the IC functions could be delegated through the Executive Management Team and responding agencies with a unified command. For most incidents, either the Police Chief or Emergency Management Coordinator (or designee of either) will fill the role of Incident Commander.

Emergency Operation Center Controller

The EOC Controller is responsible for the equipment operations of the EOC when it is activated. The EOC controller maintains the university's emergency facilities throughout the year. The EOC Controller will be assigned to most EOC activations; however, the IC could decide that the incident level requires the EOC Controller to be assigned to other areas of incident stabilization.

The EOC Controller for ETAMU is the Emergency Management Coordinator.

Liaison Officer

The Liaison Officer assists in the coordination of information between the EOC and Public Information Officer (PIO). Information made available to the media will only be directed through the Liaison Officer and PIO. The Liaison Officer also assists the IC in the coordination of information between IC and Mutual Aid agencies.

The Liaison Officer for ETAMU is the Crime Information Officer of the UPD.

Safety Officer

The Safety Officer ensures the safety of Operations Staff, responding agencies, and the university population during incidents in conjunction with the IC.

The Safety Officer for ETAMU is the on-site representative of the Dept. of Environmental Health and Safety or University Police Department.

Public Information Officer (PIO)

A member of the Command Staff responsible for interfacing with the public and media or with other agencies with incident related information requirements. The PIO follows the written crisis communication plan when an incident requires communications to the public, media, other agencies, or web-based communication.

The PIO for ETAMU is the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer.

Emergency Operation Facilities

The Incident Commander (IC) will decide the classification of the incident, and based upon the IC's assessment, all or part of the university's emergency operation facilities will be activated. Emergency Operation Facilities include:

  • Emergency Operation Center
  • Emergency Control Centers
  • Incident Command Post
  • Field Command Post

Emergency Operation Center (EOC)

In a major event, the University Incident Commander will summon the necessary responding agencies (UPD, Commerce Fire, Police, or Emergency Response Team Members). The responding agencies or staff will report to the University Emergency Operations Center (EOC) or other specific location as directed. Executive Management Team members might also be contacted and may also be present.

Depending upon the type of incident, the Incident Commander, at his/her discretion, may designate an alternate location as the primary EOC. If all of these EOCs are inaccessible, the backup EOC off campus will be located at the City of Commerce Police Department EOC.

EOC Functions

  • Serves as a primary area for the Incident Commander to operate response activities.
  • Serves as a primary area for the responding agencies to coordinate supporting activities for the incident.
  • Serves as a primary area for other agencies to provide assistance with incidents on campus.
  • Provides a communication base.
  • Obtains local, state, and federal assistance.
  • Serves as the centralized, well-supported location in which the Emergency Operating Team, lead agencies, or appropriate local agencies may gather and assume their role.
  • Serves as the location for the planning, coordinating and delegating of response activities and assignments.
  • Provide Unit Log sheets for recordkeeping for each assigned staff.

The EOC will also follow an incident command system (ICS) structure. This is to ensure consistency with operations at the incident site.

EOC Activation Priorities

  • As appropriate, broadcast the appropriate information through the Pride Alert system to the university community.
  • Establish communications with the Incident Command Post or Field Command Post and provide resources as requested.
  • Establish radio and/or telephone communications with mutual aid entities as needed.
  • Establish internal telephone communications.
  • Establish computer network links.
  • Set up maps, charts and aerial photos as required.

Emergency Control Centers (ECC)

Emergency Control Centers (ECC) are areas where the Executive Management Team (EMT) will gather and provide the necessary actions for policy, expenditures, and support functions for the incident. The location of the ECCs will be determined by the incident commander.

Incident Command Post (ICP)

If necessary, the Incident Commander may operate from an Incident Command Post. ICPs can be established as the only source of command for an incident if the Incident Commander decides that the incident level does not warrant full EOC activation.

  • The Incident Command Post (ICP) conducts all operations using the Incident/Unified Command System (ICS).
  • Upon establishment of the ICP, if the EOC is also activated, the Incident Commander establishes the reporting functions of the ICP and EOC.
  • The ICP will be located at a safe distance from the incident where the incident commander, responders and technical representatives can make response decisions, deploy workers and equipment, and maintain liaison with the media and handle communications.

Field Command Post (FCP)

The Field Command Post is established as remote areas of operations. FCPs are structured similar to Incident Command Post. If an incident involves operations that are spread out, FCPs would support operations by establishing operations command at specified areas. The Incident Command Post would be supported by Field Command Posts.

  • The FCP will be located at a safe distance from the incident where the incident commander, responders and technical representatives can make response decisions, deploy workers and equipment, and maintain liaison with ICP or EOC.

Building Emergency Coordinators (BEC)

BECs are responsible for plan implementation at their responsible area. BECs will be appointed by the
appropriate VP, dean, or director (Appendix 2 – BEC List). BECs will operate under the supervision of the
appropriate EOT member's guidance. BECs will be expected to keep an updated list of staff and
resources in order to facilitate the appropriate response activity for incidents. Responsibilities of the BEC
include:

  • Maintains the emergency first aid kit, flashlight, and/or the radio for the building.
  • Completes necessary training for emergency techniques.
  • Serves as the communication link with the IC during incidents.
  • Assists in evacuations of the area when incident requires such.

Continuity and Recovery

The continuity recovery process for East Texas A&M will be managed by the Continuity and Recovery
Group. Depending on the nature and severity of recovery processes, the Continuity and Recovery Group
may request additional staffing.

The Continuity and Recovery Group will consist of the following:

  • Vice President for Finance and Administration
  • Vice President for Student Success, Dean of Students
  • Emergency Management Program Manager
  • University Police Chief
  • CIO
  • Director of Facilities

The Continuity and Recovery Group will assist community agencies (i.e., Commerce Fire Department and/or Commerce Police) in conducting post emergency/disaster surveys to ascertain the damage. The team will report the findings to the President of the university.

The university has an Institutional Business Continuity Plan (Annex A: Business Continuity Plan) that provides the framework for long term recovery and reconstitution efforts. Support of this plan is managed by the Department of Environmental Health and Safety. In the absence of departmental continuity plans, the management of recovery efforts will follow the guiding principles of this plan and the NIMS operating structure.

Note: The East Texas A&M University Emergency Operation Plan is the primary response, recovery, and deactivation guideline for efforts relating to command and control of short term and long term recovery efforts.

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