1.2. Intersectoral coordination
1.2.1. Emergency Operations Center (General EOC)
Coordination between sectors takes place at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), which is the national entity that includes staff from the various ministries and agencies involved in emergency response and to which the various sectors contribute reports, assessments, and requests when intersectoral support is required.
This coordinating structure is replicated on a smaller scale at the regional and local levels. It also interacts with other for operational management and control mechanisms, such as situation rooms, incident command posts, and sectoral Emergency Operations Centers such as the Health Sector Emergency Operations Committee.
Relationship between the health Emergency Operations Committee and the national Emergency Operations Center disasters
1.2.2. Incident Command System (ICS)
An Incident Command System (ICS) The Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized, on-scene, all-hazards incident management approach that:
- Allows for the integration of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures and communications operating within a common organizational structure.
- Enables a coordinated response among various jurisdictions and functional agencies, both public and private.
- Establishes common processes for planning and managing resources.
The ICS is flexible, allowing the system to deal with all events of any magnitude or complexity. Standardized procedures allow staff different institutions to be incorporated into an effective and efficient shared management structure.
The ICS is especially useful in emergencies with a large number of victims (mass casualty incidents) or where the response to events requires the participation and interaction of different relief and rescue agencies in a single emergency scenario. In the health sector, when events claim a large numbers of victims, the ICS is important at the pre-hospital care stage and for synchronizing with hospital care. Recently, hospitals are implementing an ICS to improve coordination and command in emergencies with multiple victims.
As part of the independent study program of the US. Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) several courses on the Incident Command System are available online. Follow the link to download the course materials.