Emergency Operations Center (EOC)

Our campus follows the National Incident Management System (NIMS)/Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) guidelines. As a result, all members of our Emergency Operations Center (EOC) are required to undergo appropriate Incident Command System (ICS) and SEMS training relevant to their respective roles in the EOC. For more detailed information on the specific training requirements for EOC positions, please refer to this document.

Every emergency is different. The decisions the recommendations of the EOC and the Policy Group will be different at 2:00am on a Sunday than at 3:00pm on a Tuesday. They'll be different in July than in January. They will be different for residential buildings versus academic buildings. To that end, we don't have concrete directions about what decisions we will make in every given scenario. Instead, the Emergency Operations Center uses our organizational response priorities and a number of decision factors to recommend actions to our community.

Our Response Priorities:

1) Life Safety

2) Incident Stabilization

3) Continuity of Learning

4) Preservation of the Environment and Property

Below you will find some of the decision factors the EOC and the Policy Group will utilize when determining whether we will recommend specific actions. Please note that this list is not comprehensive but is provided in an effort to give examples of the types of incidents that might lead to these recommendations.

These decisions have ripple effects on the community, which is why we do not take these decisions lightly. In all cases, the benefits of these decisions must outweigh the risks/impacts.

Building Closure

We will make this recommendation if we deem it may be unsafe to be inside a building. Some examples:

• Fire protection systems are not functioning
• Power is out and there is not enough light from windows/emergency lighting to be safe moving around inside the building
• Chemical or biological spill impacting air quality inside building
• Structural damage due to earthquake, tree falling on building, etc.

Moving to Remote Work/Classes

We will only make this recommendation if we deem it to be unsafe to be on campus or to travel to campus. For isolated incidents, we will prioritize moving classes and activities elsewhere on campus wherever possible.

Campus Closure

This is somewhat of a misnomer, as there are varying levels of 'Closure'. The decision to close campus entirely (i.e. evacuate campus of all personnel, students and residents) can only be made by the Chancellor's Office and will only occur in the most rare of circumstances. 

The Policy Group is comprised of the President and Cabinet. They are situated apart from the Emergency Operations Center, but with an active liaison linking them and the EOC.

In an emergency, the EOC will consult with the Policy Group as necessary to advise and assist in making emergency-related policy decisions impacting SF State. The Policy Group functions as a strategic policy and recovery planning team, setting general policy regarding overall SF State emergency operations and recovery plans. It advises the President on large funding expenditures, capital improvement and reconstruction projects. It may also authorize recovery plans and priorities.