Skip to main content
Log in

Information flow during crisis management: challenges to coordination in the emergency operations center

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Cognition, Technology & Work Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper discusses challenges to coordination in the emergency operations center (EOC). A county-level EOC is made up of representatives from a range of organizations including local government, fire, police, hospital, utility, and Red Cross representatives. These ad hoc teams are tasked with coming together during an emergency to obtain and deliver resources to first responders on the scene of the disaster, as well coordinating transportation of casualties, tracking of fatalities, and establishment of shelters. Two county-level exercises were observed. Themes were identified across the two exercises. Recommendations for better supporting coordination in crisis management are offered.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aubrey L (2002) The hard lessons of September. Mod Healthc 32(4):50

    Google Scholar 

  • Endsley MR, Garland DJ (2000) Situation awareness analysis and measurement. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah

    Google Scholar 

  • Grudin J (1994) Computer-supported cooperative work: history and focus. IEEE Comput 27(5):19–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Hackman JR (1990) Groups that work (and those that don’t): creating conditions for effective teamwork. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • McEntire DA (2002) Coordinating multi-organizational responses to disaster: lessons from the March 28, 2000, Fort Worth tornado. Disaster Prev Manag 11(5):369–379

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson ES, Watts-Perotti J, Woods DD (1999) Voice loops as coordination aids in space shuttle mission control. Comput Support Coop Work 8(4):353–371

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perry RW (2003) Emergency operations centers in an era of terrorism: policy and management functions. J Contingencies Crisis Manag 11(4):151–159

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Salas E, Fiore SM (2004) Team cognition: understanding the factors that drive process and performance. American Psychological Association, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • The 9/11 Commission (2004) Final report of the national commission on terrorist attacks upon the United States. Retrieved September 2004 from http://www.gpoaccess.gov/911/

  • Tierney KJ, Lindell MK, Perry RW (2001) Facing the unexpected: disaster preparedness and response in the United States. Joseph Henry, Washington

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was funded in part by contract # F33615-99-D-6001 and was sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory, Logistics Readiness Branch (AFRL/HEAL).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Laura G. Militello.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Militello, L.G., Patterson, E.S., Bowman, L. et al. Information flow during crisis management: challenges to coordination in the emergency operations center. Cogn Tech Work 9, 25–31 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-006-0059-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-006-0059-3

Keywords

Navigation