/ /

Emergency Operations Overview

Contact Information

Email: cenab-eoc@usace.army.mil

Watch Desk: 410-962-2013

EOC: 410-962-4182

Mission Statement

Our mission is to:

Reduce Disaster Risk through partnerships with local, state and federal Emergency Management Agencies and stakeholders
Strengthen National resilience
Provide vital engineering and technical expertise during emergency response and recovery

Who We Are

The Baltimore District Emergency Management (EM) Office operates under the direction of the District Engineer and Corps' Headquarters, in accordance with:

Public Law 84-99 Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies (PL84-99 FCCE)
The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Assistance Act (Stafford Act), Public Law 93-288, as amended by PL 100-707

We are part of an integrated emergency management network, working closely with federal, state, and local partners to ensure effective disaster response and recovery.

What We Do

We provide flood risk management and response assistance when flooding exceeds state and local response capabilities within our Civil Works boundary.

Our service area includes:

Maryland
District of Columbia
Portions of New York
Portions of Pennsylvania
Portions of West Virginia
Portions of Virginia
Portions of Delaware

During natural or man-made disasters, we:

Work under FEMA Region 3 authority
Support Engineering and Public Works Mission Assignments for DC, Maryland and Pennsylvania
Provide urgent or emergency engineering support to federal agencies within the National Capital Region

Emergency Operations Center (EOC)

Overview

The EOC is our central command and control facility for emergency response operations. During emergencies, our Emergency Management staff transitions into the Crisis Action Team (CAT), supported by trained volunteers. CAT members receive specialized training in:

Emergency management authorities
Baltimore District Operations Plans (OPLANs)

Core CAT Responsibilities

1. EOC Operations

Maintain 24/7 operational capability
Staff key positions according to Incident Command System structure
Ensure continuity of operations for Baltimore District Essential Functions

2. Coordination and Communication

Serve as central point of contact for all stakeholders
Facilitate information flow between responding entities
Ensure timely dissemination of critical information
Coordinate personnel and equipment deployment

3. Situation Monitoring and Reporting

Track incident developments and response activities
Provide reports for Command awareness and high commands
Monitor resource allocation and costs

4. Legal Compliance and Analysis

Assess situations under PL 84-99 and Stafford Act authorities
Ensure operations align with legal requirements
Document decisions and justifications

5. Resource Management

Deploy response teams and personnel
Track deployed assets and personnel
Coordinate additional resource requests

Response Activation

The EOC activates when:

Natural or manmade disasters exceed local response capabilities
Multiple agencies require coordination
Extended operations require 24-hour coverage
Incident complexity demands centralized command and control

Reporting Structure

The EOC maintains direct communication with:

District Engineer (direct reporting)
USACE Headquarters
FEMA Regional Operations
State Emergency Management Agencies
Local Emergency Operations Centers

Standard Operating Procedures

Our operations:

Follow National Incident Management System (NIMS) guidelines
Include regular training and exercises to maintain readiness
Document all activities through approved reporting systems
Monitor resource allocation and costs continuously
Update emergency response plans and procedures regularly

Public Law 84-99 Overview

Public Law 84-99 authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to:

Before Disasters:

Provide technical assistance
Support emergency preparedness

During Disasters:

Conduct emergency repairs
Support flood-fighting operations
Provide technical advice
Assist with sandbag placement

After Disasters:

Help repair damaged flood control projects
Clear debris-blocked channels
Assist with emergency water supplies
Support drought assistance

Note: Some services require cost-sharing with local sponsors, while others may be provided at full federal expense during emergencies.

Recent Baltimore District EMO PL 84-99 Projects:

Hurricane Sandy 2012

Tropical Storm Lee 2011

2. The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Assistance Act (Stafford Act), Public Law 93-288, As Amended by PL 100-707 (Click here to view an overview presentation)

Public Law 100-707, also known as the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act or simply the Stafford Act, is the primary law that governs how the federal government responds to disasters in the United States. Enacted in 1988, this law amended the earlier Disaster Relief Act of 1974 and created the system we currently use for presidential disaster declarations, which enable federal assistance to flow to states, tribes, and local communities during major disasters.

The Stafford Act establishes the process by which a governor can request a presidential disaster declaration and defines the types of assistance that can be provided. It authorizes FEMA to coordinate federal response efforts and provide various forms of aid, including Individual Assistance for affected residents, Public Assistance for infrastructure repairs, and Hazard Mitigation grants to reduce future disaster risks. The law also sets the federal cost-share requirements for disaster assistance and outlines the roles and responsibilities of federal, state, tribal, and local governments in emergency management. This legislation remains the cornerstone of federal disaster response and recovery in the United States, establishing the framework through which billions of dollars in disaster aid have been provided to communities nationwide.

Types of FEMA Assistance:

Individual Assistance
Public Assistance
- Technical - 100% federal cost
- Direct - 75 / 25 federal / local cost share
- Combination

National Response Framework (NRF):

The National Response Framework (NRF) is a key component of the United States' national preparedness and incident management system. Here's a comprehensive overview:

The NRF is a guide that details how the nation responds to all types of disasters and emergencies. It describes specific authorities and best practices for managing incidents that range from the serious but purely local, to large-scale terrorist attacks or catastrophic natural disasters. The Framework builds on the National Incident Management System (NIMS), which provides a consistent template for managing incidents.

USACE support through PL 100-707:

Once a Presidential Declaration is made, the Corps may receive ESF#3 mission assignments under FEMA’s Public Assistance program. The NRF identifies the Corps’ missions, including:

Temporary Emergency Power
Commodities
Debris Management
Urban Search and Rescue
Temporary Roofing (Blue Roof)
Critical Public Facilities and Temporary Housing
Sub-Tasking to Support Agencies

When activated, the NRF brings together key federal departments and agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private sector entities to coordinate their roles in incident response. Each participating organization has specific responsibilities outlined in various Emergency Support Functions (ESFs).

Recent EMO Stafford Act Projects:

Hurricane Sandy 2012:

World Trade Center, N.Y. 9/11 (2001):

EMO Support to Military Customers and Overseas Missions:

Over the last decade, support to military customers and overseas missions has increased. The EMO provides support to Corps Field Force Engineering Teams - Base Development Team, Forward Engineer Support Team - Augmentation, and Contingency Real Estate and Environmental support teams. In addition, the EMO, in coordination with the Baltimore District's Deployment Coordination / Family Readiness Program Associate, executes the Corps Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) Program and supports deployments. The main OCO countries being supported at this time includes Afghanistan and Iraq.