The Texas Department of Public Safety

State Operations Center

Texas Division of Emergency Management

Hurricane Tornado Flood/Flash FloodWinter Storm Power OutageWater Shortage Wildfire Mass Fatality HazMat or Chemical Terrorist Act Hostage/Stand-off

Earthquake Oil Spill Economic Loss Communications Urban Fire Building Collapse Utility Outages Drought Disease (Human/Animal) Rail/Pipeline Pandemic Flu Border Security

POTENTIAL THREATS TO TEXAS:

RESPONSE ORGANIZATION

Deputy Assistant Director

State Coordinator for Operations

Operations Section Administrator

State Coordinator for Preparedness

Operations Section Coordinator

State Management Team

Preparedness Section

State Coordinator for Critical Information Systems

Critical Information Systems Section

State Operations Center (SOC)DAILY OPERATIONS CENTER ORGANIZATION

State Coordinator for Operations

Operations Section Administrator

Day Watch Supervisor Evening Watch Supervisor Midnight Watch Supervisor

Technical Operations Officers

Technical Operations Officers

Technical Operations Officers

SOC DAILY OPERATIONS ACTIVITIES• Operates 24/7, 365 days a year• State warning point• Coordinates assistance to local 

governments• Missing Alerts (Amber, Silver, 

Endangered Missing, Blue)• Maintains situational 

awareness• Situation Reports/• Spot Reports• STAR Processing

State Operations Center (SOC) CAPABILITIES

• Redundant communications systems:– Traditional Land Lines, VoIP to include independent VoIP from agency’s network– Cellular– Mobile Satellite– HF Radio– Amateur Radio– Stand alone IT network that supports 28 remote DPS sites, the TFS, NWS, and FEMA 

with voice,  data, and video teleconferencing – Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunication   System (TLETS)– Secure Voice

• Texas Warning System (TEWAS)• National Warning System (NAWAS)• Emergency Alert System (EAS)• WebEOC (web‐based Incident Management System for Critical   

Information), also serves as our Common Operating Picture (COP)• Social media monitoring and other information gathering tools• Self‐contained facility with back up generators, independent water and

air handling systems

Emergency Response LevelsEmergency Response Level

SOC Actions Taken

IV: Normal Conditions

No significant emergency is present. Daily Operations runs the SOC, maintaining equipment and facilities. Current natural, technological and homeland security threats are monitored. Local responders resolve emergency incidents that might occur in their areas.

III: Increased Readiness Conditions

A significant emergency has not yet occurred, but a higher‐than‐normal level of readiness is warranted because of increased vulnerability to a specific hazard. Daily Operations notifies the SOC Manager. Advisory notices are sent to the State Emergency Management Council, and 

appropriate officials and agency representatives are briefed on anticipated risk situations and potential impacts.

Coordination activities increase.  Local responders generally resolve any routine emergency incidents that might 

occur. II: Escalated Response Conditions

The scope of the emergency has expanded beyond that which can be handled by local responders. Normal state and local government operations may be impaired. Daily Operations makes way for a SOC activation, dependent upon the nature of 

the incident or event. Emergency facilities increase staffing, expand hours of operation and intensify 

coordination.  Possibly request mutual aid resources for emergency assistance.  Appropriate officials and agency representatives are briefed on the current 

situation and anticipated impacts. I: Emergency Conditions

The scope of the incident has expanded beyond the response capability of local agencies. The SOC is staffed with representatives from appropriate agencies and 

organizations, and remains operational for the duration of the incident. The SOC fulfills STARs and publishes SITREPs. As local jurisdictions request resources, the SOC coordinates assistance and may 

seek intrastate mutual aid and/or federal aid as needed.

The SOC Activation Process Event or incident

occurs.

Notification of event or incident

reaches the SOC.

Incident is monitored and a WebEOC event is created if

incident escalates.

Event notifications are sent to the SMT and SOC Manager.

Additional support may be requested or

required.

Event may continue to escalate.

Leadership decision is made (usually by the SOC MGR) and SOC is

activated.

After monitoring event or incident, no

additional support is deemed necessary.

SOC Daily Operations maintains situational

awareness.

SOC Daily operations resume.

Incident is monitored but is not determined

a WebEOC event.

REQUESTING ASSISTANCE from the SOC

STATE MANAGEMENT TEAM (SMT)ORGANIZATIONOperations Section Coordinator

Deputy Operations Coordinator Mass Care Coordinator

Volunteer Agency Liaison

Emergency Plans Section Coordinator

Logistics Section Coordinator Finance Section Coordinator

PWRT Coordinator

Resource Staging Area Manager

Deputy Logistics Section Coordinator

DPS Asst. Dir

SOC Manager

Deputy SOC Manager

OperationsSection

PlansSection

Logistics Section

Finance Section

Mass Care

Emergency Svc. Branch (TFS)

InfrastructureBranch (TxDOT)

Human Svc.Branch (DSHS)

MilitaryBranch

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (EMC)ORGANIZATION

The EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

Consists of:– 32 State Agencies, 2 Volunteer Organizations– TDEM staff supplements and supports– Private Sector

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (EMC) 

Responsibilities and Capabilities Uses the National Incident Command Structure (NIMS) Activates when required to support Disaster District 

Committees (DDCs) Conducts statewide conference calls to deliver incident 

information and report on status of response May be partially or entirely activated, depending on the 

complexity of the emergency incident or event Provides assistance to local governments to respond to 

emergencies that are beyond their capabilities, including:• Equipment• Personnel• Teams (Search and Rescue, Incident Management Teams)• Subject matter expertise• BEOC (Private Sector)• FEMA assistance (if Federal Disaster Declaration)

SMT ACTIVITIES

• Develop policies, standard operating guidelines and plans

• Maintain contingency contracts• Coordinate preparedness activities with:

– Emergency Management Council– Mass Care and volunteer organizations– DPS Disaster Districts

• Conduct activities and exercises to strengthen and solidify response efforts

Examples of Resources Requested via the SOC

• Fixed Wing Aircraft – Litter capable

• Rotary Wing Aircraft – SAR, Fire Suppression, Air Evacuation, Utility (Cargo)

• Joint air/ground coordination support

• Data/Satellite communications systems

• Engineer support with heavy equipment(debris removal during disasters)

• Medical personnel

The STAR Process

The STAR Process at the SOC Level

SOC MANAGER

PLANS SECTIONCOORDINATOR

(PSC)

LOGISTICSSECTION

COORDINATOR(LSC)

FINANCESECTION

COORDINATOR

OPERATIONSSECTION

COORDINATOR(OSC)

FEMALIAISON

SOC MANAGERASSISTANTLIAISON SAFETY DEPUTY SOC

MANAGERSOC DAILY

OPERATIONS

EMERGENCYSERVICESBRANCH

INFRASTRUCTUREBRANCH

HUMANSERVICESBRANCH

MILITARYBRANCH

TFS

TX TF1

TPWD

TXDPS

CAP

OAG

TDCJ LE

OCA

PUC

TXDOT

TDI

DIR

CCG

TCEQ

PWRT

RRC

GLO

CIKR

FUELGROUP

DEPUTY OPSSECTION

COORDINATOR

MASS CARE MEDICALSERVICES

SUPPORTSERVICES

HHSC

ETN

211

TAHC

ARC

TSA

DSHS

DADS(SMOC)

DARS(SMOC)

TDHCA

DFPS

TWC

TDA

TEA

DEPUTY PLANSCOORDINATOR

RESOURCE UNITLEADER

SITUATION UNITLEADER

DOCUMENTATION

DEMOBILIZATIONUNIT LEADER

NATIONAL WEATHER

SERVICE (NWS)

HURRICANEPLANNER

UT/CSR&

GIS

RECOVERYUNIT

CHECK IN INTAKE

WAREHOUSE

PRIVATESECTOR

RESOURCETRACKER

FOOD UNIT

SUPPLY UNIT

FEMALOGISTICS

TDCJ

USACE

EMERGENCYFUEL

BUSES

VETTERS

DEPUTYLOGISTICS

COORDINATOR

TIME UNIT

PROCUREMENT

DPS PROCUREMENT

TPASS

COST UNIT LEADER

STATE AUDITOR’S

OFFICE

COMPLIANCEAND

REVIEW

CRITICAL Information

Systems

INTEL

WEBEOC

DISPLAY

THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (EMC):DURING A SOC ACTIVATION

A Partial SOC Activation

The SOC Layout

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HUMAN SERVICES

COMMAND

FEMA

STATE OPERATIONS

CENTER MANAGER

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DAD FINANCE

76183

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DEPUTY SOC MGR76182

76172

TWC76073

ETN76075

DSHS76087

DARS76088

TX VOAD76077

TSA76074

FEMAMASS CARE

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76090ARC

76076DEPUTY HSBD

76079HUMAN SERVICES

BRANCH DIRECTOR76086

EMERGENCY SERVICES

TDCJ-LE76060

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TFS76069

EMERGENCY SERVICES BRANCH

DIRECTOR76066

OAG76065

TPWD76062DPS HIGHWAY

76067DEPUTY ESBD

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OCA76068

CIS/IT 276064

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TXMFOPERATIONS

SCRIBE76043

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DEPUTY OSC

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OPERATIONS SECTION

COORDINATOR86443

HUMAN SERVICES

INFRASTRUCTURE

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TXMF 176044

PWRT76047

TCEQ 276121

CIKR76050

DEPUTY ISBD76049

RRC76052

TCEQ 176051

INFRASTRUCTURE BRANCH

DIRECTOR76048

TXDOT76053

DIR76124

CCG 176054

TDI76058

FUEL76056

PUC76059

GLO76055

CCG 276057

SCRIBE76126

TDA76084

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DFPS76091

TDHCA76072

MASS CARE COORDINATOR

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AGRILIFE76083

TAHC76089

HHSC 176082

INTAKE/VETTERS

INTAKE 176040

VETTER 276033

INTAKE 276036

VETTER 376037INTAKE 3

76034

VETTER 476039INTAKE 4

76035

VETTER 176038

LOGISTICSFOOD 76027

BUS76026TXMF

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USACE76025

PRIVATE 76028

FEMA LOGS76023

TDCJ-LOGS76032

EMER FUEL76030

RES TRAC 176031DEPUTY LSC

76022

RES TRAC 276029

LOGISTICS SECTION

COORDINATOR86441

FINANCESPECS 176013

CAR76018

COST76020

SAO76011

TIME76019

SCRIBE76017

SPECS 276014

PROC76015

FINANCE SECTION

COORDINATOR86194

TPASS 276012

PLANSNWS76004

GIS76007

SITUL76001

RESOURCE76085

RECOVERY 276010

RECOVERY 176003

UTCSR76009

PLANS SECTION

COORDINATOR86449

FEMA PLANS76006

DEPUTY PSC76005

DOC76002

HURRICANE76008

76171

TPASS 176016

SCRIBE

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The SOC Battle BookWhen the State Operations Center (SOC) is activated due to an emergency, this guide can be used to more quickly understand its layout, processes, and communications systems.

Conference Call Booklet

This document contains the information necessary to 

conduct a State Operations Center (SOC) Statewide Conference Call for situational 

awareness.

The Planning P: A Typical SOC Schedule

Notifications are sent to SOC participants.

Incident or event occurs.

Initial Activation Council Briefing

1. Incident Briefing (General Tasks)

Use ICS Form 201 if and when SOC activation orders are given.

2. SOC MGR Objectives Meeting

Draft and propose objectives for SOC MGR.

3. General Tasks Meeting

Use ICS Form 215 to determine resource requirements and

consider alternative strategies.8. Progress Assessment

MeetingFacilitate General Staff’s effectiveness as

needed. Provide recommendations

to SOC MGR.

4. Preparation for the Planning

Meeting After preparing, publish and

distribute meeting schedule to ensure attendees know roles. 7. Operations

Briefing(General Tasks)

Facilitate briefing responsibilities and resolve

questions.

5. The Planning Meeting Situational briefing to address and resolve response coordination issues. Gain

consensus.

Planning P Key:

Gray=PreparationsPurple=Planning MeetingRed=General MeetingBlue=Full Council Briefing

Initial Command and General Staff Meeting

(General Tasks)

Init

ial R

esp

onse This color-coded,

numeric key corresponds to the Planning P Agenda.

THE SOC

PLANNING P

New operational period begins

6. Preparation for the SMP

Facilitate the General Staff’s SMP input. Ensure clarity. Provide completed SMP to SOC MGR for review, then distribute once approved.

Questions?