Military Department, and Oklahoma Department of Civil Emergency Management to divide up perimeter security obligations. A permanent perimeter was decided, and a specific number of personnel to provide this security (from each agency) were assigned.
An inner perimeter (for areas that may contain evidence) was secured by FBI personnel until the buildings inside the (overall) perimeter were cleared of evidence.
Subsequent Days
At the Myriad Convention Center, special programs were set up for Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Teams. This included free calls home from AT&T, free mail and parcel delivery from UPS, and other similar amenities. These amenities were managed, and it was decided who should be allowed to use these services under the ICS system.
A military explosive ordinance disposal unit was requested. The unit does a sweep of the Murrah Building and finds no additional explosives.
A Disaster Field Office (DFO) was established. In the Disaster Field Office (DFO), the Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO), the State Coordinating Officer, and emergency response teams worked together to meet the needs of the response and recovery.
A Multi‐Agency Coordination Center (MACC) comprised of federal and state representatives (who had the authority to commit resources) was created at the Myriad Convention Center. It is staffed by the Oklahoma County Emergency Management Agency, Oklahoma Department of Civil Emergency Management, FEMA advisors and specialists, the National Weather Service, the American Red Cross, and technical advisors from the US Forestry Service.
A Joint Information Center (JIC) was set up at the Myriad Convention Center to provide for the organized release of any public information. All information would be vetted and cleared for release by all major agencies involved.
Mental health services and Critical Incident Stress Debriefings (CISDs) were offered to first responders. These services were provided by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the FBI, the American Red Cross, as well as volunteer private specialists. Additionally, crisis hotlines.
A Congressional Liaison Office is established at the Disaster Field Office (DFO) to coordinate inquiries from US Senators and Representatives. By assigning this task to an individual, or individuals, it reduces interruptions that might slow operations.
Crisis lines were created, and operated 24‐7, to meet the needs of the general public.
The Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) activates numerous Emergency Support Function (ESF) from the federal government to assist with the incident. They include– ESF 2 Communications– ESF 3 Public Works and Engineering– ESF 4 Firefighting– ESF 5 Information and Planning– ESF 6 Mass Care– ESF 7 Resource Support– ESF 8 Health and Medical Services– ESF 9 Urban Search and Rescue
Requests were made to the Defense Coordinating Officer (DCO) to provide six C‐141 military aircraft to be used to transport the needed supplies and equipment. That request was approved almost instantly.
A Disaster Mortuary Team (DMORT) from FEMA arrives to provide support for the coroner's office. Medical support for the Disaster Mortuary Team (DMORT) comes from US Public Health Service, with logistical support being provided by Oklahoma City Veterans Administration (hospital). They are assisted by 30 members of the Oklahoma Funeral Director Association and a military Graves Registration Unit.
The Oklahoma Health Department is assisted by the Center for Disease Control in starting the Emergency Survivor Injury Registry. The registry allows the responsible agencies to identify victims, as well as document any injuries or continuing medical needs.
An In‐Kind Donations Coordination Team is created at the Disaster Field Office. One of the tasks they undertake is to create an “unmet needs” registry.
A specialized Risk Assessment Team is requested and received. They evaluate the site for biological and chemical hazards. Instructions are given to rescuers on how to better protect themselves from environmental factors and decontamination procedures are developed. Four firefighters from a mutual aid fire department and six firefighters from Tinker Air Force Base will be responsible for decontamination.
A joint Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) of the affected area is undertaken and completed by FEMA and Oklahoma Department of Civil Emergency Management.
U.S Army Corps of Engineers sends requested specialists to provide input concerning structural integrity and blast damage distribution. They provide substantial input in the safest way to proceed with rescue and recovery missions.
In an effort to restore federal services housed in the Murrah Building, the General Services Administration (GSA) conducts surveys to find temporary and permanent office space nearby.
AmeriCorps is activated to assist with donations management. Their primary task is to keep inventory of all donations.
A Recovery Service Center (RSC) is opened where applicants can personally meet with representatives of various aid programs. The Oklahoma Baptists provide daycare for those who come to the Recovery Service Center (RSC) to discuss aid assistance. Agencies involved include the following:– FEMA Disaster Housing– FEMA/State Individual and Family Grants– Oklahoma Division of Civil Emergency Management– Oklahoma Employment Security Commission– American Red Cross– Oklahoma Department of Human Services/Aging– Salvation Army– Department of Area‐wide Aging– Small Business Administration– Federal Employees Education and Assistance Fund– Social Security Administration– Veterans Administration– Internal Revenue Service– Oklahoma County– FEMA/State Public Affairs– Oklahoma State Insurance Commission
It is important to note that this is a brief synopsis of the overall effort. Through utilizing an IMS method, more specifically the ICS method, those managing the incident helped to assure that everyone was on the same page and were effectively working toward the same end goal.
2.4.2.2 At the State Emergency Operations Center
As was described earlier, the blast occurred at 9:02 a.m., and agencies on scene immediately began requesting additional resources. Documentation by the State Emergency Operation Center (EOC) revealed that the full activation of the EOC was requested at 9:04 a.m., only two minutes after the explosion. Within 25 minutes, the EOC was fully staffed and a representative was onsite of the explosion to be a liaison between the Incident Commander (IC) and the EOC.
The purpose of an EOC was to establish a centralized site where government (at any level) can provide interagency coordination and execute decision‐making to support an incident response. In the EOC, there may be a multitude of experts in specific areas that can provide expertise and/or resources to the Incident Commander (IC) and the General Staff that are commanding the incident. As an example, when the state EOC was activated, the agencies that staffed it included the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, the Oklahoma Military Department, the Oklahoma Department of Health and the Oklahoma Department of Education. Not long thereafter, the National Weather Service, the Civil Air Patrol, and the American Red Cross were brought in to staff the EOC for their specialization.
On the ground, roles and responsibilities were quickly assigned by the Incident Commander (IC) with the majority of support being ordered by the EOC. While the search and rescue operations were initially managed by the Oklahoma City Fire Department, the outer security perimeter was initially managed by Oklahoma City Police Department and the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Department. Later, other Oklahoma State
