Photo By Staff Sgt. Amber Mullen-Schweitzer | A firefighter, assigned to the 178th Civil Engineering Squadron, practices putting out...... read more read more
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The 178th Wing Fire Emergency Services members balance their full-time duties with managing the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The EOC acts as an information hub during local, state, or national emergencies. It also provides a standardized framework for interagency communication.
“The information that flows in and out of the EOC is translated and directed to the appropriate agency,” said Master Sgt. Matthew Keck, an assistant fire chief with the 178th Wing and an EOC manager. “This way, there is high-level accountability for not only the taskings and requests for information we receive from higher headquarters, but also for our members out in the field.”
Keck, along with Master Sgt. Erik Roddy, 178th Wing Installation Fire Chief, and Tech. Sgt. Kevin McNamara, a firefighter with the 178th Wing, are among the several Fire Emergency Services troops to fill the role as EOC manager during this crisis.
“The fire department provides me a unique skillset that allowed me to jump into this manager role without hesitation,” said McNamara.
Fulfilling the EOC manager role can be time consuming, especially when trying to balance a full-time job on top of it. However, this is nothing new to the Citizen Airmen of the Ohio Air National Guard.
“Time Management and the ability to change gears rapidly and without warning are skills that I have been forced to improve on,” said Keck. “There have been many long days, long weekends and extra hours worked, but the mission must continue. We are fortunate to have several volunteer EOC Managers to help distribute the load.”
During a global pandemic, there is no time to waste when it comes to making sure vital programs, such as the EOC, hit the ground running.
“As a member of the Civil Engineering Squadron I felt obligated to help this program succeed,” said Roddy. “With my emergency response background and training it only made sense to step up and help make this program run efficiently and effectively.”
| Date Taken: | 08.18.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 08.19.2020 10:39 |
| Story ID: | 376229 |
| Location: | SPRINGFIELD-BECKLEY AIR GUARD STATION, US |
| Web Views: | 156 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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