Behind the scenes: Barksdale’s emergency operations center responds to crisis

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Allison M. Boehm
  • 2d Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La --  An on-base explosion occurred earlier this year. It resulted in a natural gas line fire in an unpopulated area of Barksdale's East Reservation and although the explosion happened shortly after the duty day, Barksdale emergency responders and the Bossier Parrish Fire Department quickly responded to the incident and contained the damage.

However, before the emergency responders were on scene, a select group of individuals had already met and begun organizing and dispersing vital information to update the incident commanders of the recourses needed to remedy the situation.

The emergency operations center's response was fast and information flowed just like it had previously been exercised numerous times.

"During any contingency, whether it be natural disaster or major accident, the EOC is a key focal point in getting incident commanders the recourses they need to remedy the situation," said Master Sgt. Dennis Price, 2d Civil Engineer Squadron emergency management flight non-commissioned officer in charge. "The EOC is the command and control support elements that directs, monitors and supports the installation's actions before, during and after an incident or major accident."

Although the need of the EOC recall is not an everyday occurrence, thanks to practice and precision, when it is put into use the work is seamless.

When Barksdale flooded last year the quick response and coordination of the EOC members aided Bossier City and Bossier Parish in sandbagging the Red Chute Bayou. The base provided approximately 1,200 personnel to save approximately 1,600 residences in the local area.

Their work helped save millions of dollars in property damage and personal trouble for the families at risk.

"I feel that the EOC functions as it should," said Robert Nebus, 2d Civil Engineer Squadron, assistant chief, readiness and emergency management flight. "It has been an evolutionary process since 9/11 that has standardized emergency response functions, operations and terminology to facilitate inter-agency cooperation from the Federal to the local government level. For Barksdale, it got this way by squadron commanders picking qualified personnel to make decisions on their behalf, proper training and training exercises and by the EOC personnel taking their responsibilities seriously."