Office of Emergency Planning and Response and the Emergency Operations Center

The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) does intake by phone or email to coordinate response to incidents that disrupt, or have the potential to disrupt, school operations. It operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays. The EOC call takers create an email chain that informs all relevant stakeholders who may be called upon to support the school and informs DOE leadership for their awareness within 15 minutes of receiving report of an emergency. The EOC maintains a database of information on emergencies and updates the information as the situation changes. 

Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Organizational Models:

The National Incident Management System (NIMS) identifies three primary organizational structures for EOCs:

• ICS or ICS-like Structure

Mirrors the standard Incident Command System used in field operations

• Incident Support Model (ISM) Structure

Optimized for information management, planning, and resource support

Four core sections:

• Situational Awareness (information gathering/analysis)
• Resource Support (combined logistics/operations)
• Planning Support (current & future operations)
• Center Support (facility/IT management)

• Departmental Structure

Organized according to existing agency departments

Leverages normal day-to-day relationships and processes

Overall, the Incident Support Model (ISM) provides a more effective EOC structure by:

• Streamlining resource management
• Enhancing situational awareness
• Enabling proactive future planning while maintaining immediate response capabilities

These advantages make ISM better aligned with EOC functions than the Departmental and the field-focused ICS structures. For this reason, the Office of Emergency Planning and Response (EPR) has adopted ISM to support schools and districts during emergencies.

EOC Notifications

Since September 2022, the EOC has processed all Emergency Information Center (EIC) calls from schools. Our cross-trained EOC/EIC agents will:

• Issue EOC Notifications and create OORS reports for all incidents matching these specified codes 
• Issue EOC notifications for any other safety-related codes requested by schools to activate additional support

If schools or districts would like training for designated staff, including school-based designees or district EOC liaisons, please contact EOC@schools.nyc.gov to schedule a session.

Who Should Contact the EOC 

• Directors of Facilities
• Deputy Directors of Facilities
• Custodian Engineers
• Borough Safety Directors
• Office of Instructional and Information Technology staff
• Office of School Health staff
• Principals or designees
• Office of Pupil Transportation staff
• Office of Food and Nutrition Services staff
• Superintendents or designees 
• Office of Space Management staff (e.g. Directors of Operations)

All NYC employees are permitted to call emergencies into the EOC. 

The EOC can be reached at (718) 233-8515 or by email at EOC@schools.nyc.gov

Who Does the EOC Notify? 

• Core Central Response Team (CoreCRT)
• All offices under the Division of Operations (DSF, OPT, OFNS, School Health, Space Management and DIIT) 
• Office of Safety and Youth Development (under OSPP)
• Press office
• Intergovernmental Affairs
• Superintendents and EOC designees
• All affected school principals 

If the emergency is severe or widespread the Central Response Team may be activated based upon an EOC incident. 

Certification Opportunity

The NYC Emergency Management Certificate Program (EMCP) is now available to help EOC superintendent designees build critical emergency response skills. This program provides:

• Comprehensive training on NYC’s emergency operations, Incident Command System (ICS), and Citywide Incident Management System (CIMS)
• Flexible learning—mix of in-person, live online, and self-paced courses
• Real-world application through exercises and scenario-based problem-solving
• Open eligibility—no prior experience required (available to government, private sector, and non-profit personnel)
• NYCEM Commissioner-signed certificate upon completion

This is a valuable opportunity for EOC designees who might support emergency operations in the field or at our Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. To apply to the program complete the linked application.

Let’s strengthen our preparedness together!

Role of Superintendent EOC Designees

Superintendent EOC Designees are responsible for leading and helping coordinate emergency district response teams during an operational emergency, ensuring continuity of critical functions and alignment with our citywide emergency protocols. They serve as the primary point of contact with the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), helping manage incident response, requesting additional resources, and sharing real-time updates.

The EOC Designees oversee key operational elements such as emergency communications and essential services while ensuring coordination among internal and external stakeholders.

Their role is vital in maintaining organizational resilience, helping execute NYCPS Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) objectives, and minimizing disruptions during crises.

Whether handling a minor incident or a large-scale emergency, the superintendent EOC Designees ensure a structured, efficient response in line with NYCPS EPR standards.