Texas A&M Forest Service held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly outfitted Emergency Operations Center in College Station.

The Emergency Operations Center, EOC, uses state-of-the-art technology to continuously monitor wildfire risk and state and local wildfire occurrences. It also monitors the availability and use of firefighting resources, equipment and personnel across the state.

“The work done in the EOC is vital to our agency’s response to wildfires and disasters,” said Al Davis, Texas A&M Forest Service director. “As Texas’ population grows, ongoing investment in preparedness and response strategies will be critical to managing the evolving wildfire threat and other all-hazard incidents.”

The event honored the generous support of Texas A&M University System leadership who helped make the upgrade possible, including Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp.

“Texas has the best disaster response program in the U.S., and, largely, that is due to the hard work of the men and women of Texas A&M Forest Service,” said Sharp during his remarks at the event. “I am certain that this updated facility will help the people of Texas A&M Forest Service serve the state even better.”

New center aids in keeping Texans prepared

The newly outfitted center increases the agency’s capacity and strengthens collaboration with partners during emergencies.

The event also showcased remarks from Jeffrey W. Savell, Ph.D., vice chancellor and dean for Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Brandi Ashby, Texas Division of Emergency Management Region 8 assistant chief. Both are information partners of the EOC.

The EOC provides information on statewide wildfire response and resource tracking reported to the Texas Division of Emergency Management, state and national legislative officials, the Southern and National Interagency Coordination centers and Texas A&M University System leadership.

The EOC also provides geospatial services, manages the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System, TIFMAS, mobilizations, provides technical support for the agency’s computer-aided wildfire incident reporting system, WIRES, and manages the Texas FireConnect web portal for volunteer fire departments.  

Since Jan. 1, the agency has mobilized through the EOC:

• 1,428 personnel and 187 pieces of equipment for wildfire response from land management agencies in 35 states.
• 132 aircraft to respond to wildfire incidents, dropping 1,680,303 gallons of water and retardant on wildfires across the state.
• 2,467 personnel, 483 engines and five high-profile vehicles from the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System.
• 97 Texas A&M All-Hazard Incident Management Team members.

“In partnership with our other Keeping Texas Prepared agencies, Texas A&M Forest Service will continue adapting to ensure that communities are better prepared, minimizing the risk and loss during wildfire incidents,” said Davis.

Keeping Texas Prepared partner agencies include the Texas Division of Emergency Management, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory and Texas A&M Forest Service.

This story originally appeared on the Texas A&M Forest Service website and photos are available on PhotoShelter.