What is the EMBC Flow?
DigitalEOC.com has come up with something we like to call the “EMBC Flow”. Emergency Management BC (EMBC) provides emergency operations centre (EOC) support when activating for pandemic planning or natural disaster response. The EMBC Flow is our way of organizing the basic EOC activation and explaining the main activities in what we think is a fairly simple way.
The EMBC Flow has 9 steps. We have produced a series of short “how to” videos to explain each step. We start with this introductory video identifying the EMBC Flow including the EMBC Financial Guide and various EMBC EOC forms such as the Expense Authorization Form (EAF), EOC Situation Report, and EOC Action Plan.
Each of the 9 steps in the EMBC Flow help you to understand the steps to how to get cost reimbursement from EMBC for your eligible EOC and response activities.
Step 1
When an emergency incident first happens, critical life saving decisions need to be made. You need the best information available. Supporting agencies also need that information so they can plan how they're going to help your EOC operations. This video explains what some of the most critical information to gather in the earliest stages of an emergency event or incident might be.
Step 2
One of the first things that your emergency plan will tell you to do is to call EMBC and get a task number. This video explains what an EMBC task number is, how do you get an EMBC task number, and what it is used for.
Step 3
If you have never activated your EOC before, or it's been a while since the last activation, you may find that your emergency plan probably explains what an EOC activation is, but not how to do it. This video explains how to activate your EOC, and provides access to a free checklist with steps that are easy to understand.
Step 4
Things can be pretty hectic in the early stages of an EOC activation. People are scrambling to figure out what needs to be done. There is a really simple way to set your EOC goals, and then use that information to build your EOC organization. This video explains a system called Management by Objectives (MBO) and how to use it to build your EOC organization.
Step 5
EMBC can support your EOC activities a number of ways, including through reimbursement of eligible costs. They use the EMBC EAF to pre-approve eligible costs. This video explains what an EMBC Expense Authorization Form is, what it is used for, and provides a step by step detail on how to fill one in.
Step 6
The EMBC Resource Request Form is used when you are unable to source goods or services locally. It is a request to EMBC to have them find what you need. This video explains what an EMBC Resource Request form is, what it is used for, and provides a step by step detail on how to fill one in.
Step 7
EOC Action Plans are what guide the internal activities for your operational periods during your EOC activation. The Action Plan is build using information from other EOC activities. This video explains what the EOC Action Plan is, how it is used, and how to build one in step by step detail.
Step 8
EOC Situation Reports are necessary to keep other agencies informed of what is happening in your EOC. Other agencies and government ministries use the SitRep to plan their support for your EOC. This video explains what an EOC Situation Report is, how it is used, and how to fill one in.
Step 9
EMBC will reimburse eligible response and EOC activation costs. They require you to pay first, and then submit proof of payment. This video explains how to submit the EMBC Cost Reimbursement in step by step detail, with examples of supporting documentation.