During a recent Board of Regents meeting hosted by Houston Public Media, the group got a tour of the University of Houston’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
Ginger Walker, Director of Emergency Management, led the tour and shared that the EOC serves as the central hub for coordination, communication, and planning in support of multi-hazard incidents and major special events on the University of Houston campus. These incidents may include hurricanes, flooding, winter weather, infrastructure disruptions, and other emerging situations.
During the visit, the Regents had the opportunity to see the EOC in action. The Center was actively supporting operations for both the Board of Regents Meeting and a concurrent special event — the Pasadena ISD graduations held at the Fertitta Center.
The Emergency Operations Center maintains a wide range of capabilities, including:
- 24/7 weather monitoring through multiple trusted partners
- Virtual Patrol Room operations
- Incident Management System coordination
- A video wall that supports situational awareness and operational oversight
- Real-time communication with city, county, state agencies, and UHS campuses
- Video conferencing capabilitiesIntegration with the State of Texas Incident Management System
- Access to local and national news feeds
- A fully functional UHPD dispatcher console
- UH Alert emergency communication system