05/06/1998 76197

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WATCH OFFICER

DEFINITION: This is specialized communications work involving statewide responsibility for the receipt, analysis, and coordination of emergency warning and operational response, recovery, and support information within the centralized Emergency Operations Center of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

Employees in this class coordinate time-critical emergency incident and/or disaster information with various government entities and Commonwealth emergency organizations to provide early warning, response, and recovery information and guidance. A significant aspect of this work involves coordinating with agency senior management, as well as senior staff from the Governor's and Lieutenant Governor's Office and Cabinet members, to communicate emergency and/or disaster information. Employees in this class gather, display, and communicate information in support of emergency incidents or disasters within the Commonwealth. Such work includes obtaining, analyzing, prioritizing, recording and displaying incoming data; maintaining various event logs; communicating relevant information to applicable individuals and organizations including other federal, state, county and municipal agencies; preparing exercise scenarios to test emergency response; and participating in the development of standard operating procedures. Employees in this class operate a variety of telecommunications and electronic equipment to include telephones, electronic communications, radio, satellite, law enforcement and other specialized networks, computer consoles and various early warning weather alert systems. Work is characterized by shifting between all equipment media and insuring seamless communications between work shifts. Work is performed independently within established rules and procedures under the general direction of the supervisor who reviews work in progress through reports and periodic conferences.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Alerts all applicable state officials and agencies, counties, federal agencies, and contiguous states in the event of emergency warnings to include terrorist acts involving weapons of mass destruction, severe weather, hazardous material spills, nuclear power plant incidents, and terrorist incidents. Maintains vital communication links between entities to limit the impact of natural or manmade incidents or disasters.

Monitors communication equipment simultaneously to gather, analyze and prioritize critical emergency information.

Prepares and maintains a chronological log of all events and incidents that occur during an operational shift.

Performs response and/or recovery operations in accordance with standard operating procedures for any state agency, county, or municipality during emergency incidents or disaster activities.

Conducts briefings to provide critical decision-making information to supervisory personnel, agency senior management, and/or the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and other officials as needed during emergencies and/or scheduled demonstrations.

Participates in mock emergency exercises aimed at testing operational plans, procedures, and policies.

Performs periodic testing of equipment and communications to verify functionality and report any discrepancies or malfunctions.

Prepares and/or maintains various Emergency Operations Center documentation to include correspondence; emergency exercise information, such as scenarios, readiness, and chronology of events; standard operating procedures; equipment and emergency management checklists; emergency operation situation reports; and briefing reports and memoranda.

Provides training to newly hired staff on emergency management operations, and operating and agency policies and procedures.

Participates in Emergency Operations Center related research projects or studies.

Promotes the establishment and effective operation of emergency management activities within county and local governments, civic organizations, and the private sector.

Performs related duties as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of basic personal computing methodologies and techniques.

Knowledge of the overall structure and operation of state and local government.

Knowledge of the emergency management policies and programs of federal, state, and local governments.

Ability to learn personal computer skills and the utilization of various computer software packages.

Ability to react quickly and calmly in emergency situations and to function for extended periods of time on any shift under stressful conditions.

Ability to communicate orally in a calm, concise, understandable manner particularly during potential emergency situations.

Ability to record, prioritize and condense all relevant events that occur within the shift and to pass information to relieving Emergency Operations Center personnel to effect seamless communications between shifts.

Ability to read, understand, recall, interpret, and communicate all types of information including data that may be presented in a legal or technical style.

Ability to learn to operate and monitor telecommunications equipment such as telephone, radio and satellite.

Ability to prioritize incoming information and take appropriate actions.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with emergency response staff in the department, other state agencies, andmunicipalities.

Ability to learn and understand agency and Emergency Operations Center policies, procedures, and practices.

Ability to perform work independently.

Ability to proofread various types of information for conformance to a prescribed pattern or format.

Ability to collect and organize material for reports by determining informational sources, and the appropriateness of information and form of presentation.

Ability to learn geographic and weather details displayed via various types of communications/data equipment.

Ability to carry out written and/or verbal instructions.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Three years of emergency coordination experience within the operation of a large municipal, county, statewide or national emergency center; and an associate degree in emergency management or other closely related field;

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Any equivalent combination of experience and training.