NYC OEM

[FDNY704]

I was wondering if anyone had any information on NYC OEM? I was wondering who the guys you see from OEM that respond to Fires and other emergencies? What job title is that for OEM?

 

[manlt]

OEM has a mix of details from various agencies including FDNY (as well as own employees). Who responds to an incident is who working and assigned response duties most of the times. They are there as a resource more than command or tactical reasons. They have good contact lists of various city and private agencies.

 

[MagicMan17]

OEM has a mix of details from various agencies including FDNY (as well as own employees). Who responds to an incident is who working and assigned response duties most of the times. They are there as a resource more than command or tactical reasons. They have good contact lists of various city and private agencies.

Pretty much hit the nail on the head. To elaborate further, NYC OEM does a lot for the city, but specifically the response unit who handles the emergencies and incidents throughout the city can be broken down into two units that work together. The watch commanders work in a room that looks like NASA flight control but instead of monitoring a rocket, they’re monitoring emergencies throughout the city. They act as logistics and intelligence for OEM and partnering agencies such as DOB, FDNY, DEP, NYPD, and anyone in between. They also dispatch the CICs (citywide incident coordinator) who respond to large scale or high profile incidents such as multiple alarms, incidents where residents have to evacuate, 10-60s, etc (basically emergencies with the potential to have multiple agencies working together). On scene they can streamline the process of linking or dispatching other city agencies or resources that will be required at the incident. They also send back notes to watch command who will disperse those notes to other city agencies to keep them in the loop. Both these units are mostly comprised of details from other city agencies - mostly FDNY and NYPD but no specific job title, so everyone brings something unique to the table.

 

[RCL]

Pretty much hit the nail on the head. To elaborate further, NYC OEM does a lot for the city, but specifically the response unit who handles the emergencies and incidents throughout the city can be broken down into two units that work together. The watch commanders work in a room that looks like NASA flight control but instead of monitoring a rocket, they’re monitoring emergencies throughout the city. They act as logistics and intelligence for OEM and partnering agencies such as DOB, FDNY, DEP, NYPD, and anyone in between. They also dispatch the CICs (citywide incident coordinator) who respond to large scale or high profile incidents such as multiple alarms, incidents where residents have to evacuate, 10-60s, etc (basically emergencies with the potential to have multiple agencies working together). On scene they can streamline the process of linking or dispatching other city agencies or resources that will be required at the incident. They also send back notes to watch command who will disperse those notes to other city agencies to keep them in the loop. Both these units are mostly comprised of details from other city agencies - mostly FDNY and NYPD but no specific job title, so everyone brings something unique to the table.

You can also add in that OEM liasons between the State and Federal agencies that may be called upon for certain things like natural disasters, such as floods, hurricanes etc. or certain high profile events, like when the UN is in town.

 

[68jk09]

In many circumstances OEM has the power & connections to rapidly expedite critical things & get resources moving.

 

[Captain784]

The OEM dos some great work in NYC. My understanding is that OEM was greatly expanded after the 9/11/01 World Trade Center Attack. One of the many of the problems on 9/11, was communication problems between all the responding agencies, FDNY, NYPD, F.B.I., N.Y. State Police, and many others. The Citywide Incident Coordinator is a long overdue concept, but he/she still needs knowledgeable people of different training and experience, to provide incite into all the problems and keep the "Span of Control." manageable. Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired.