About the EOC

The Central Okanagan Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) is activated during a major emergency, at the request of the incident commander and exists to support efforts at the site of the emergency (e.g. forest fire, flood, airplane crash or other catastrophes).

The EOC can be activated for one of three reasons:

  • To support responders when an event has exceeded, or has the potential to exceed, the capacity of first responders
  • At the request of first responders to provide logistical or situational awareness support
  • To take on roles such as public information or requests for assistance to allow responders to focus on the event

The role of the EOC

The Central Okanagan Emergency Operation Centre supports emergencies in the:

The EOC is the primary source for the delivery of official information to the public and the media. When the EOC is activated, updates will be posted as they become available.

The EOC is the physical location where representatives come together during an emergency to coordinate response and recovery actions and resources, acting in a support role to emergency response personnel in the field. It is the operations center where coordination and management decisions are facilitated, and where all official communications regarding the emergency will originate.

Regional Emergency Plan

The EOC and the region’s Emergency Plan is coordinated by the City of Kelowna Fire Department and the EOC is staffed during emergencies with trained personnel from Lake Country, Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland, Westbank First Nation and Regional District of Central Okanagan.

Officials from each local government, including the Regional District, RCMP, fire departments, BC Ambulance, Interior Health, School District 23, public works, transportation, communications and Emergency Support Services (ESS) volunteers meet and practice the plan regularly. The Plan also provides guidelines for recovery operations after any emergency or disaster ends.

Get involved

If you'd like to become a volunteer for Emergency Support Services (ESS), email eeoc.ess2@kelowna.ca.

If you are an Amateur Radio Operator and would like to volunteer with the Emergency Operation Centre Amateur Radio Communications Services, please contact Coordinator Norm Barton at 250-768-2572 or 250-861-0635 or email ve7bzc-norm@shaw.ca.