Orem emergency manager outlines EOC, Everbridge alerts and mass-gathering planning

Heath, Orem's emergency manager, briefed the council on how the city organizes emergency response and when elected officials should expect to be asked to provide high-level policy direction.

He outlined a three-part structure: incident command for on-scene tactical decisions, an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to coordinate resources and cross-departmental support, and executive staff plus mayor/council to set 30,000-foot policy and priorities. "If Orem City is able to take care of it with what we have, you're not usually going to declare a disaster," Heath said. "But as soon as your resources are overwhelmed you reach out to county, then state, then federal resources."

Heath described Everbridge, the city's emergency notification system, and asked elected officials to encourage neighborhood signups. He reviewed mass-gathering permit thresholds (1,000 people for two or more hours at non-designated locations) and said the city prepares detailed incident-action plans for Orem's largest events (Oremfest, Lights On, Taste of Orem).

Council members asked about emergency meeting exceptions to the Open Meetings Act and documentation required for FEMA reimbursement; Heath and staff stressed the importance of documenting decisions made during an activation so the city can support reimbursement claims.

Heath highlighted neighborhood preparedness work including an annual city drill and block-captain system and encouraged council members to promote Everbridge enrollment and block-captain participation in their wards.