Emergency Management

Vision

To be the model center for aviation integrated communications, emergency response, resolution, and recovery processes.

Mission

To be the instrument that facilitates effective communication throughout all divisions of the world’s busiest airport that will ensure optimal operational efficiencies, timely notifications, and by-the-minute situational awareness.

Bureau of Emergency Management

The Bureau of Emergency Management (EM) is the epicenter for the coordination of emergency, operational, and informational processes across the Department of Aviation (DOA). The primary responsibilities of EM include establishing emergency preparedness, managing incidents and events, and maintaining situational awareness at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).​ As a leader in modern airport incident management, EM is comprised of the Airport Operations Center (AOC), Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Mobile Command Vehicle (MCV), Fire Training Center (FTC), and Airport Duty Operations Chiefs (ADOCs).

The Airport Operations Center (AOC) is the communications hub for incidents, activities, and situational awareness across the Airport. The AOC provides services for internal and external Airport stakeholders as well as the general public. The AOC is the nerve center and facilitates the flow of routine and high-stressed processes that ensure the highest level of efficiency for ATL operations.

The AOC is certified by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) and all AOC team members are certified by the State of Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council. All AOC staff receive over 16 weeks of rigorous initial training and a minimum of 80 hours of refresher training each year. This level of training ensures that the AOC staff maintain current and efficient processes in all job functions. The AOC has a Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement program that is implemented to ensure high and efficient performance processes and quality services. The program also recognizes high-performance staff members.

 

The AOC supports other jurisdictions by coordinating law enforcement, fire, and EMS response efforts with City of Atlanta E-911, Grady EMS, Forest Park, Fulton County, Clayton County, and College Park.

Services provided by the AOC include:

  • 911 Emergency and Non-Emergency Call Processing
  • Dispatching First Responders (Police, Fire, EMS, Security, and Operations)
  • Customer Service Assistance for Passengers and Employees
  • Incident Notification and Documentation
  • Monitoring of Life Safety Systems Inclusive of the Fire Alarm System, Security Access Control Systems, CCTV Systems, and Alert Warning Systems
  • Open Records Requests

The AOC uses state-of-the-art systems for services that include:

  • Everbridge Notification System
  • AT&T Viper E911 System
  • Motorola PremierOne Computer-Aided Dispatch System (CAD)
  • Lenel Security Access Control System-Activated Door Alarms
  • Bosch Video Monitoring System (BVMS) CCTV Monitoring
  • RapidSOS Portal-Cellular Phone Call Tracking

The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is the coordination center for managing incidents that impact Airport operations. During incidents and events, the EOC manages response and recovery efforts by creating objectives, collaborating with policy groups and stakeholders, and ensuring logistical needs are met.

 

On a day-to-day basis, the EOC staff engages in information management and intelligence sharing by developing situation reports, weather monitoring and reporting, operational summary reports, and incident action plans. The EOC staff develops and maintains Airport situational awareness by actively monitoring Airport, aviation, and weather systems. The EOC staff develops plans for incidents that could impact Airport operations including aircraft bomb threats, active shooters incidents, public health emergencies, severe weather, and power outages. Staff also participate in events including the 5K on the 5th Runway, the Super Bowl, Final Four, protests, and presidential visits. Exercise planning and development is spearheaded by the EOC staff for exercises such as Big Bird, Big Bird on Ice, evacuation exercises, active shooter exercises, and other regulatory required training and exercises.

 

The EOC staff ensures that Airport employees and stakeholders are prepared to respond to emergency situations by offering training in incident response and recovery. Training courses are offered that lead to certifications through FEMA and becoming certified as a Georgia Certified Emergency Manager.

ATL’s Mobile Command Vehicle (MCV) is a state-of-the-art, FEMA Type I Mobile Command Post acquired to support the management of events and incidents at the Airport.  The MCV provides a stable platform for on-scene incident command with technology to facilitate fast response and recovery.

The MCV has been instrumental in the response to incidents and events across the Airport, such as protests, fires, presidential visits, and exercises.

The MCV is configured to allow dual operations of on-scene management and mobile EOC operations.  The front section of the MCV is configured to allow incident responders to have the tools and technology required in an on-scene environment. The rear section of the EOC is configured for incident managers to have planning and meeting space for on-scene incident management.  During incidents and events, the MCV can assist responders with situational awareness and active monitoring through the use of external cameras, satellite TV, and web-based information sources. The MCV provides operational and communications support through the availability of an on-board network, laptops, radio cache, and a satellite phone. A Radio Interoperability System (RIOS) is available on the MCV to provide additional interoperability capabilities by allowing operators to patch two systems together. In addition, the MCV serves as a backup location for the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and Airport Operations Center (AOC).

The MCV is operated and maintained by the Emergency Management team.  All operators are trained to fully deploy the MCV the systems and services of the MCV when need to respond at the Airport.

The ATL Fire Training Center’s (FTC) mission is to provide a training environment where firefighters assigned to the Airport can practice and train to meet requirements outlined in Federal Aviation Regulation Part 139 for airport firefighter training and certification. The FTC’s secondary mission is to provide training opportunities to agencies requiring the program’s services and build relationships within the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) community.​​

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandates that all firefighters at an Index E-certified airport meet specific live-fire training requirements and that these requirements be repeated on an annual basis. The Department of Aviation created the FTC so that airport firefighters could conduct this live-fire training at an on-site location. The FTC allows firefighters to fight actual jet fuel fires, such as the ones they would encounter in an aircraft disaster.

The ATL FTC also hosts external guests from agencies worldwide for live-fire training, which has improved mutual aid relationships and the sharing of best practices. The FTC is also becoming a source for non-aeronautical revenue and a self-sustaining facility.

As the 24/7 operations executives on duty for the Airport, the Airport Duty Operations Chiefs (ADOCs) provide services for internal and external Airport stakeholders. In the absence of the Airport General Manager and Deputy General Manager for Operations, the ADOCs use sound judgement and reasoning to evaluate situations and their authority to make crucial decisions for Airport response.

On a day-to-day basis, the ADOCs provide situational awareness 24-hours a day by sending situational reports, and monitoring Airport operations. The ADOCs monitor planned activities and high operational impact areas such as checkpoints, terminal buildings, and roadways. The ADOCs also look for maintenance issues, safety and security issues, and inefficient processes, and work with the responsible unit to develop suggestions or fixes to the issue.

The ADOCs monitor operational efficiency across the Airport. They assist in the development and implementation of plans and processes that address gaps in operations. The ADOCs also meet with business units to discuss observations and potential areas to increase efficiency.

During incidents and events, the ADOCs fill roles in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). In the EOC, ADOCs may serve as the Event Manager. They also ensure that appropriate response plans are used throughout the incident. The ADOCs may also respond to major events to provide situational awareness to the EOC and Airport executives.

Tours are offered to groups of 10 to 25 individuals Tuesdays through Thursdays. Each tour will begin with an introductory briefing and can include viewing of the AOC, EOC and MCV. A full tour lasts approximately 45 minutes.

 

Tour requests must be submitted via email. Once your request has been received, it will be evaluated within 48 hours and you will receive a confirmation or request for additional information.

 

Please include the following information in your request:

  • Contact name
  • Organization/group name
  • Contact number
  • Requested tour (AOC, EOC, MCV, or full)
  • Number of persons in group

 

Requests should be sent to:

Monique Blakley

Airport Manager, C4 Division

Monique.Blackley@atl.com

 

Quynh-Vu Dinh

Emergency Management Program Manager

Quynh-vu.Dinh@atl.com

To make a request to receive Everbridge notifications, please send an email to eoc@atl.com and include the following:

  • Name
  • Agency/organization name
  • Your role/title
  • Supervisor’s name
  • Email address

Contact Us

C4 main office

(404) 530-6800

Emergencies

911 – If you do not reach the Airport, request transfer to the Airport 911 Center
(404) 530-6666