Public Information
STATE HEALTH OPERATIONS CENTER (SHOC)

What is the STATE			The State Health Operations Center (SHOC) provides 	
HEALTH OPERATIONS			command and control for all public health and medical 
CENTER (SHOC)?				response and recovery functions, Emergency Support 	
					Function (ESF) 8, in a statewide or local emergency or 	
					disaster.  The SHOC oversees and coordinates health 	
					and medical response operations including the operation	
					of Neighborhood Emergency Help Centers (NEHCs), Acute 
					Care Centers (ACCs), Medical Needs Shelters (MNSs), and 
					hospital coordination.  

Organizational Structure:		The organization and structure of the SHOC follows the
					Incident Command System (ICS) and is National Incident 	
					Management System (NIMS) compliant.  The State Health 	
					Officer (SHO) serves as the Incident Commander (IC) for 	
					whom the members of the Command staff work to provide 	
					legal and policy support as well as maintain communications 
					with the media and the public.  

					Four Section Chiefs report to the IC during a SHOC:
					The Finance & Administration Section handles human 	
					resources, procurement, and other administrative services.
					The Planning Section gathers and analyzes information and 
					helps to formulate the Incident Action Plan (IAP). 
					The Operations Section implements the IAP and manages 
					the SHOC’s tactical response to the event.  
					The Logistics Section maintains all supply, transportation, 
					communications, and other such support to SHOC operations.

SHOC Levels:				SHOC can be activated at one of three levels, depending on 
					the type and complexity of the event. The DPH Director or their 
					designee determines the level of SHOC activation. 

					SHOC Level 1 activation indicates heightened assessment, 
					and is used for events such as a mass public gathering 	
					requiring the deployment of DPH resources or the presentation 
					of a suspicious substance associated with a credible threat.  
		
					SHOC Level 2 activation is the result of a localized event with 
					a potential statewide impact, such as a severe weather 	
					warning, or a confirmed regional or Delaware case of a 	
					disease with potentially urgent public health implications and/or 
					widespread impact.

					SHOC Level 3 is activated during a statewide emergency, 	
					such as a pandemic disease or illness or a credible threat of or 
					an actual terrorist attack in the state or region.



24/7 Emergency Contact Number:  1-888-295-5156
Revised: 11/2009   Doc. # 35-05-20/09/11/25