Emergency Management Menu

EOC Activations

CURRENT STATUS: Level 4 – Monitoring

The state Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) activates to various levels depending on the nature of an incident. Our normal status is what we call Daily Operations. When necessary, we follow ascending levels of activation: Level 5 – Daily Operations, Level 4 – Monitoring, Level 3 – Enhanced Watch, Level 2 – Partial Activation and Level 1 – Full Activation. Those levels are reflected on the front page of the DEM website. 

Click here for the current conditions map

Incidents in 2024 that required activation of the SEOC include:

EOC Activation 2: Panguitch Lake Dam Incident

On April 10, the SEOC was notified of a potential dam failure at Panguitch Lake in Garfield County. Ice was pushing against the top level of the dam, causing it to rotate and create a leak, triggering fears of an imminent failure. Utah state water engineers inspected the dam and devised a plan to reduce the pressure on the top layer of the dam by make long cuts in the ice and opening the lower outlet, and to reinforce the face of the dam. The DEM PIO and the UHP PIO were deployed to Panguitch to support public information needs and manage the media. They assisted with providing media interviews, writing and posting incident updates, pictures, and videos, and planning and conducting a public town hall meeting in which DPS Commissioner Jess Anderson participated, along with other local officials. They also conducted a Joint Information System involving other partner agency PIOs. The DEM LNO section assisted Garfield County and Panguitch City with submission of separate emergency declarations, and providing updates to the SEOC. Other DEM staff were activated to support SEOC functions. Fortunately the plans to reduce the pressure, draw down the water, and reinforce the face prevented a collapse of the wall and failure of the dam.

EOC Activation 1: Texas Border EMAC Support

On February 26, the SEOC was raised from Level 5 to Level 4 in support of the Texas Border Support EMAC mission.

EOC status summary:

  • April 15 – Current date
    Level 4 – Monitoring
  • April 10 – April 15
    Level 3 – Enhanced Watch
  • April 2 – April 10
    Level 5 – Daily Operations
  • February 26 – April 2
    Level 4 – Monitoring
  • January 1 – February 26
    Level 5 – Daily Operations

Incidents in 2023 that required activation of the EOC include:

EOC Activation 4: Annular Eclipse

On October 10, the SEOC was raised from Level 4 to Level 3 in preparation for the anticipated impacts of a large influx of visitors wanting to view the annular eclipse in central and southern Utah. It was downgraded to Level 5 on October 17, three days after the eclipse occurred.

EOC Activation 3: Spring Flooding

On March 13, the SEOC again raised to Level 4 in preparation for potential spring flooding. It was upgraded to Level 3 Enhanced Watch on March 15, in response to isolated flooding incidents as a result of widespread rainstorms, and to be forward leaning as the state entered spring flood season. Then on April 20, DEM upgraded the State EOC to Partial Activation to prepare for increased warming and flood potential and to support the increase of county and city emergency declarations due to flooding. On June 16, 2023, as the threat of flooding from snowmelt diminished, the SEOC was downgraded back to Level 3 Enhanced Watch. On June 30, the SEOC was downgraded further to Level 4 Monitoring for wildfire season and flood recovery activities.

EOC Activation 2: Winter Storm Olive

Two days after the All-Star Game, the EOC returned to Level 4 – Monitoring status again in response to Winter Storm Olive, which forced Transportation and Safety and Security lifelines to yellow status. It again returned to Daily Operations following that storm.

EOC Activation 1: NBA All-Star Game

The State EOC upgraded to Level 4 – Monitoring, in support of Salt Lake City hosting the NBA All-Star Game. It remained at this level for only two days then returned to Daily Operations.

Level 5 Daily Operations: The State started 2023 at Level 5- Daily Operations.

EOC status summary:

  • October 17 – Current date
    Level 5 – Daily Operations
  • October 10 – October 17
    Level 3 – Enhanced Watch
  • June 30 – October 10
    Level 4 – Monitoring
  • June 16 – June 30
    Level 3 – Enhanced Watch
  • April 19 – June 16
    Level 2 – Partial Activation
  • March 15 – April 19
    Level 3 – Enhanced Watch
  • March 13 – March 15
    Level 4 – Monitoring
  • February 24 – March 13
    Level 5 – Daily Operations
  • February 21 – February 24
    Level 4 – Monitoring
  • February 19 – February 21
    Level 5 – Daily Operations
  • February 17 – February 19
    Level 4 – Monitoring
  • January 1 – February 17
    Level 5 – Daily Operations

Incidents in 2022 that required activation of the EOC include:

EOC Activation 2: Drought

The State EOC upgraded to Level 4 – Monitoring due to the Governor’s emergency declaration for drought.

EOC Activation 1: Continuation of COVID 19 Pandemic

The State EOC began the year at Level 3 – Elevated Activation due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response.

EOC status summary:

  • November 9 – December 31
    Level 5 – Daily Operations
  • November 8
    Level 4 – Monitoring
  • October 20 – November 7
    Level 5 – Daily Operations
  • April 27 – October 19
    Level 4 – Monitoring
  • March 31 – April 27
    Level 5 – Daily Operations
  • Jan. 1 – March 31
    Level 3 – Elevated Activation

Incidents in 2021 that required activation of the EOC include:

EOC Activation No. 3: Nationwide Capitol Protests

The State EOC, still at Level 1 – Full Activation due to the pandemic, was staffed in-person for five days leading up to and including the U.S. Presidential inauguration. Intelligence anticipated civil protests to occur at the State Capitol and the Bennett Federal Building beginning Saturday January 16 and running through the inauguration on Wednesday January 20. The expected protests failed to materialize in any large degree. Afterword the EOC remained at full activation for the COVID-19 pandemic.

EOC Activation No. 2: Utah Capitol Protests

While still at Level 1 – Full Activation, a single day full-scale activation for scheduled protests at the Utah State Capitol occurred on January 6, 2021. (The breaching of the U.S. Capitol also happened on this day.) Afterword the EOC remained at full activation for the COVID-19 pandemic.

EOC Activation No. 1: Continuation of COVID 19 Pandemic

The State EOC began the year at Level 1- Full Activation due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response. The EOC was downgraded to Level 2 – Partial Activation on April 1 and then to Level 3 – Elevated Activation on May 17 due to the progress of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

EOC status summary:

  • May 17 – December 31
    Level 3 – Elevated
  • April 1 – May 17
    Level 2 – Partial
  • Jan. 1 – April 1
    Level 1 – Full

Incidents in 2020 that required activation of the EOC include:

EOC Activation No. 3: Windstorm

Level 1 – Full: The State EOC was at full activation on September 8 and 9 for the hurricane-force, downslope windstorm along the northern Wasatch Front.

EOC Activation No. 2: Earthquake

Level 2 – Partial: The state EOC returned to partial activation the day after the earthquake, March 19, for the continued earthquake recovery and the ongoing COVID-19 response under unified command with the Utah Department of Health. Level 1 – Full: Single day full-scale activation, a first in state history, for the magnitude 5.7 earthquake in Magna on March 18, 2020.

EOC Activation No. 1: COVID 19 Pandemic

Level 1 – Full: The State EOC was increased to full activation on March 30 for the rising threat of COVID-19 and remained there for the rest of the year. President Trump declared a major disaster for Utah for COVID-19 response on April 4, 2020. Level 2 – Partial: Increased March 11 for COVID-19 (DEM is coordinating with state and local public health and public safety agencies and supporting various missions.) Feb-March 2020
Level 3 – Enhanced: The EOC level was increased on February 28 due to the rising threat of COVID-19. Level 4 – Monitoring (new scale): In February the EOC initiated a new activation scale but remained at monitoring for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Level 3 – Monitoring (old scale): The State EOC activation level was increased to monitoring in January 2020 for both the Sundance Film Festival and COVID-19 monitoring by Utah Department of Health.

EOC status summary:

  • March 30 – December 31
    Level 1 – Full
  • March 19 – March 29
    Level 2 – Partial
  • March 18
    Level 1 – Full
  • March 11 – March 17
    Level 2 – Partial
  • Feb. 28 – March 10
    Level 3 – Elevated
  • Jan. 23 – Feb. 27
    Level 3 (old) and 4 (new)- Monitoring
  • Jan. 1 – Jan. 22
    Daily Operations

Incidents in 2019 that required activation of the EOC include:

EOC Activation No. 2
With the looming threat of spring flooding, we moved into monitoring mode to stay up to date on threats. March was Flood Safety Awareness Month and we launched a new website to help Utahns get out of the flood myths and plan for disaster recovery. On top of that, we got word March 15 that the Gold King Mine is releasing toxic chemicals into the Animas River again.

We remained activated through fire season and through the EMAC deployment of Utah firefighters to California.

EOC status summary:

  • Dec. 3 – Dec. 31
    Daily operations
  • March 7 – Dec. 3
    Level 3 – Monitoring

EOC Activation No. 1
Drinking water The Four Corners Navajo Nation local chapters are experiencing winter condition issues, which includes drinking water and may affect access to residences and medical and water needs. A request from Navajo Mountain Chapter has come into the Governor’s Office for assistance to residents that do not have running water. They are requesting help with bottled water. Waiting for more clarification on needs.

EOC status summary:

  • Jan. 17 to present
    Daily operations
  • Jan. 10 – Jan. 17
    Level 3 – Monitoring

     

Incidents in 2018 that required activation of the EOC include:

EOC Activation No. 3
Fire season (A number of wildfires have broken out this year. We’ve received the governor’s monthly wildfire declaration for June and stand ready to assist the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands if necessary.West Valley Fire (Washington County, 10 miles North of St. George) – The fire has burned approximately 2,500 acres and is 0% contained. The cause of the fire is unknown.  Approximately 10 homes are threatened. )

Major fires:

The Dollar Ridge Fire in Duchesne County has burned more than 70,000 acres, destroying at least 70 homes and prompting evacuations from Duchesne and Wasatch County. About 20 people stayed in a Red Cross shelter the night of July 2. An independent evacuation center was opened at the LDS church in Fruitland.

The Pole Creek Fire and Bald Mountain Fire, both burning in Utah County burned more than 118,000 acres combined and nearly burned together. Though structures were threatened, no homes burned. Various communities in southern Utah County were in evacuation or pre-evacuation status.

Property owners below those burn scars should prepare for the potential for debris flows that can come after an area has been burned.

EOC status summary:

  • Nov. 1 – Present
    Daily Operations
  • Oct. 5 – Nov. 1
    Level 3 – Monitoring
  • Sept. 15 – Oct. 5
    Level 2 – Partial
  • July 17 – Sept. 15
    Level 3 – Monitoring
  • July 3 – July 17
    Level 2 – Partial
  • June 5, 2018 – July 3
    Level 3 – Monitoring

EOC Activation No. 2 (Newest incident first)
Carbon County water line break (Carbon County is working with Price City and the Price River Water Improvement District to maintain water in their system after a water line break. The break affects unincorporated county residents and the City of Wellington. DEM received an emergency declaration from the county April 17, 2018.)

UPDATE, APRIL 18, 2018

  • New 2nd hydrant installed successfully and is being utilized as of 10pm last night.
  • This morning there are reports of water tanks slowly beginning to see rise at Wellington and 4 Mile
  • Crews have gotten the main break up and out of the ravine and new sterilized pipe is on it’s way to the site to replace old and broken pipe. Goal is to have this pipe installed by this afternoon and working by tomorrow morning. There will be procedures such as flushing and pressurizing of the pipes that will take time.
  • DWQ and Health is also on scene conducting sampling at varies sites including the hydrants where they are using fire trucks to transfer drinking water from one hydrant to the other

EOC actions The Division of Emergency Management hosted a conference call April 17 with state and local officials to learn more about the incident and to start state agency coordination. Regional liaison is staying in touch.

EOC status summary:

  • April 17, 2018 – April 21, 2018
    Level 3 – Monitoring

EOC Activation No. 1
Sundance Film Festival

EOC status summary:

  • Jan. 1-Feb. 2, 2018
    Level 3 – Monitoring
  • Feb. 2, 2018 – present
    Daily Operations

Incidents in 2017 that required activation of the EOC include:

EOC Activation No. 2 (Newest incident first)
Northern Utah Flooding, wildfires, Torrey water emergency, Brian Head Fire, Salt Lake City Severe Storm, Uintah Fire, EMAC/disaster deployments

EMAC requests: Utah deployed various resources to states needing assistance this year. Two Utah National Guard helicopters deployed to Texas for Hurricane Harvey, three state employees went to Florida to assist with human and animal services missions following Hurricane Irma and close to 50 local firefighters went to California to assist with their devastating fire season.

Uintah Fire: Fire started in Uintah, Weber County, in the morning of Sept. 5, 2017, and eventually burned six structures. Various evacuations were in place, including South Weber Elementary, which was evacuated to Clearfield High School, and Uintah Elementary, which evacuated to the Dee Events Center.

FEMA Region 8 approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) Tuesday afternoon to assist with firefighting costs.

Severe Storm: Salt Lake City received two inches of rain in less than an hour on Wednesday, July 26, 2017. The water overwhelmed city infrastructure and damaged three Salt Lake City School District Schools and various homes.

Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski declared a local state of emergency Friday, July 28, 2017, during a press conference at the City and County Building.

See the Salt Lake City declaration here
Salt Lake City 2017 Severe Storm Website

Wildfire Season: The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings for much of Utah and fires have begun cropping up all over Utah. Brian Head Town was evacuated due to wildfire that has destroyed 13 dwellings damaged others.

Brian Head Fire is no longer the largest fire burning in the United States.
Started: June 17, 2017
Size: 71,673 acres (roughly the size of Salt Lake City)
Contained: July 31, 2017
Evacuations at peak: 1,500+
Firefighting personnel at peak: 1,800
Expected containment: July 30, 2017

aerial view of a burned out area with a cabin that appears to have survived the fire

Water Emergency: Wayne County and the town of Torrey declared a local state of emergency (PDF) due to a break in the water line that feeds the water system. Torrey is on a boil order and residents have been asked to reduce their use of water. DEM has secured potable water to be delivered to the town until the system can be repaired. The system has been repaired and filled and is functioning properly as of 6/26/17.

Flooding: The National Weather Service forecast included a potential for rain- or snowmelt-caused flooding, though much of it was expected to be nuisance flooding. Various local emergency declarations are in place and local entities have reported infrastructure damage. Red Cross at Level 3 Disaster Relief Operation. Governor Gary Herbert declared a state of emergency March 31, 2017. Utah received a major disaster declaration from the president on April 21, 2017. Utah DEM and FEMA continue working with local officials to write project worksheets to move disaster recovery forward.

Online resources:

Emergency declarations in order received:

How to help homeowners:

EOC status summary:

  • Feb. 9-22, 2017
    Level 3 – Monitoring
  • Feb. 22-March 9, 2017
    Level 2 – Partial Activation
  • March 9-to Dec. 31, 2017
    Level 3 – Monitoring

Activities: EOC monitoring flood potential and receiving information from the National Weather Service and local emergency managers. DEM will repost NWS social media messages and alerts through division accounts. DEM regional liaisons and PIO to keep in touch with with stakeholders. DEM purchased 11,000 sand bags for Box Elder, helped arrange for National Guard deployment to Box Elder and ordered various pumps for the community. DEM planning for preliminary damage assessments with affected counties.

State govt. agencies supporting:

  • Utah Division of Emergency Management
  • Utah Department of Environmental Quality
  • Utah National Guard
  • Utah Highway Patrol
  • Utah Department of Transportation

Local govt. agencies supporting:

  • Salt Lake County (Mayor’s Office, Emergency Management)
  • Salt Lake City Emergency Management
  • Bear River Health Department (Free bacteria testing)

EOC Activation No. 1
Potential flooding (The National Weather Service forecast included a potential for rain- or snowmelt-caused flooding on Sunday and Monday, Jan. 8-9. Temperatures will reach 40 degrees. Areas of concern: Little Bear River, the confluence of the Bear River, Weber Valley rivers,  and areas below 5500 feet in Weber, Cache and Box Elder counties. These areas will likely see 1 inch of rain in a 12-hour period.)
Jan. 5-13, 2017
Level 3 – Monitoring
Activities: EOC monitored flood potential and received information from the National Weather Service. We received a few reports of localized flooding, though damage to homes was sparse. Home flooding was contained to some basements. DEM reposted NWS social media messages and alerts through division accounts. DEM regional liaisons and PIO kept in touch with with stakeholders.

Incidents in 2016 that required activation of the EOC include:

EOC Activation No. 4
Election Day
Nov. 8, 2016
Level 3 – Monitoring
Activities: EOC was available for media monitoring related to election news throughout the day until poll closing or election results are announced.

EOC Activation No. 3
Fire season (Various wildland fires, Utah Lake and Scofield Reservoir algae blooms, flooding in eastern Utah, tornadoes in Weber and Garfield counties)
June 2-Oct. 6, 2016
Level 3 – Monitoring
Activities: Throughout the season, Gov. Herbert issues a monthly executive order declaring that a state of emergency exists statewide to facilitate actions contained in the State Emergency Operations Plan. During the algae blooms, we held daily coordination calls as needed and worked with various members of the State Emergency Response Team. We coordinated with local responders and helped get sandbagging supplies to affected communities.

EOC Activation No. 2
Wind incident (High wind watch. National Weather Service was forecasting 70 mph+ gusts for Davis County through May 1, 2016, at 6 p.m. Power outages reported in Davis and Weber counties, many trees and branches down.)
Apr. 29-May 2, 2016
Level 3 – Monitoring
Activities: Municipalities, the NWS and DEM were active on social media with warning and safety messages.
5.2.2016 Situation Report
5.1.2016 Situation Report

EOC Activation No. 1
Wind incident (power outages, communication outage in Tooele County, downed scaffolding in Salt Lake, highway closure to high-profile vehicles)
Feb. 18-19, 2016
Level 3 – Monitoring

Incidents in 2015 that required activation of the EOC include:

Winter storm
Dec. 12-15, 2015
Level 3 – Monitoring

Winter storm
Nov. 9-12, 2015
Level 3 – Monitoring

Hildale Flooding (Thirteen people were killed in Hildale, seven in Zion National Park and one outside of Hurricane in the deadliest flash flooding incident in Utah’s history.)
Sept. 14-28, 2015
Level 2 – Partial
Sept 28-Oct. 8
Level 3 – Monitoring
Activities: DEM staff deployed to Hildale to support public information, planning, interagency coordination and damage assessments.

Gold King Mine spill (Around 3 million gallons of toxic mine waste spilled into the Animas River in Colorado, which eventually flows through New Mexico and into Utah, where it is called the San Juan River.)
Aug. 9-Oct. 8, 2015
Level 3 – Monitoring
Activities: Multistate coordination calls, joint press releases from State agencies and emergency water quality monitoring. That has since transitioned to long-term monitoring by DEQ.)