Monitoring Level: This is the normal day-to-day operational "monitoring" level. The Warning Center constantly monitors potential threats. Emergency Support Functions are kept informed. Emergency Operations Plans are regularly reviewed and revised. Public education programs are presented. Training is conducted. Volunteers are recruited. A variety of task forces coordinate mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery planning.

Partial Activation: A limited activation of EMA personnel, volunteers and Emergency Support Function representatives. Normally, the EOC is activated to this level for severe weather watches and warnings as well as other limited emergency operations involving multiple agencies and/or jurisdictions.

Full Scale Activation: In a full scale activation, all primary and Emergency Support Function agencies with an Emergency Operations Center function are notified. The EOC is fully staffed and State EMA personnel typically respond at this point if a disaster declaration has been issued..

Advanced Activation: Once a major incident has occurred and the response to it has outstripped the capabilities of local and state governments, the governor will request a Presidential Disaster Declaration. This will result in the deployment of Federal Resources. A terrorist attack would also trigger a rapid response of Federal Law Enforcement and FEMA assets.