The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) was established in the year 1982 to make plans and conduct operations to deal with all types of disasters in Guyana. By 1985 a comprehensive National Disaster Preparedness Plan was documented and put into use.

At the time of its establishment the Commission operated under the authority of the Office of the Prime Minister. Responsibility for the CDC was subsequently moved to the Office of the President in 1992.

In September 2001 Standard Operation Procedures for the National Emergency Operations Centre were upgraded to meet new challenges of the worsening domestic and international disaster situation.