Session 5 1

National Incident Management Systems

Session 5 Slide Deck

Session 5 2

Session Objectives

1. Define the Incident Command System (ICS), Justify its Need, and Describe the History of ICS

2. Explain the Basic Features that Exist in the Incident Command System

3. Understand the Functions and Roles of Command ICS Staff

4. Understand the Functions and Roles of General ICS Staff

5. Explain the Six Basic ICS Facility Types

Session 5 3

ICS Purpose

• The main purpose of ICS is to allow for the establishment of a set of planning and management systems that help the various agencies that respond to disasters to work together in a coordinated and systematic approach.

• The step-by-step process is ultimately what enables the numerous responding agencies to most effectively combine and utilize their resources and personnel to respond to those in need.

Session 5 4

ICS Incident Types

• Single jurisdiction and/or single agency

• Single jurisdiction with multiple agency support

• Multi-jurisdictional and/or multi-agency support.

Session 5 5

What ICS Addresses

• A lack of accountability

• Poor communication

• A lack of a planning process

• Overloaded incident commanders

• No method to integrate interagency requirements

Session 5 6

ICS History

• 1970 Wildfires in California– 700 structures destroyed, .5 million acres burned– Problems with communication and coordination

hampered their effectiveness

• Congressional mandate to improve wildfire fighting in CA resulted in FIRESCOPE ICS

• FIRESCOPE led to ICS and MACS

Session 5 7

ICS History Continued

• FIRESCOPE board and NWCG recommended ICS be applied nationwide

• FIRESCOPE and NIIMS blended to create ICS

• 9/11 Commission identified ICS as the answer to coordination problems

• NIMS developed, ICS incorporated

Session 5 8

Alternate ICS Forms

• FIRESCOPE ICS

• Fire Ground Command System (Phoenix)

• NFPA 1561– Standard on Emergency Services Incident

Management

• Incident Management Systems Consortium

Session 5 9

NIMS Benefits

• ICS is designed to be interdisciplinary and organizationally flexible.

• ICS meets the needs of incidents of any kind or size, and allows personnel from a variety of agencies to meld rapidly into a common management structure.

• ICS provides logistical and administrative support to operational staff.

• ICS is cost effective by avoiding duplication of efforts.

Session 5 10

6 Primary ICS Features

• Standardization

• Command

• Planning / Organizational Structure

• Facilities and Resources

• Communications / Information Management

• Professionalism

Session 5 11

Standardization

• There still exist many differences in the way commands are issued, equipment is requested, and radio communications are transmitted

• Common terminology better defines:– Organizational Functions– Incident Facilities– Resource Descriptions– Position Titles

• Example: EMT• “Plain English” preferred

Session 5 12

Command

• Establishment and Transfer of Command

• Chain of Command / Unity of Command

• Unified Command

Session 5 13

Planning and Organizational Structure

• Management by Objectives

• Incident Action Plan (IAP)

• Modular ICS Organization

• Manageable Span of Control

Session 5 14

Facilities and Resources• Processes for:

– Categorizing resources– Ordering resources– Dispatching resources– Tracking resources– Recovering resources

• Resources are defined as:– Personnel– Teams– Equipment– Supplies– Facilities

Session 5 15

Communications and Information Management

• Integrated Communications– Modes– Planning– Networks

• Management of Information and Intelligence

Session 5 16

Professionalism

• Accountability– Check-in– IAP– Unity of Command– Span of Control– Resource Tracking

• Dispatch / Deployment

Session 5 17

Command ICS Staff

• Incident Commander• Deputy Incident Commander• Public Information Officer (PIO)• Liaison Officer• Safety Officer

• Under ICS, not all command staff positions filled in every incident

Session 5 18

Incident Commander

• Assessing the need for staff • Establishing incident objectives• Directing staff to develop an IAP• Ensuring incident safety• Providing information services to internal

and external stakeholders• Establishing and maintaining liaison with

other agencies participating in the incident

Session 5 19

Deputy Incident Commander

• Performs specific tasks as requested by the Incident Commander

• Performs the incident command function in a relief capacity

• Represents an assisting agency that shares jurisdiction

• Must be fully qualified to assume the Incident Commander’s position

Session 5 20

Command Changes

• Could occur when:– The incident scale has expanded or contracted

– There has been a change in jurisdiction or discipline

– The incident has become more or less complex

• Requires– Transfer of command briefing

– Notification

Session 5 21

Public Information Officer

• Advises the Incident Commander on information dissemination and media relations

• Obtains information from and provides information to the Planning Section

• Obtains information from and provides information to the community and media

Session 5 22

Safety Officer

• Advises the Incident Commander on issues regarding incident safety

• Works with the Operations Section to ensure the safety of field personnel

• Ensures safety of all incident personnel

Session 5 23

Liaison Officer

• Assisting the Incident Commander by serving as a point of contact for agency representatives who are helping to support the operation

• Providing briefings to and answers questions from supporting agencies

Session 5 24

General ICS Staff

• Operations Section Chief and Staff

• Planning Section Chief and Staff

• Logistics Section Chief and Staff

• Finance / Administration Section Chief and Staff

Session 5 25

Operations Section

• Responsible for directing and coordinating all incident tactical operations

• Where the ‘tactical fieldwork’ is done• Operations Section Chief responsible for developing

and implementing strategy and tactics to carry out the incident objectives– They organize, assign, and supervise all of the tactical

field resources assigned to an incident, including air operations and those resources in a Staging Area

– They also very closely coordinate activities with the other members of the Command and General Staff

Session 5 26

Operations Supervisory Levels

• Divisions

• Groups

• Branches

Session 5 27

Operations Structures of Assets

• Operations Task Forces

• Operations Strike Teams

• Operations Single Resources

Session 5 28

Planning Section

• Maintains resource status• Maintains and displays situation status• Prepares the Incident Action Plan• Develops alternative strategies• Provides documentation services• Prepares the Demobilization Plan• Provides a primary location for Technical

Specialists assigned to an incident

Session 5 29

Planning Section Units

• Resources Unit

• Situation Unit

• Documentation Unit

• Demobilization Unit

Session 5 30

Logistics Section

• Responsible for:– Communications– Medical support to incident personnel– Food for incident personnel– Supplies– Facilities– Ground support

Session 5 31

Logistics Branches / Units

• Service Branch– Communications Unit– Medical Unit– Food Unit

• Support Branch– Supply Unit– Facilities Unit– Ground Support Unit

Session 5 32

Finance / Administration Section

• Responsible for:– Contract negotiation and monitoring

– Timekeeping

– Cost analysis

– Compensation for injury or damage to property

• Units– Time Unit

– Procurement Unit

– Compensation / Claims Unit

Session 5 33

ICS Basic Facility Types

• Incident Command Post

• Staging Area

• Base

• Camp

• Helibase

• Helispot

Session 5 34

Incident Command Post (ICP)

• The location from which the Incident Commander oversees all incident operations

• IC may need to change the location of the ICP during the event as needs or situations change

• Does not need to be located within a building• Should be positioned outside of the present and

potential hazard zone but close enough to the incident to maintain command

• Every incident must have some form of an Incident Command Post under ICS

Session 5 35

Staging Area• Temporary locations at an incident where

personnel and equipment are kept while waiting for tactical assignments

• May be more than one Staging Area at an incident• Should be located close enough to the incident for

a timely response, but far enough away to be out of the immediate impact zone

• May be collocated with other incident facilities• Staging Area resources are always considered

“available”

Session 5 36

Base

• The location from which primary logistics and administrative functions are coordinated and administered

• Only one Base per incident - designated by the incident name

• Established and managed by the Logistics Section• May be collocated with the ICP• Resources maintained at the Base are always

considered “out of service”

Session 5 37

Camp• Temporary locations within the general incident

area that are equipped and staffed to provide food, water, sleeping areas, and sanitary services

• Are where resources may be kept to support incident operations if a Base is not accessible to all resources

• Multiple Camps may be used in a single incident, but not all incidents will have Camps

• Camps are designated by geographic location or number

• A hotel or feeding area can be a camp

Session 5 38

Helibase

• The location from which helicopter-centered air operations are conducted

• Are generally used on a more long-term basis and include such services as fueling and maintenance

Session 5 39

Helispot

• More temporary locations at the incident, where helicopters can safely land and take off

• Multiple Helispots may be used in a single incident

Session 5 40

Incident Facilities Map

Source: FEMA. 2008. ICS-100.A: Introduction to ICS. Student Guide Version 2.0. April. http://training.fema.gov/EMIweb/IS/IS100A/ICS100_SG.pdf