Incident Command System
Definitions
• Incident– An occurrence that requires action by
emergency service personnel
• Incident Command System (ICS)– A standardized, on-scene, all-hazard
incident management concept
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ICS Organization
• Five Major Management Functions
Operations Section
Planning Section
IncidentCommand
LogisticsSection
Finance/Administration
Section
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Span of Control
• Refers to the number of individuals or resources that one person can effectively manage
• Effective span of control ranges from 3 to 7 reporting elements per supervisor
• If the number of reporting elements is not within this range, expansion or consolidation of the ICS organization may be needed
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ICS Position TitlesOrganizational Level
TitleSupport Position
Incident Command
Incident Commander
Deputy
Command Staff Officer Assistant
Section (General Staff)
Chief Deputy
Branch Director Deputy
Division/Group Supervisor N/A
Strike Team/Task Force
Leader N/A
Unit Leader Manager
Single ResourceUse unit designation
N/A
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ICS Organizational Components
• Sections – Responsible for major functional areas of the incident (Chief)
• Divisions – Responsible for certain geographic areas of the incident (Supervisor)
• Group – Responsible for functional areas of operations (Supervisor)
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ICS Organizational Components (con’t.)
• Branches – Used when the number of Divisions or Groups exceeds the span of control (Director)
• Task Force – Mixed resources with common communications (Task Force Leader)
• Strike Teams – Resources of the same kind and type with common communications (Strike Team Leader)
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• Unit – Has responsibility for a specific incident planning, logistics, or finance/administration activity
• Single Resources – Individuals, a piece of equipment and its personnel complement, or a crew or team of individuals with an identified supervisor
ICS Organizational Components (con’t.)
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Expanded ICS Organization
Operations Section
PlanningSection
UnitsUnits
SingleResource
SingleResources
CommandStaff
GeneralStaff
SingleResource
LogisticsSection
Finance / Administration
Section
TaskForce
StrikeTeam
SingleResource
Group(function)
Division(geography)
Incident Command
Branch Branch
Branch Branch
UnitsUnits
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Incident Command• Incident Commander may have
one or more deputies from same agency or from agencies in another jurisdiction
Operations section
PlanningSection
LogisticsSection
Finance/ Adm inistration
Section
LiaisonOfficer
SafetyOfficer
PublicInform ation
Officer
IncidentCom mand
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The Incident Commander
Should be : Assertive Decisive Objective Calm Quick Thinker Adaptable Flexible Realistic Capable to delegate
positions
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The senior First responder on arrival
Agency with primary responsibility
? Highly Qualified Incident Commander
Who is the Incident CommanderSlide 12 of 35
At Transfer of Command, the outgoing Incident Commander must give the incoming commander a full briefing AND notify all staff of the change of command
Transfer of command
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Incident Command
Information Officer
Safety Officer
Liaison Officer
Delegation of duties
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Dependant on:
• Life Safety: This is the first priority
• Incident Stability: IC Determines strategy to:
– Minimize the effect that the incident may have on the surrounding area
– Maximize the response effort while using the resources efficiently
• Property conservation: Minimising damage
Expansion of Command Structure
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Operations Section
• Where tactical fieldwork is done
OperationsSection
Individual Assistance Group
Public Works & Engineering Group
Temporary Housing Task Force
M ass Care Task Force
Portable WaterTask Force
Debris Task force
Potable Water
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Planning Section
• Prepares the Incident Action Plan
Planning Section
ResourceUnit
Situation Unit
Docum entation Unit
Dem obilization Unit
TechnicalSpecialists
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Logistics Section
• Handles all service and support needs
Service Branch
CommunicationsUnit
Medical Unit A(Triage)
Medical Unit B(Treatment)
Support Branch
Facilities Unit
Logistics Section
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Finance Administration Section• Monitors costs
Finance/Administration Section
ProcurementUnit
Time Unit
Cost Unit
Compensation/Claims Unit
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ICS Features and Principles• Common terminology• Consistent organizational structure• Consistent position titles• Integrated Communications• Common incident facilities
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ICS Facilities
• Incident Command Post
• Base
• Staging Area(s)
B
S
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ICS Facilities (con’t.)
• Camp
• Helibase
• Helispots
C
H
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Unified Command
Operations Planning Logistics Finance/Adm inistration
Unified Com m and(Fire, DEP, Public W orks)
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Unified Command
• All responding agencies will jointly develop a common set of incident objectives and strategies, without losing or giving up agency authority, responsibility or accountability.– Incident will function under a single
coordinated Incident Action Plan– One Ops Section Chief will have
responsibility for implementing the plan– One Incident Command Post will be
established
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General Guidelines
• Establish an Incident Command Post (ICP)– Designate the location and make
it known to all incident resources– Account for expansion if situation
requires– Can be a mobile or fixed facility– Once established, try not to
move it– Manage the activity in the ICP!
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General Guidelines
• Develop Initial Organization– Fill essential top level staff functions
first; unit level positions can be filled as required
– Overestimate, rather than underestimate
– Basics needed first are •Operations •Resource Check-In•Resource Tracking•Logistical support
– Build it as you need it
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General Guidelines
• Consider specialized needs– Saves IC time when others can handle
things like media, agencies, etc.
• Maintain good span of control– Use 3-7 persons/supervisor as a guide– Anticipate and plan for growth
• Demobilize elements when no longer necessary
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Transfer of Incident Command
• May be during Shift Change• May occur when a senior person elects to
assume the Incident Commander role• Takes place when operational periods
change (shifts)• Takes place when lower ranking but more
qualified person would be best because of unique circumstances (site knowledge or specialized skill)
• Should be a face-to-face briefing for transfer of information and situation
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De-Escalation
• Document Everything! You are responsible for what you do or fail to do in managing an incident
• Conduct After Action Reviews and Lessons Learned sessions to gain knowledge and improve performance
• Provide crisis counseling or debriefing for responders as needed; offer it even for small incidents
• Rehab equipment and replace lost or used supplies for next incident
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Area Command
Planning Logistics Finance/Admin.
Area Command
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Integrated Operations
Information Liaison
Safety
UnifiedCommand
PD, FIRE, FBI
FBIOperations
FIRE/EMSOperations
JOC EOC
Planning Operations Logistics Finance
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Joint Operations Center
• A separate, off-site entity that coordinates the federal crisis and consequence management response
• Established by the FBI
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Emergency Operations Center
• Typically a pre-designated facility• Maintained by a jurisdiction• Staffing includes:
– Department heads– Government officials– Volunteer agencies
• It is not a part of on-scene management
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Summary
• Use of ICS will help organize and add logical flow to planned events and emergencies
• Additional training modules are available for more detail
• ICS is a proven tool in the management and coordination of known and unknown incidents
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Unless you try to do something beyond what you have
MASTERED,
YOU will never GROW . . .