The Incident Command System

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The Incident Command System

• An Orientation

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Presented by

• Jerry Klingbeil and
• Ken Martens

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Objectives

• Understand the Principles of ICS (Incident
  Command System)
• Be able to recognize ICS in use.
• Identify the major incident facilities.
• Understand concept of Incident Action Plan

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Objectives

• Understand the concept of Span of Control
• Describe common responsibilities associated with
  an incident
• List several applications for the use of ICS

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Incident Command

• The Incident Command System is used to manage an
  emergency or a non-emergency event
• It can be used equally well for both small and
  large situations

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Incident Command

• The system has considerable internal flexibility.
• It can grow or shrink to meet different needs.
• It is a cost effective, efficient management
  system.
• The system can be applied to a wide variety of
  emergency and non-emergency situations.

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Applications for the use of the Incident Command
System

• Fires, HAZMAT, and multicasualty incidents
• Multijurisdictional and multi-agency disasters
• Wide-area search and rescue missions
• Pest eradication programs
• Oil spill response and recovery incidents

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Applications for the use of the Incident Command
System

• Single and multi-agency law enforcement incidents
• Air, rail, water or ground transportation
  accidents
• Planned events e.g. parades, official visits,
  concerts
• Private sector emergency management programs
• State or local major natural hazards management

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Organization

• The organization of the Incident Command System
  is built around five major management
  activities
• Command
• Operations
• Planning
• Logistics
• Finance/Administration

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COMMAND

• Sets objectives and priorities Has overall
  responsibility at the incident or event

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OPERATIONS

• Conducts tactical operations to carry out the
  plan
• Develops the tactical objectives and organization
• Directs all resources

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PLANNING

• Develops the action plan to accomplish the
  objectives
• Collects and evaluates information
• Maintains resource status

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LOGISTICS

• Provides support to meet incident needs
• Provides resources and all other services to
  support the incident

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FINANCE/ADMINISTRATION

• Monitors costs related to incident
• Provides accounting, procurement, time recording
  and cost analyses

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ICS Organization
RESOURCES SITUATION UNIT DEMOBILIZATION DOCUMEN
TATION
TIME UNIT PROCUREMENT UNIT COMPENSATION COST
UNIT
SERVICE BRANCH COMMUNICATIONS MEDICAL
FOOD SUPPORT BRANCH SUPPLY FACILITIES
GROUND SUPPORT
BRANCH
BRANCH
DIVISIONS GROUPS
GROUP
GROUP
STRIKE TEAMS TASK FORCES
TECHICAL SPECIALIST
RESOURCES
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Command Staff

• INCIDENT COMMANDER
• The person in charge at the incident
• Must be fully qualified for the incident
• As incidents grow or become more complex, a more
  highly qualified Incident Commander may be
  assigned by the responsible jurisdiction or agency

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Deputies

• The Incident Commander may assign one or more
  deputies from the same agency or from other
  agencies or jurisdictions
• Deputies must always be as qualified as the
  person for whom they work

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Information Officer

• Point of contact for the media or other
  organizations seeking information directly form
  the incident or event
• There will only be one Incident Information
  Officer even if multiple agencies involved

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Safety Officer

• Monitors safety conditions and develops measures
  for assuring the safety of all assigned personnel

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Liaison Officer

• On larger incidents representatives form other
  agencies may be assigned to the incident to
  coordinate their agencys involvement. The
  Liaison Officer will be their primary contact.

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Incident Command General Staff

• Operations Section Chief
• Planning Section Chief
• Logistics Section Chief
• Finance/Administration Section Chief

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ICS Facilities

• Incident Command Post
• Staging Area
• Base
• Camps
• Helibase

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Incident Command Post

• The location from which the Incident Commander
  oversees all incident operations
• There is only one ICP for each incident or event
• Every incident or event must have some sort of
  Incident Command Post

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Staging Area

• Locations at which resources are kept while
  awaiting incident assignment
• Very large incidents may have more than one
  Staging Area
• Managed by a Staging Area Manager who reports to
  the Operations Section Chief or to the Incident
  Commander.

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Base

• Location at the incident at which primary service
  and support are performed
• Not all incidents have Base
• Only one Base for each incident

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Camps

• Incident locations where resources may be kept to
  support incident operations
• Differ from Staging Areas
• Not all incidents have camps

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Helibase

• A location in and around an incident area at
  which helicopters may be parked, maintained ,
  fueled and equipped for incidents operations.
• Very large operations may require more than one
  Helibase

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Helispots

• Helispots are temporary locations where
  helicopters can land and load and off-load
  personnel, equipment and supplies.
• Large incidents may have several Helispots.

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Incident Action Plan
ACTION PLAN

• Statement of Objectives
• Organization
• Assignments to Accomplish the Objectives
• Supporting Material

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Purpose of Incident Action Plan

• Every incident must have an oral or a written
  action plan
• To provide all incident supervisory personnel
  with direction for future actions.
• Prepared around timeframe called and Operational
  Period

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Essential Elements in Incident Action Plan

• Statement of Objectives
• Organization
• Assignments to Accomplish the Objectives
• Supporting Material

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Span of Control

• How many organizational elements may be directly
  affected by another person
• A ratio of one to five reporting elements is
  recommended

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Span of Control

• Maintain Span of Control at 3-7

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Common Responsibilities

• Receive your assignment from your organization.
• Bring supplies and equipment needed to complete
  the job.
• Check in upon arrival.
• Follow the communications plan use clear text
  use appropriate titles, facility names.
• Make sure you understand your assignment.

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Common Responsibilities (continued)

• Obtain necessary work materials and prepare your
  work station.
• Organize and brief any subordinates assigned to
  you.
• Brief your relief at the end of shift and when
  demobilized.
• Complete and submit required paperwork to your
  supervisor or the Documentation Unit before you
  leave.
• Demobilize according to the plan.

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Conclusion

• Regardless of the size of the incident or the
  number of agencies involved in the response, all
  incidents require a coordinated effort to ensure
  an effective response and the efficient, safe use
  of resources