Basic Incident Command

1
Basic Incident Command
2
What is ICS?

• The model tool to coordinate the efforts of
  individual agencies
• Command
• Control
• Coordination

3
History
ICS was developed in the 1970s in response to
major wildfires in southern California to address
several identified recurring problems

• Nonstandard terminology among responding
  agencies.
• Lack of capability to expand and contract
• Nonstandard and nonintegrated communications.
• Lack of consolidated action plans.
• Lack of designated facilities.

4
What Will be Covered
An Overview of the Incident Command Concept

• Concepts and Principles
• Organization
• Resource Planning
• Facilities
• Resource Management
• How ARES fits into the ICS concept

5
Concepts and Principles

• Common Terminology
• Modular Organization
• Integrated Communications
• Unity of Command
• Unified Command Structure

• Consolidated Incident Action Plans
• Manageable Span of Control
• Designated Incident Facilities
• Comprehensive Resource Management

6
Concepts and Principles

• Common Terminology
• Use common names for personnel and equipment
  resources
• Radio transmissions in plain English (no 10 codes
  or agency specific codes/language)
• Applies to all organizational elements, position
  titles, and resources

7
Concepts and Principles

• Modular Organization
• Develops top down
• Can expand or contract based on current needs
• ICS can consist of several layers

8
Concepts and Principles

• Integrated Communications
• Common communications plan
• Standard operating procedures
• Clear text
• Common terminology
• Common frequencies

9
Concepts and Principles

• Unity of command
• Each person within an organization reports to
  only one designated person

10
Concepts and Principles

• Unified Command
• All agencies contribute to the command process by
• Determining overall objectives
• Planning jointly while conducting integrated
  operations
• Maximizing use of all assigned resources

11
Concepts and Principles

• Incident Action Plan
• Incident functions under a single, coordinated
  IAP
• One Operations Section Chief has responsibility
  for implementing
• One Incident Command Post is established

• Consolidated IAP when
• Resources from multiple agencies
• Multiple jurisdictions
• Incident is complex
• Prepared for an operational period (12 hrs common)

12
Concepts and Principles

• Manageable Span of Control
• Defined as the number of individuals one
  supervisor can manage effectively
• ICS range is 3-7 resources, 5 optimum

13
Concepts and Principles

• Designated Incident Facilities
• Incident Command Post (ICP)
• Staging areas
• For resources awaiting assignment
• Others may be designated depending on
  geographical extent or resources needed

14
Concepts and Principles

• Comprehensive Resource Management
• Maximizes resource use
• Consolidates control of single resources
• Reduces communications load
• Provides accountability
• Reduces freelancing
• Ensures personnel safety

15
Concepts and Principles

• Comprehensive Resource Management
• All resources assigned a status condition
• ASSIGNED performing active functions
• AVAILABLE ready for assignment
• OUT-OF-SERVICE not ready for assigned or
  available status

16
ICS Organization

• Command
• Planning
• Operations
• Logistics
• Finance/Administration

17
ICS Organization
COMMAND

• All incidents, regardless of size or complexity,
  will have an Incident Commander
• Responsible for on-scene management until command
  is transferred
• May expand or contract ICS organization depending
  on priorities of
• LIFE SAFETY
• INCIDENT STABILITY
• PROPERTY CONSERVATION

18
ICS Organization
PLANNING

• Planning Section responsibilities
• Collection, evaluation, dissemination, and use of
  info about the development of the incident and
  status of resources
• Creation of the IAP

19
ICS Organization
OPERATIONS

• Operations Section responsibilities
• Carrying out response activities in IAP
• Directing and coordinating all operations
• Ensuring safety of OS personnel
• Assisting IC in developing response goals and
  objectives
• Requesting or releasing resources through IC
• Updating IC and status of incident and resources

20
ICS Organization
LOGISTICS

• Logistics Section responsibilities
• Providing facilities, services, materials, and
  essential personnel
• Functions are designed to support incident
  responders

21
ICS Organization
FINANCE / ADMINISTRATION

• Finance/Administration Section responsibilities
• Tracking incident costs
• Reimbursement accounting

22
ICS Organizational Structure
Incident Commander
Section
Division
Branch
Group
Strike Team
Unit
Single Resource
Task Force
23
ICS Organizational Structure
How Does the ICS Relate to the Emergency
Operations Center?

• IC has overall command of the incident
• EOC manages the community-wide resources and
  response
• Requesting mutual aid
• Managing wide scale evacuation
• Coordinating social services
• Resolving policy issues

24
ICS Resource Planning

• Every incident is unique
• ICS allows expansion/contraction to fit needs
• Planning begins with initial size-up of
  situation
• What is nature of incident?
• Any hazards?
• How large an area?
• Can it be isolated?
• Where can staging area be located?
• Where are safe entrance/exit routes?

25
ICS Resource Planning
Expansion for resources is flexible. For example,
initial response to an incident may be two police
patrol cars. On sizing up the incident, the IC
may designate the following structure
26
ICS Incident Facilities

• The Incident Command Post (ICP)
• Identified with green white flag or lights or
  other markings
• One or more Staging Areas
• Location for resources awaiting immediate
  assignment, away from ICP
• A Base
• Offer primary services and support activities
• Location of uncommitted or out-of-service
  resources

27
ICS Resource Management

• Accomplish all tasks
• Resource safety
• Cost-effective operation

28
ICS Resource Management

• Resources described by KIND and TYPE
• KIND resource by function (fire truck,
  helicopter
• TYPE resource by performance capability,
  usually described by a number (Type 1 helicopter)

29
ICS Resource Management
Resource Categories

• Single Resources
• are individual pieces of equipment or a crew of
  individuals (with an identified work supervisor)
  that can be used in an operational application at
  an incident.
• Task Force
• any combination and number of single resources
  (within span-of-control limits)
• Must have own leader
• Own transportation
• Communication between leader and next-level
  supervisor

30
ICS Resource Management
Resource Categories

• Strike Teams
• Resources of the same kind and type
• Must have leader
• Communications among the single resources that
  make up the team
• Typically used in major incidents

31
ARES and ICS
Where do we fit?
We fit nowhere in the organization until asked.
There is no position within the ICS for "walk-on"
operators!
32
Operations Section
33
ARCT

• Amateur Radio Communication Team
• Adopted as standard four character ICS mnemonic
• from EMCOMMWEST 2002 Convention

34
For example, a Type 1 ARCT

• Total of 12 operators
• 2 supervisors (one day shift/one night shift)
• Remaining 10 operators might be split into 5
  day/5 night, or 7 day/3 night at discretion of
  team leader

35
ARES and ICS

• ICS does not alter the way we perform our
  functions. Existing Amateur Radio methods and
  procedures remain unchanged.
• ICS does provide an organization and reporting
  structure, with a clearly defined chain of
  command and span of control.

36
ICS Resources

• http//www.w0ipl.com/ECom/EComBas.htm
• Emergency Communications Basics written by Pat
  Lambert, W0IPL, includes a very good discussion
  of ICS and how ARES/RACES fits in
• http//www.emcomm.org/ARCT/page1.htm
• Guide for EMCOMM support for ICS personnel

NIMS
37
(No Transcript)