Introduction to ICS

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Introduction to ICS

• Developed as part of the National Emergency
  Services Curriculum Project

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FIVE PRIMARY I.C.S. MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS
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FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
COMMAND OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY OPERATIONS
DIRECT TACTICAL ACTIONS PLANNING
COLLECT/ANALYZE DATA, INTELLIGENCE PREPARE
ACTION PLAN LOGISTICS PROVIDE
SUPPORT FINANCE / COST ACCOUNTING
ADMINISTRATION PROCUREMENT
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INCIDENT MANAGEMENT
ACHIEVE GOAL
PERFORM TACTICAL DIRECTION
SELECT APPROPRIATE STRATEGY
ESTABLISH INCIDENT OBJECTIVES
UNDERSTAND AGENCY POLICY DIRECTION
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UNITY AND CHAIN OF COMMAND

• UNITY OF COMMAND HAVE A CLEAR LINE OF
  SUPERVISION
• CHAIN OF COMMAND ORDERLY RANKING OF MANAGEMENT
  POSITIONS IN LINE OF AUTHORITY

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INCIDENT OPERATIONS ORGANIZATION
LARGE INCIDENT ORGANIZATION
SMALL INCIDENT ORGANIZATION
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REASONS TO TRANSFER COMMAND

• A MORE QUALIFIED PERSON ASSUMES COMMAND
• A JURISDICTIONAL OR AGENCY CHANGE IN COMMAND IS
  LEGALLY REQUIRED OR MAKES GOOD MANAGEMENT SENSE
• PERSONNEL TURNOVER ON LONG INCIDENTS

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ICS ORGANIZATION
FLEXIBILITY
NEEDS OF INCIDENTS WILL DETERMINE THE REQUIRED
ORGANIZATION
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GENERAL GUIDELINEDO NOT COMBINE ORGANIZATIONAL
UNITS. ONE PERSON MAY SUPERVISE MORE THAN ONE
UNIT
PLANNING / INTEL SECTION CHIEF
RESOURCE SITUATION UNIT J. Smith
RESOURCE UNIT J. Smith
SITUATION UNIT J. Smith
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MANAGING AN INCIDENT USING UNIFIED COMMAND
A
C
B
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT
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UNDER UNIFIED COMMANDTHERE WILL ALWAYS BE

• ONE INCIDENT COMMAND POST
• A SINGLE COORDINATED INCIDENT ACTION PLAN
• ONE OPERATIONS SECTION CHIEF (OFFICER IN CHARGE,
  SUPERVISOR, ETC.)

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SPAN OF CONTROL
INEFFECTIVE AND POSSIBLY DANGEROUS
EFFECTIVE SPAN OF CONTROL
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OPTIMUM SPAN OF CONTROL IS ONE TO FIVE
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IN ICS COMMON TERMINOLOGY IS APPLIED TO

• ORGANIZATIONAL ELEMENTS
• POSITION TITLES
• RESOURCES
• FACILITIES

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PERSONNEL ACCOUNTABILITY IS MAINTAINED THROUGH
CHECK IN FORM
RESOURCE STATUS KEEPING SYSTEM
UNITY OF COMMAND
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PERSONNEL ACCOUNTABILITY IS MAINTAINED THROUGH
DIVISION / GROUP ASSIGNMENT LISTS
UNIT LOGS
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ICS INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS

• COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS
• FREQUENCY AND RESOURCE USE PLANNING
• INFORMATION TRANSFER PROCEDURES

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COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED

• COMMAND NET
• TACTICAL NETS
• SUPPORT NET
• GROUND-TO-AIR
• AIR-TO-AIR

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RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN I.C.S.
SINGLE RESOURCES INCLUDES PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT
TASK FORCES COMBINATION OF SINGLE RESOURCES
STRIKE TEAM COMBINATION OF SAME KIND AND TYPE
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USING TASK FORCES AND STRIKE TEAMS

• MAXIMIZES EFFECTIVE USE OF RESOURCES
• REDUCES SPAN OF CONTROL
• REDUCES COMMUNICATIONS TRAFFIC

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RESOURCE STATUS CONDITIONS IN I.C.S.
AVAILABLE
OUT OF SERVICE
ASSIGNED
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WRITTEN ACTION PLANS ARE IMPORTANT WHEN

• THE INCIDENT WILL OVERLAP AN OPERATIONAL PERIOD
  CHANGE
• TWO OR MORE JURISDICTIONS ARE INVOLVED
• SUBSTANTIAL ACTIVATION OF THE I.C.S. ORGANIZATION

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QUESTIONS