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INCIDENT COMMANDfor

SCHOOL OFFICIALS

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Presenters

Donald Smith – Center for Safe SchoolsJoseph Rupe – Pennsylvania Emergency Management AgencyMike Hurley – Carlisle Area School DistrictRoger Kohr – Cumberland County Emergency Management

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WHAT IS ICS?

ICS is the model tool for command,

control, and coordination

of a response and

provides a means to coordinate the efforts of individual agencies

Agencies work toward the common goal of stabilizing the

incident and protecting life,

property, and the environment.

C3

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WHY ICS?

ICS uses principles that have been proven to

improve efficiency and effectiveness

in a business setting and applies the principles to emergency

response.

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When is ICS Utilized?

• Hazardous Materials Incident

• Planned Events

• Response to Natural Hazards/Events

• Single and multiple agency incidents

• Need for comprehensive resource management strategies

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When is ICS Utilized?• Fires• Multiple casualty incidents• Multi-jurisdictional/multi-agency incidents• Air, rail, water or ground transportation

accidents• Wide area search and rescue incidents• Pest eradication programs• Private sector emergency management

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ICS

• All risks system

• Appropriate for emergencies and non-emergency events

• Proven Successful– Common organizational structure– Key management principles in a standardized

way

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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Foundations rooted in California during the 1970’s wild fires - FIRESCOPE

Based upon military (USMC) chain of command

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LEGAL PERSPECTIVE

Required by SARA

Must be used for HAZ-MAT situations

POISONGAS

1017

Chlorine

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PRACTICAL PERSPECTIVE

• Every complex job needs organized

• Management of an emergency is complex

• ICS is a proven method of organization

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• ICS is an expandable system of management

• It is a nationally recognized standard

• It is workable from small incidents to large disasters

• Currently used by community response organizations

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ICS Concept #1

•Every emergency needs managed– Traffic accident

• Two vehicles – 10 vehicles with HAZ-MAT

– Fire• Shed fire – large wildfire

No matter how small or how large– certain tasks or functions need performed

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ICS Concept #2

Every incident

WILL have an

Incident Commander

"It willhelp to

rememberthis!"

Someone needs to be in charge

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ICS Concept #3

Span of Control

• No person is in charge of more than 7 people– Optimum is 5 – If large numbers doing the same thing this

number may be 10(as in supervising students)

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ICS Concept #4

Common Terminology

• Same word = same meaning for all

• Learn terminology before the emergency

Common Objectives

•Set objectives

•Set time frame to achieve objectives

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ICS Principles

SCHOOL

IICCSS

FIRE

POLICE

EM

OTHERS;

PARENTS

MEDIA

Etc.

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ICS Terms & Acronyms

IC – Incident Command

CP – Command Post

PIO – Public Information Officer

IAP – Incident Action Plan

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HOW they Relate

Incident Command used is an adaptation of true emergency services ICS

Challenges face schools with different size staffs and organizational structures

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Chain of Command

Must be clearly defined – in advance

Must have depth of positions

May not follow normal (non-emergency) channels

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Chain of Command - continued

• Specify duties by position not person

• At least two back up persons for each position

• Assignments must be supported by appropriate training

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Command Post

• Must remain a constant management flow

• IC must remain at the CP

• If person leaves they delegate command

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Duties of Commander

• Assess the situation– Priority at every incident

• Incident stability• Life Safety

•Know resources available

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Duties of Commander(continued)

•Determine strategy for implementing the plan for success

•Monitor the Plan–Working or Not Working

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Duties of Commander(continued)

•Adjust the plan as needed

Document – Document – Document

•Job not complete until post-incident report is complete

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Incident Commander

Initially, the Incident Commander

will be the senior first-responder

to arrive at the scene

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Most incidents

do NOT require

additional command positions

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ICS Organization

Incident Commander

Operations

Safety Officer

Liaison Officer

Information Officer

Planning Logistics Finance/Admin

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Five Command Functions

Incident Commander

Operations Planning Logistics Finance/Admin

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Plans Unit(planning or intelligence)

• Planning strategies to handle event

• Charged with keeping track of the “big picture”

• Documentation

• Strategy given to operations section

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Operations

• Fire suppression• Evacuation• First Aid• Search and Rescue

• Child Accounting• Intelligence Reporting• Initial Damage

Assessment

Carries out the tasks set by the plans section

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Operations

• Operations chief keeps the planning section updated as tasks are completed and information is gathered

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Logistics Section

Processes resources:–Person-power–Supplies–Equipment

KEY FACTOR = Communications

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Finance/Administration

Responsible for buying

Keeping financial records

Timekeeping

ICS needs an individual

to coordinate finances

for potential reimbursement

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School ICS Organization

Principal (School Commander)

Science Teacher (Operations Chief)

English Teacher (Information Officer)

Health Teacher (Safety Officer)

Assistant Principal (Liaison Officer)

History Teacher (Planning Chief)

Social Studies Teacher (Logistics

Chief)

Math Teacher (Finance/Admin

Chief)

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School Site ICS StructureSchool Commander

Safety Officer

Liaison OfficerInformation Officer

Planning Logistics Admin

Documentation

Situation Analysis

Operations

Security

Search&Rescue

Medical

Student Care

Student Release

Crisis Response

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Expanded Organization

School Commander

Operations

Safety Officer

Liaison Officer

Public Information Officer

Planning Logistics Finance/Admin

Situation Analysis

DocumentationSecurity

Search & Rescue

Student Care

Timekeeping

Staffing

Communications

Supplies

Purchasing

Medical

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Staff Positions

Incident Commander

Safety Officer

Liaison Officer

Information Officer

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Incident Commander Staff Positions

COMMAND STAFF

• Safety Officer

• PIO – Public Information Officer

• Liaison Officer

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Safety OfficerMay be retained by IC

May be appointed

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Safety Officer

Responsible for

monitoring and assessing

safety hazards or unsafe conditions

and

for ensuring personal safety

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PIOPublic Information Officer

Located directly under the incident commander and off to the side

Determined by–Size of the incident –Type of emergency –Size of staff–District Policy

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PIO

• Reports directly to the incident commander

• Must be well informed at all times

• All staff should refer questions to PIO

• No one else talks to media

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Liaison Officer

Incident command may appoint a liaison officer

Coordinates with outside agencies

Unified command may absorb school incident commander

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Every organization differs

• Size of staff

• Size of student body

• Type of student body

• Size of facility

• Layout of facility

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OPERATIONSsub groups

Child Accounting/student care

Medical

Search and Rescue

Reunification

Transportation

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Child Accounting

Most important in most school situations

• Taking role – staff and students

• Protection from weather

• Sanitation needs

• Food & water

Much of this responsibility

rests with classroom teacher

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StudentsNeed to Know

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Medical

Triage

Treatment

Psychological first aid

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Search and Rescue

Emergency Response Teams

Deployed from command post

Locate missing persons

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Fire Fighting

Extremely small fires only

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If you can’t put it out

with 1 extinguisherEVACUATE !

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Utility Shut Off

• If necessary

• Correct tools

• Correct procedures

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Safety Precautions

Traffic Control

Barricades

Pedestrian Control

Security

may be separate team

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Initial Damage Assessment

• Building safe to re-enter

• Amount of damage

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Concepts and Principles of

Incident Command Systems

• It is an adaptable, time tested and proven method of handling all size events

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Common Terminology

• Essential

• Name the Event– Generally by location– School Command / Fishing Creek Command

• Plain English NOT codes

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Modular Organization

• Top down in nature

• IC activates other functional areas

• Layered structure– Top two command and general staff

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Unity of Command

Each person

within the organization

reports to only one

designated person

"Are you

listening ?"

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Unified Command

All agencies with responsibility manage by establishing a common set of incident objectives

Does not mean giving up agency authority, responsibility or accountability

If authority is not relinquished it is retained!

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Major IncidentIncident Commander

Safety Officer

Liaison OfficerInformation Officer

Planning Logistics Admin

All Agencies

Operations

Police

Fire

School

Red Cross District

Staging

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Manageable Span of Control

How many individuals one supervisor can manage effectively?

• ICS=span of control is 3 to 7

• 5 is the optimum number

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BE AWARE !Paper Plan Syndrome

Illusion of preparedness• Frequently outdated

• Administrators eyes only

• Plans not exercised

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Perfect Practice Makes Perfect

Practice the Use of These Procedures in Mock Situations, Before

You Really Need It

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Size-Up•Nature of incident?

•Hazards present?

•Area affected?

•Area to be isolated?

•Where to locate CP and staging?

•Ingress and egress points/routes?

"Quick thinking

is the keyto quickaction"

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Contingency

Determining what could happen

IC must consider any possible developments in addition to the current situation during the planning process

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The hazardous material

and its configuration

The population at risk

Time factors

Meteorological conditions

Communications

capabilities

Emergency response

capabilities

ADEQUATE RESOURCES ARE VITAL ADEQUATE RESOURCES ARE VITAL TO EFFECTIVE PROTECTIVE ACTIONSTO EFFECTIVE PROTECTIVE ACTIONS

- Resources are necessary to initiate and control the protective action to achieve the maximum effectiveness in protecting our students and staff.

- "Pre-incident" planning for resource mobilization to implement protective actions can facilitate the speed and effectiveness of the action.

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Un-Met Needs

Resources you do not have and need

– Pre-known/planned for

– Discovered during emergency response

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Transfer of Command

• To a more

experienced person

• To a designated

person

• During long term

operations

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Transfer Briefing

• Incident conditions

• IAP and current status

• Safety considerations and concerns

• Deployment and assignment of operating units and personnel

• Resource status and deployment

• Use of forms beneficial

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Incident Action Plans

May not be written at smaller incidents

Based on incident needs and ICS organization

Developed for specific time periods

(operational periods = not to exceed 12 hours)

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Incident Command Post

The location at which the primary command functions take place.

The incident commander remains at the ICP

Can be co-located at the base

Name after location of incident

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Staging Area

Locations set up at an incident where resources can be placed while awaiting tactical assignment.

Staging areas are managed by the operations section.

Must have a manager in charge

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Command Post

• Established as the first responsibility of the incident commander

• When command is established clear lines of authority and communications for the incident are established

• Every incident needs an ICP established

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Command Post• One per incident even if multiple agencies

or jurisdictions are involved

• May be moved with clear communications to all parties involved

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Where to establish the ICP

• Position away from the general noise and confusion associated with the incident

• Position outside the area of present and potential hazards

• Position the ICP within view of the incident when possible

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ICP Location Capabilities

• EXPANSION

• SECURITY

• IDENTIFICATION

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Treatment Areas

• Relatively close to each other

• Oral communications between areas

• Shared access to medical supplies

• Easy transfer of patients whose status had

changed

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Emergency Operations Plan(EOP)

Written document that describes how a community or organization will do

business during an emergency.

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EOPAssigns responsibility to organizations andindividuals for carrying out specific actions

at projected times and places in an emergency.

Sets for the lines of authority and organizational relationships, and shows how all actions

will be coordinated. "Are you listening ?"

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EOP

Identifies personnel, equipment, facilities,supplies, and other resources available—within the jurisdiction or by agreement with other jurisdictions—for use during response and recovery operations.

Describes how people and property will beprotected in emergencies and disasters.

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Identifies steps to address mitigation concerns during

response and recovery operations.

EOP

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Pre-Deployment Readiness

PLAN AHEAD

P-P-P-P-P-P

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SCHOOL

EMERGENCY

OPERATIONS

PLAN

THE IMPORTANCE OF PRE-INCIDENT PLANNING TOENHANCE EMERGENCY RESPONSE DECISION-MAKING

The planning process can reduce uncertainty in response operations.

The process can provide information about hazards, resources and vulnerabilities that cannot be easily obtained during an emergency.

Protective action planning can facilitate decision-making by identifying initial actions, decision policies, and an effective decision process.

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Planning Sessions

Drills & Exercises

Remember:Planning is an

ongoing process!

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Assemble a Go Kit

Things you will need at every incident

• Identification• Pens, pencils, markers• Paper• ICS forms, agency

forms• Appropriate EOP

materials

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Assemble a Go Kit(Continued):• Other policies,

procedures or instructions

• Maps• Aerial photos• Masking tape, push pins• Clipboard• ICS vests, flags etc…

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Assemble a Go Kit

Continued – page three

• Flashlights, glow sticks

• Laptop

• Palm PC

• Surge protectors, software etc…

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Personal Preparedness

72 hour bag

Clothing

Toiletries

Flashlight

Medications

Snacks

Reading/entertainment

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After Hours Emergencies

Can you function if you are denied access to your office?

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How long?

Crime Scene = No Access

?

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RECORD KEEPING

• Follow all procedures mandated by local authorities

• Remember the report will need to be completed

• Reimbursement may depend on the reports

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Communications• Do not use the radio or telephone unless

authorized to do so.• Never use codes when communicating at

an incident.• Always limit radio and telephone traffic to

essential information only.• Land line and cellular service may be

limited – keep lines open as an option

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KEEPING A PERSPECTIVE ON THE TRAINING KEEPING A PERSPECTIVE ON THE TRAINING RECOMMENDATIONSRECOMMENDATIONS

“All the details and lots of effort”

“Lets be practical”

The recommendations in this training program need to be adapted to your school’s specific situation and resources available for planning.