Catastrophe Catastrophe Management for Management for

Executives: A Executives: A PrimerPrimer

“ “ Buffalo to Allison”Buffalo to Allison”Presented at:Presented at:

Houston Marine Insurance SeminarHouston Marine Insurance SeminarSeptember 25, 2001September 25, 2001

Steven P. Weiss, AMIM, NAMS-CMSSteven P. Weiss, AMIM, NAMS-CMSRVW, IncRVW, Inc

Incident Command and Catastrophe Incident Command and Catastrophe ManagementManagement

History of Incident CommandHistory of Incident Command ICS OrganizationICS Organization Executive ConcernsExecutive Concerns Basic TerminologyBasic Terminology Common ResponsibilitiesCommon Responsibilities

National Interagency Incident National Interagency Incident Management SystemManagement System

Incident Command Incident Command System OrganizationSystem Organization

INFORM ATION OFFICERSAFETY OFFICERLIAISON OFFICERLEGAL OFFICER

DIVIS IONS

STRIKE TEAM STASK FORCESSINGLE RESOURCES

GROUPS

BRANCHES

OPERATIONSSECTION

RESOURCE UNITSITUATION UNITDEM OBILIZAT ION

UNITDOCUM ENTATION

UNITTECHNICAL

SPECIALISTS

PLANNINGSECTION

SERVICEBRANCH

UNITS

SUPPORTBRANCH

LOGISTICSSECTION

T IM E UNITPROCUREM ENT

UNITCOM PENSATION/

CLAIM S UNITCOST UNIT

FINANCE &ADMIN.

SECTION

UNIFIED COMMANDF edera l S ta te L oca l

Respons ible Party

ICSICS Used to manage emergency and Used to manage emergency and

non-emergency eventsnon-emergency events

Works well for both large and small Works well for both large and small situationssituations

Very flexibleVery flexible

ICS ApplicationsICS Applications Fires, hazardous materials releases, oil Fires, hazardous materials releases, oil

spills, and multi-casualty incidentsspills, and multi-casualty incidents Multi-jurisdictional and multi-agency Multi-jurisdictional and multi-agency

disastersdisasters Search & rescue operations Search & rescue operations Pest eradication programsPest eradication programs Law enforcement incidentsLaw enforcement incidents Natural disastersNatural disasters Planned eventsPlanned events

Buffalo 292: March 18, 1996Buffalo 292: March 18, 1996

Wortham Center June 9, 2001Wortham Center June 9, 2001

ICS FeaturesICS Features

ICS OrganizationICS Organization

Incident FacilitiesIncident Facilities

Incident Action PlanIncident Action Plan

Span of ControlSpan of Control

Common ResponsibilitiesCommon Responsibilities

Executive Concern #1Executive Concern #1 What are the implications of an incident to my What are the implications of an incident to my

organization and to myself?organization and to myself?--Political implications--Political implications--Economic implications--Economic implications--Social implications--Social implications--Environmental Implications--Environmental Implications--Cost implications--Cost implications

--Legal Implications--Legal Implications All of these will affect the development of All of these will affect the development of

response objectives and strategies.response objectives and strategies.

Management SystemManagement System Helps mitigate risks by providing:Helps mitigate risks by providing:

--Accurate information--Accurate information--Strict accountability--Strict accountability--Planning--Planning--Cost-effective operations--Cost-effective operations--Logistical support--Logistical support

--Documentation--Documentation

Executive Concern #2Executive Concern #2 How do I maintain control when How do I maintain control when

incidents occur?incidents occur?--Contingency Planning--Contingency Planning--Establish policy for incident--Establish policy for incident

--Provide guidelines on priorities--Provide guidelines on priorities--Objectives for IC/UC--Objectives for IC/UC--Constraints on IC/UC--Constraints on IC/UC

Executive Concern #3Executive Concern #3 Where do I fit in the incident Where do I fit in the incident

management process?management process?--As Incident Commander--As Incident Commander--As a member of the Unified Command--As a member of the Unified Command--Providing support for IC/UC--Providing support for IC/UC

Unified CommandUnified Command Used in multi-agency or multi-jurisdictional Used in multi-agency or multi-jurisdictional

incidentsincidents

Establishes common response objectives Establishes common response objectives and strategies without compromising and strategies without compromising agency authority, responsibility, or agency authority, responsibility, or accountability.accountability.

Unified CommandersUnified Commanders

In charge at the incidentIn charge at the incident

Designated by responsible jurisdictions, Designated by responsible jurisdictions, agencies or the Responsible Partyagencies or the Responsible Party

Assigns personnel as necessaryAssigns personnel as necessary

May have one or more deputies from May have one or more deputies from same or different jurisdictionssame or different jurisdictions

Command StaffCommand Staff

Information OfficerInformation Officer prepares press releases and prepares press releases and serves as point of contact for the media.serves as point of contact for the media.

Safety OfficerSafety Officer prepares Site Safety Plan and prepares Site Safety Plan and monitors safety conditions.monitors safety conditions.

Liaison OfficerLiaison Officer serves as point of contact for serves as point of contact for Agency Representatives of assisting and Agency Representatives of assisting and supporting organizations.supporting organizations.

Legal OfficerLegal Officer provides legal advice to the Incident provides legal advice to the Incident Commander or Unified Command.Commander or Unified Command.

All may have assistants as required.All may have assistants as required.

General StaffGeneral Staff

Finance/Adm inSection Chief

LogisticsSection Chief

O perationsSection Chief

PlanningSection Chief

Unified CommandFO SC SO SC LO SC RP-O SC

Operations Section ChiefOperations Section Chief Establish and manage the Operations Establish and manage the Operations

SectionSection

Conduct tactical assignments to Conduct tactical assignments to accomplish incident objectivesaccomplish incident objectives

Only Only ONEONE person assigned person assigned as Operations Section as Operations Section Chief--deputies assigned Chief--deputies assigned as requiredas required

Planning Section ChiefPlanning Section Chief Establish and manage the Planning SectionEstablish and manage the Planning Section

Collect, analyze, and display informationCollect, analyze, and display information

Maintain situation information and status of resources Maintain situation information and status of resources

Prepare Incident Action Plan (IAP)Prepare Incident Action Plan (IAP)

Maintain incident documentationMaintain incident documentation

Prepare Demobilization PlanPrepare Demobilization Plan

Manage Technical SpecialistsManage Technical Specialists

Only Only ONEONE person assigned as person assigned as Planning Section Chief--Deputies Planning Section Chief--Deputies Assigned as required.Assigned as required.

Logistics Section ChiefLogistics Section Chief Establish and manage the Logistics Establish and manage the Logistics

SectionSection

Acquire personnel, equipment, Acquire personnel, equipment, materials, facilities, and servicesmaterials, facilities, and services

Only Only ONEONE person assigned person assigned as Logistics Section as Logistics Section Chief--deputies assigned Chief--deputies assigned as requiredas required

Finance/Administration Finance/Administration Section ChiefSection Chief

Establish and manage the Establish and manage the Finance/Administration SectionFinance/Administration Section

Conduct on-site financial and administrative Conduct on-site financial and administrative activitiesactivities

Only Only ONEONE person assigned person assigned as Finance/Administration as Finance/Administration Section Chief--deputies Section Chief--deputies assigned as requiredassigned as required

Cost ControlCost Control

““Manage the Manage the event--don’t be event--don’t be managed by it!”managed by it!”

Incident Action PlanIncident Action Plan Oral or written (determined by Unified Command)Oral or written (determined by Unified Command)

Includes measurable tactical assignments to Includes measurable tactical assignments to accomplish response objectivesaccomplish response objectives

Lists activated organizational elementsLists activated organizational elements

Includes supporting plans and materialsIncludes supporting plans and materials

Communicated to all supervisory personnelCommunicated to all supervisory personnel

Generally covers operational period of not over Generally covers operational period of not over twenty-four hourstwenty-four hours

Common ResponsibilitiesCommon Responsibilities Receive assignment from your agencyReceive assignment from your agency

Bring any specialized supplies or equipmentBring any specialized supplies or equipment

Follow check-in & demobilization proceduresFollow check-in & demobilization procedures

Obtain briefing from supervisor upon arrivalObtain briefing from supervisor upon arrival

Use clear text in radio communicationsUse clear text in radio communications

Acquire necessary work materialsAcquire necessary work materials

Brief subordinatesBrief subordinates

Complete required forms--document activitiesComplete required forms--document activities

10 Commandments of 10 Commandments of Emergency ResponseEmergency Response

I—Think BIG! Don’t underestimateI—Think BIG! Don’t underestimate the size or impact of the spill. the size or impact of the spill.

10 Commandments of 10 Commandments of Emergency ResponseEmergency Response

II—Focus on the emergency first. II—Focus on the emergency first. Remember the priorities are Remember the priorities are people, property, the environment, people, property, the environment,

then product. then product.

10 Commandments of 10 Commandments of Emergency ResponseEmergency Response

III—Get the big picture early—get siteIII—Get the big picture early—get site assessment ASAP. assessment ASAP.

10 Commandments of 10 Commandments of Emergency ResponseEmergency Response

IV—Plan your work and IV—Plan your work and work your plan. work your plan.

10 Commandments of 10 Commandments of Emergency ResponseEmergency Response

V—Put together the best team for V—Put together the best team for the job. the job.

10 Commandments of 10 Commandments of Emergency ResponseEmergency Response

VI—Establish the required support VI—Establish the required support systems for a sustained response. systems for a sustained response.

10 Commandments of 10 Commandments of Emergency ResponseEmergency Response

VII—Don’t loose track of yourVII—Don’t loose track of your resources. resources.

10 Commandments of 10 Commandments of Emergency ResponseEmergency Response

VIII—Maintain proper documentation VIII—Maintain proper documentation of the response. of the response.

10 Commandments of 10 Commandments of Emergency ResponseEmergency Response

IX—Understand and work IX—Understand and work with the agencies. with the agencies.

10 Commandments of 10 Commandments of Emergency ResponseEmergency Response

X—If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!!!X—If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!!!