Incident Command System

Definitions

• Incident– An occurrence that requires action by

emergency service personnel

• Incident Command System (ICS)– A standardized, on-scene, all-hazard

incident management concept

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ICS Organization

• Five Major Management Functions

Operations Section

Planning Section

IncidentCommand

LogisticsSection

Finance/Administration

Section

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Span of Control

• Refers to the number of individuals or resources that one person can effectively manage

• Effective span of control ranges from 3 to 7 reporting elements per supervisor

• If the number of reporting elements is not within this range, expansion or consolidation of the ICS organization may be needed

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ICS Position TitlesOrganizational Level

TitleSupport Position

Incident Command

Incident Commander

Deputy

Command Staff Officer Assistant

Section (General Staff)

Chief Deputy

Branch Director Deputy

Division/Group Supervisor N/A

Strike Team/Task Force

Leader N/A

Unit Leader Manager

Single ResourceUse unit designation

N/A

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ICS Organizational Components

• Sections – Responsible for major functional areas of the incident (Chief)

• Divisions – Responsible for certain geographic areas of the incident (Supervisor)

• Group – Responsible for functional areas of operations (Supervisor)

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ICS Organizational Components (con’t.)

• Branches – Used when the number of Divisions or Groups exceeds the span of control (Director)

• Task Force – Mixed resources with common communications (Task Force Leader)

• Strike Teams – Resources of the same kind and type with common communications (Strike Team Leader)

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• Unit – Has responsibility for a specific incident planning, logistics, or finance/administration activity

• Single Resources – Individuals, a piece of equipment and its personnel complement, or a crew or team of individuals with an identified supervisor

ICS Organizational Components (con’t.)

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Expanded ICS Organization

Operations Section

PlanningSection

UnitsUnits

SingleResource

SingleResources

CommandStaff

GeneralStaff

SingleResource

LogisticsSection

Finance / Administration

Section

TaskForce

StrikeTeam

SingleResource

Group(function)

Division(geography)

Incident Command

Branch Branch

Branch Branch

UnitsUnits

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Incident Command• Incident Commander may have

one or more deputies from same agency or from agencies in another jurisdiction

Operations section

PlanningSection

LogisticsSection

Finance/ Adm inistration

Section

LiaisonOfficer

SafetyOfficer

PublicInform ation

Officer

IncidentCom mand

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The Incident Commander

Should be : Assertive Decisive Objective Calm Quick Thinker Adaptable Flexible Realistic Capable to delegate

positions

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The senior First responder on arrival

Agency with primary responsibility

? Highly Qualified Incident Commander

Who is the Incident CommanderSlide 12 of 35

At Transfer of Command, the outgoing Incident Commander must give the incoming commander a full briefing AND notify all staff of the change of command

Transfer of command

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Incident Command

Information Officer

Safety Officer

Liaison Officer

Delegation of duties

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Dependant on:

• Life Safety: This is the first priority

• Incident Stability: IC Determines strategy to:

– Minimize the effect that the incident may have on the surrounding area

– Maximize the response effort while using the resources efficiently

• Property conservation: Minimising damage

Expansion of Command Structure

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Operations Section

• Where tactical fieldwork is done

OperationsSection

Individual Assistance Group

Public Works & Engineering Group

Temporary Housing Task Force

M ass Care Task Force

Portable WaterTask Force

Debris Task force

Potable Water

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Planning Section

• Prepares the Incident Action Plan

Planning Section

ResourceUnit

Situation Unit

Docum entation Unit

Dem obilization Unit

TechnicalSpecialists

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Logistics Section

• Handles all service and support needs

Service Branch

CommunicationsUnit

Medical Unit A(Triage)

Medical Unit B(Treatment)

Support Branch

Facilities Unit

Logistics Section

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Finance Administration Section• Monitors costs

Finance/Administration Section

ProcurementUnit

Time Unit

Cost Unit

Compensation/Claims Unit

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ICS Features and Principles• Common terminology• Consistent organizational structure• Consistent position titles• Integrated Communications• Common incident facilities

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ICS Facilities

• Incident Command Post

• Base

• Staging Area(s)

B

S

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ICS Facilities (con’t.)

• Camp

• Helibase

• Helispots

C

H

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Unified Command

Operations Planning Logistics Finance/Adm inistration

Unified Com m and(Fire, DEP, Public W orks)

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Unified Command

• All responding agencies will jointly develop a common set of incident objectives and strategies, without losing or giving up agency authority, responsibility or accountability.– Incident will function under a single

coordinated Incident Action Plan– One Ops Section Chief will have

responsibility for implementing the plan– One Incident Command Post will be

established

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General Guidelines

• Establish an Incident Command Post (ICP)– Designate the location and make

it known to all incident resources– Account for expansion if situation

requires– Can be a mobile or fixed facility– Once established, try not to

move it– Manage the activity in the ICP!

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General Guidelines

• Develop Initial Organization– Fill essential top level staff functions

first; unit level positions can be filled as required

– Overestimate, rather than underestimate

– Basics needed first are •Operations •Resource Check-In•Resource Tracking•Logistical support

– Build it as you need it

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General Guidelines

• Consider specialized needs– Saves IC time when others can handle

things like media, agencies, etc.

• Maintain good span of control– Use 3-7 persons/supervisor as a guide– Anticipate and plan for growth

• Demobilize elements when no longer necessary

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Transfer of Incident Command

• May be during Shift Change• May occur when a senior person elects to

assume the Incident Commander role• Takes place when operational periods

change (shifts)• Takes place when lower ranking but more

qualified person would be best because of unique circumstances (site knowledge or specialized skill)

• Should be a face-to-face briefing for transfer of information and situation

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De-Escalation

• Document Everything! You are responsible for what you do or fail to do in managing an incident

• Conduct After Action Reviews and Lessons Learned sessions to gain knowledge and improve performance

• Provide crisis counseling or debriefing for responders as needed; offer it even for small incidents

• Rehab equipment and replace lost or used supplies for next incident

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Area Command

Planning Logistics Finance/Admin.

Area Command

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Integrated Operations

Information Liaison

Safety

UnifiedCommand

PD, FIRE, FBI

FBIOperations

FIRE/EMSOperations

JOC EOC

Planning Operations Logistics Finance

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Joint Operations Center

• A separate, off-site entity that coordinates the federal crisis and consequence management response

• Established by the FBI

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Emergency Operations Center

• Typically a pre-designated facility• Maintained by a jurisdiction• Staffing includes:

– Department heads– Government officials– Volunteer agencies

• It is not a part of on-scene management

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Summary

• Use of ICS will help organize and add logical flow to planned events and emergencies

• Additional training modules are available for more detail

• ICS is a proven tool in the management and coordination of known and unknown incidents

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Unless you try to do something beyond what you have

MASTERED,

YOU will never GROW . . .