Incident Command System (ICS)/ North West Area Contingency Plan

(NWACP) Overview for Wildlife Volunteers

Elizabeth PetrasRegional Response Team Coordinator Elizabeth.j.petras@uscg.mil

U.S. Coast GuardThirteenth District Response Advisory Team (DRAT)

Objectives

• Review ICS and wildlife volunteers’ roles

• Describe the Northwest Area Plan/Regional Response Plan

• Provide volunteers with the information to help them be successful during a response

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Incident Command System (ICS) defined

• ICS is a management system designed to enable effective and efficient incident management by integrating all elements of a response into a common organizational structure.

• It enables incident managers to identify key concerns and priorities during an incident, set objectives, and organize response with consideration of all elements of the team.

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ICS- HISTORY

o Started in early 1970’s in Southern California for Responding to Wildland Fires. Developed out of a need for common emergency response management system

o Designed to include all levels of government, private companies and individuals

o Post 9-11, Homeland Security Presidential Directive Five (HSPD-5) issued February 2003

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ICS HISTORY Con’t

o Purpose of HSPD-5 was to:

“enhance the ability of the United States to manage domestic incidents by establishing a single, comprehensive national

incident management system.”

o National Incident Management System (NIMS) – March 2004o Provides the national standard for incident management

o Based on the National Interagency Incident Management System (NIIMS) Incident Command System (ICS) used in wildfires and later, oil spills

o So basically we have to use it. 5

ICS PRINCIPLES

o Provides:

o A consistent Organization to manage an integrated response

o A common Language and terminology for clear communications

o A Process to effectively manage a response and ensure smooth information flow

o Forms (documentation) to communicate critical response information during the response

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ICS FUNCTIONS

Primary ICS Functions

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INCIDENT COMMAND/UNIFIED COMMAND

o The pre-designated Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC)

o The State On-Scene Coordinator (SOSC)

o The Incident Commander for the Responsible Party (RPIC)

o Other on-scene coordinators (as appropriate) e.g. Local On-Scene Coordinator (LOSC), Tribal On-Scene Coordinator (TOSC), etc.

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COMMAMD’S TOP OBJECTIVES

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1. Provide for the safety and welfare of citizens and response personnel

2. Identify and protect environmentally sensitive areas including wildlife, habitats, sacred sites, and historic properties.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

o Command - sets the objectives or goals

o Planning - works with Operations to define strategies to meet the objectives & tracks the status of the response

o Operations - determines and implements specific tactics to achieve response objectives

o Logistics - orders the needed resources or supplies to implement and support the operational tactics

o Finance/Administration - tracks costs, time and claims, and procures needed contracts

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BASIC ICS ORGANIZATION

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FOSCSOSC

LOSCTOSC

RPIC

INCIDENT ACTION PLAN (IAP)

o The IAP gives specific direction to the responders in the field needed to safely carry out assignments

o Preparing and distributing the IAP is the primary focus of the meeting cycle and the forms

o The IAP is a action plan, not a summary document or status report

o UC/IC approves IAP

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FIELD OPERATIONS

o Field operations are directed at safely controlling the source, protecting the environment and removing/disposing of contaminants

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FORMS/PRODUCTS

o Form 202: Incident Objectiveso Form 207: Incident Organization Charto Form 215: Operational Planning Worksheeto Form 204: Assignment List o Form 214/214a: Unit Log/Individual Logo Form 213RR – Resource Requesto Incident Action Plan (IAP) o Press Releases

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We plan for response using ICS by cooperating with many agencies through the RRT and NWAC

NW Area Committee

Regional Response Team

We prepare for spills by continually updating our planso Annual Updates to our NW Area Contingency Plan

o NW Area Committee Task Force recommendations

o Exercises and Drillso Lessons Learned are collected to be implemented into

improvements into the NWACP

o Training and Outreach activitieso NW Area Committee and Regional Response Team

Meetings o Public input on plans

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Northwest Area Contingency Plan

Table of Contents (incomplete)

1000Introduction2000Command3000Operations4000Planning5000Logistics6000Finance/Administration7000Hazardous Substances (Including Weapons of Mass Destruction) Unique Information8000Sector Columbia River’s Marine Fire fighting Contingency Plan 9000 Response Tools9101 Region 10 Response Team and Northwest Area Committee Charter9105 Incident Specific Region 10 Response Team Activation – Quick Response Guide9106 Response Partner Roles and Contacts 9202 Joint Information Center Manual9203 Health and Safety Job Aid 9210 Liaison Manual9220 96 Hour Plan for Major Incidents 9301 Oil Spill Best Management Practices9302 Oil Response in Fast Water Current: A Decision Tool 9310 Northwest Wildlife Response Plan9311 Northwest Area Wildlife Deterrence (hazing) Resources 9312 Oil Spill Marine Mammal Resources9313 Wildlife Branch Position Descriptions9314 Potential Mobile Bird Rehabilitation Unit (MRU) Deployment Locations in Coastal Counties

*Continues through to section 9710

The full plan is available at: http://rrt10nwac.com/NWACP/Default.aspx

Northwest Wildlife Response Plan

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When oil spills occur, the Incident Command System (ICS) is used as the organizational structure to coordinate the response actions. The ICS organizational structure typically includes the Unified Command and the Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance Sections. The actual response organization will grow to fit the level of response necessary for a specific incident. Response actions concerning the protection, identification, rescue, processing, and rehabilitation of oiled or threatened wildlife are performed by the Wildlife Branch within the Operations Section.

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Wildlife Branch Director

Bird Recovery and Rehabilitation Group

Marine Mammal Recovery and

Rehabilitation Group

Deputy Wildlife Branch Director

Bird Rehabilitation Unit

(center manager)

Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Unit

(center manager)

Bird Recovery and Transportation Unit

Marine Mammal Recovery and

Transportation Unit

Bird Hazing Unit Marine Mammal Hazing Unit

Wildlife Reconnaissance Group

Aerial Survey Unit

Boat Survey Unit

Shoreline Survey Unit

Volunteer Coordinator Volunteer Coordinator

Wildlife Veterinarian

Wildlife Volunteers

Wildlife Volunteers

Northwest Wildlife Response Plan (cont.)

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Clear and effective communication between the Wildlife Branch, the Environmental Unit, the Situation Unit, and the Joint Information Center is critical. Wildlife Branch field staff perform reconnaissance by land, boat, and air. Environmental Unit staff gather information regarding wildlife impacts (aerial overflights, field observers, and on-the-ground Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Teams). The Wildlife Branch and the Environmental Unit share information so it can be used by the Planning and Operations Sections in planning of response strategies. The Wildlife Branch Director is responsible for keeping the Unified Command and JIC informed on status of affected wildlife. The Branch Director works with Operations Section Chief, Situation and Environmental Units in the Planning Section to accomplish this.The Wildlife Branch may have a Wildlife Liaison position to ensure effective communication and coordination among these different groups.

OPERATIONAL PLANNING CYCLE

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The Tactics Meeting Lists Specific Tactics toMeet the Objectives

Initial UC Meeting or UC Objectives Meeting Establishes OP and Incident Objectives

The Planning Meeting Lays out the IAP to the UC for approval

The Operations Briefing(s)Gives Direction to Field Personnel Through the IAP

Intial Action Plan Documents Initial Response Actions

Wildlife Branch Interactions within ICS

o Wildlife Branch activities affect and interact with numerous other sections of theIncident Command System and it is important that good communications areestablished and maintained between the Wildlife Branch and other responders.

o In particular, coordination between the Wildlife Branch and the Environmental Unit(EU) in the Planning Section, is essential.

o Planning Section Chief may assign a Wildlife Technical Specialist within the EU tohelp with coordination.

o Wildlife Branch Director is responsible for keeping the Operations Section Chiefand Unified Command informed about the status of branch operations. 23

Wildlife Branch Responsibilities within the ICS Response Structure

o Wildlife Branch is responsible for:o Providing information to Unified Command, Planning Section, and Public

Information Officer/Joint Information Center relative to the dailynumbers of live and dead animals and their status.

o Attending tactics meetings, planning meetings, and Unified Commandbriefings

o Coordinating with Air Operations regarding wildlife overflights

o Coordinating with Logistics Section in accordance with existing IC/UCpolicy for any materials needed.

o Working with the Planning Section, Demobilization Unit to developWildlife Branch Demobilization Plan.

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Wildlife Branch

o Develops operational strategies, tactics and resource needs for operations activities for the Branch in the Incident Action Plan.

o The Branch Director or one of the Branch staff will work closely with the Safety Officer or one of the Safety Assistants to develop a section of the Site Safety Plan specific to wildlife response activities.

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Wildlife Branch Operations

o Operations activities can include:

o Wildlife deterrence

o Conducting oiled wildlife search and recovery

o Transportation of oil-impacted wildlife

o Rehabilitation of oiled wildlife

o Release of rehabilitated wildlife

o Wildlife Branch Director will implement:

o Operational guidelines

o Standard of care requirements of the Best Practicesfor Migratory Bird Care During Oil Spill Response,Washington Sea Otter Response Handbook, and theKiller Whale Hazing and Monitoring Plan in allaspects of Wildlife Branch operations.

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You’re out in the field, following the 204, and you see this guy - what do you do?

Check the 204, is responding to the animal in the area on the 204?

If not, contact your supervisor

• Wildlife may or may not already be planning to get him.

• Plans are continually being updated, so your information is valuable.

• Please, don’t assume and act, always ask.

Think about safety - yours, the animal’s and other responders.

What are some of the risks in this photograph?

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Summary NWACP/RRP

• The plan is a dynamic document with input from many agencies, organizations and individuals.

• Wildlife operations are a critical part of response and detailed information on wildlife operations and your role is in the plan.

• Public input is always welcome

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Summary - ICS

• It’s the structure we function under in response and allows for many people to work together.

• Free training is available at the FEMA website https://training.fema.gov/nims/

• Safety is always the first objective of response.

• Never assume and act, always ask when part of a response

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Thank you

• For all that you do and your dedication to the wildlife of the Pacific Northwest.

• Any questions?

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