incident communications 2.0 a plan for meeting … · 2019. 2. 22. · 2 technical specialists. ics...

Jim Jarvis February 20, 2019

C I S A | C Y B E R S E C U R I T Y A N D I N F R A S T R U C T U R E S E C U R I T Y A G E N C Y

INCIDENT COMMUNICATIONS 2.0A PLAN FOR MEETING CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS WITHIN NIMS

MICHIGAN INTEROPERABILITY CONFERENCE 2019


Current State

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Technical SpecialistsICS functions in a wide variety of incidents that need technical specialists. Technical specialists have special expertise and skills, and they are activated only when needed. No specific qualifications are prescribed, as technical specialists normally perform the same duties during an incident that they perform in their everyday jobs, and they are typically certified in their fields or professions


Emergency Communications Landscape

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Evolving Needs and Concerns

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The demand for technology has exceeded the capability of the ICS

The use of IT to support incident response is inconsistent at best

Communications staff are regularly excluded from planning and general staff meetings

Lack of a unified, typed approach is inconsistent with ICS


Event ObservationsExamples of Recent Events

• Houston, San Francisco, Chicago Marathons• NCAA National Football Championship• Presidential Inauguration• Super Bowls• RNC/DNC• World Conservation Congress (POTUS Visit)• Kentucky Derby• Milwaukee Summerfest• BMW Golf Championship Tournament• Return of the Los Angeles Rams• Boston Harborfest• 4th of July (Red, White and Boom)

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• CISA engagements with local-level stakeholders during “real-world” events

• Benefits include—– Operational products and recommendations

provided directly to local agencies– Increased awareness of support at the local

levels– Real-world data to inform CISA

• Over the past year, CISA has increased its focus on mobile data use during these events, including piloting a Mobile Data Event Observation during the 2018 Houston Marathon


Evidence and Research

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• After Action Reports regularly document communications and information management challenges

• Incident commanders and responding personnel have an increased expectation for on-scene incident technology including video and data transmission, audio/video conferencing, and mobile smartphones

• Recognizing the need for data and information management, the Department of Defense elevated communications support to the equivalent of an ICS Section by creating J6 staff in the late 1990s


Mobile Data Usage

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DATA TECHNOLOGY IN USE DURING EVENTSAUTOMATIC VEHICLE LOCATION X X

BROADBAND MESH X

CELLULAR DATA X X X X X X X X X X X X X

COMMERCIAL CABLE X

EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM X X X X

GIS APPLICATIONS X X X X X X X X X

GUNSHOT DETECTION X

INFORMATION SHARING PLATFORMS X X X X X X X X X

LAN X X X X X X X X X X X X X

MICROWAVE DATA X X X X X

MOBILE COMMAND VEHICLE X X X X X X X X X

MOBILE DATA COMPUTERS X X X X X

NETWORKED SENSORS / DETECTORS X X

PATIENT TRACKING / HOSPITAL STATUS X X

SATELLITE DATA X X

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS TOOLS X X X X X X X X X X

SMART PHONE APPS X X X X X X X X

SMS / MMS X X X

SOCIAL MEDIA X X X X X X X X X X X X X

SUSPECT VEHICLE TRACKING X

VIDEO CAMERAS X X X X X X

VIDEO DOWNLINK X X X X X X X

VISUAL MESSAGE BOARDS X X X X

WIFI X X X X X X X X X X X X


What We’ve Found – Land Mobile RadioSuccesses: • Well managed pubic safety land mobile radio systems• Interoperability approaches included in pre-planning • Use of national interoperability channels• Comprehensive, well-constructed, NIMS-compliant

incident and communications planning documentation (IAPs, Communications Plans, reference guides, etc.)

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Source: Washington Post


What We’ve Found – Land Mobile Radio

Challenges: • Radio familiarity / location of less common

channels• Common channel naming within a region • Encryption in multi-agency events requires

more formalized policies, procedures

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What We’ve Found – Land Mobile Radio

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LMR Interoperability has come a long way since we first started conducting observations


What We’re Finding – Mobile Data

Successes: • Extensive use of tools and applications to establish

situational awareness and common operational picture (data, video, voice communications capabilities),

• Increased leverage of social media platforms and emergency notification systems

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Challenges: • Planning / governance groups have not addressed mobile

data use across or among agencies – need to engage all P/S disciplines together in an area

• Incident communications / operations (NIMS/ICS) are still largely land mobile radio focused and do not fully account for data devices / applications

• Mobile data is vulnerable to old (e.g, jamming) and new (e.g., hacking) security risks

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Mobile Data is being used, but coordination and interoperability are ad hoc or non-existent


SAFECOM

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• SAFECOM was formed in 2001 as part of the Presidential E-Government Initiative to improve public safety interoperability, allowing emergency responders to communicate effectively before, during, and after emergencies and disasters

• SAFECOM’s mission is to improve emergency response providers’ inter-jurisdictional and inter-disciplinary emergency communications interoperability through collaboration with emergency responders across Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial governments, and international borders

• SAFECOM members represent 48 public safety and intergovernmental associations


NCSWIC

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• ECD partners with Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (SWICs) to help advance communications capabilities at the state level

• SWIC Responsibilities include:• Statewide Plan program management • Outreach • Grants coordination• Policy development• Measurement

• ECD supports the NCSWIC in providing a forum for SWIC collaboration and improved coordination across States


Communications Section Task Force

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SAFECOM and NCSWIC formed the Communications Section Task Force to address gaps within the ICS through the development of:

• A nationwide, federated, governance framework to promote and provide consistent recruitment, training, retention, and support for all-hazards incident communications

• National standards for qualification, certification, and credentialing

• Updated training courses and curriculum

• Clarification of existing ICS position descriptions including the Communications Unit Leader (COML), Communications Technician (COMT), and Radio Operator (RADO) to include the all-hazards environment

• Develop structural changes within the NIMS structure to support incident communications evolving complexity


Task Force Findings

• The rapidly increasing complexity of voice and data communications within incident management requires a single point of coordination for the efficient and resilient provision of this critical service.

• As with a CIO or a J6, incident leadership must have direct communications / data / cybersecurity support.

• Adding a new position to Command and General staff to enable effective coordination across the entire Incident command structure, lessening the burden to the Incident Commander.

• Provide standardized resources to simultaneously establish positive radio communications and network connectivity managing the demand for digital information in multiple forms.

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Notional Communications Section

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IT Service Unit PositionsThe IT Service Unit includes six standardized ICS positions to support information technology equipment and infrastructure,

information management, cybersecurity and help desk operations during planned and unplanned events.


IT Service Unit Leader

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What is an ITSL?

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As currently proposed, the Information Technology Service Unit Leader (ITSL) reports to the Communications Section Chief (CSC), and is responsible for:

• Partnering with the COML in establishing and maintaining Information Technology system performance

• Managing all personnel and operational aspects of Information Technology

• Specific responsibilities related to the position are detailed in the ITSL Position Task Book (PTB)


IT Service Unit Leader

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What’s been done to date?

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• CISA is working to facilitate the development of recommendations to FEMA to modify and enhance the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System (ICS) regarding the role of communications within ICS

• CISA has stood up the Incident Communications Advisory Council (ICAC)

• Positions• Roles• Responsibilities• Functional Changes in ICS

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• Engage key partners in building a governance framework to support incident communications

• Engage the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Integration Center (NIC) and National Advisory Council (NAC)

• Deliver the IT Services Unit Leader Course

Next Steps

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incident communications 2.0 a plan for meeting … · 2019. 2. 22. · 2 technical specialists. ics...

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