Incident Command System

What is Incident Command System designed for?

Designed to coordinate multiagency multijurisdictional events.

What are incident command priorities?

In order of priority they are:

LIfe Safety

Incident Stabilization

Property Conservation

What is the Incident Commander Responsibility?

All responsibility belongs to the incident commander unless specifically delegated

What are the 2 constraints of Incident Command responsibility?

1) Unity of command: Each member of the team regardless of the assigned position reports to and is responsible to only one person.

2) Span of control: No leader is directly responsible for more than 3 to 7 personnel or functions.

What are the four primary sections of ICS?

1) Operations

2) Planning

3) Logistics

4) Finance/Administration

What does Operations do?

Operations: Responsible for tactical decisions and maintaining situational awareness

Includes staging manager who coordinates available resources waiting on an assignment.

What does Planning do?

Primary responsibility of drafting an incident action plan for approval by the incident commander.

What does logistics do?

Service branch

-communications, food and water, medical support

Support branch

-fuel, maintenance, access to fixed facilities

What does Finance/Administration?

Staffed when significant procurement capabilities are needed

-maintains records and personnel involved in periods worked

-Should be headed by a government official with authority to spend funds and sign contracts

When does ICS institute branches?

Used when the number of divisions or groups exceed the recommended span of control

When does ICS institute divisions?

Used to divide an incident geographically division is led by a supervisor.

What is the definition of a unit?

Functional responsibility for a specific activity. i.e. supply unit, situational unit

What is the definition of single resources?

An individual or single piece of equipment with its personnel complement. A crew or team of individuals with an identified supervisor.

What is a definition of a task force?

A combination of mixed resources, common communication capability, led by a task force leader

What is the definition of a strike team?

Set number of similar resources. Operate under command of a strike team leader.

What is the safety officers role?

Responsible for scene and overall safety for responders and civilians.

What positions are not included in span of control constraints?

Safety officer, public information officer, and Liaison officer.

What does a liaison officer's role?

Provides a conduit for two-way information exchange between the IC and representatives of other responding agencies.

What courses are there for ICS?

ICS100: Introduction to incident command principles

ICS 200: single resource and initial action incidents

ICS 700: NIMS

ICS 800: National Response Framework

what is the role of the medical director in ICS?

IT is not well defined. Dependent on local policies, EMS medical director may be assigned to the unified command, medical branch, or as advisor/subject matter expert.