Plugging Into the Local Incident Command System

1
Plugging Into the Local Incident Command System

• Health Physics Society Midyear Meeting
• February 2005 New Orleans, LA
• Sponsored with the Assistance of the Health
  Physics Society Homeland Security Committee

2
Speakers

• Tom OConnell
• MA Department of Public Health
• Liaison to Hazardous Materials Teams
• IAEA Consultant
• Steve Clendenin
• Retired Fire Captain 26 Years
• Deputy Director MA Hazmat Response
• FEMA Urban Search Rescue Task Force

3
Agenda

• The Emergency Environment
• The Incident Command System
• Interface Programs
• Getting Connected

4
Emergencies Sliding the Pole

• Two Scenarios
• Investigation leading to realization that
  something BAD is happening.
• Slow buildup
• Rapid Violent Events

5
Rapid Violent Event

• Mass Confusion
• Lack of Information
• Psychological impact
• Death
• Injury
• Need for IMMEDIATE DECISIONS
• The Buck has stopped with YOU.

6
WHEN THE EXPERTS PANIC-THEY CALL THE FIRE DEPT.
Old Bumper Sticker
7
Emergency Respondersare Called -

• When Normal Safeguards Have Failed
• When Deliberate Harm is Intended
• Terrorism
• Arson
• Revenge / Anger
• Loonies

8
People You Meet at the Scene

• Victims
• Responsible Parties
• Guilt
• Fear of Litigation
• Desire to Minimize or Conceal
• Other Responding Agencies

9
People You Meet at the Scene

• People with Good Information
• People with Bad Information
• People with Issues
• The Problem is sorting them out

10
The Scene
11
Im an Expert and Im here to Help you
12
Sometimes There is No Perfect Answer
13
Experts Must Understand Their Audiences Needs to
be Effective
14
(No Transcript)
15
(No Transcript)
16
NIMS / ICS
Managing Disaster
17
Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5

• To prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover
  from terrorist attacks, major disasters, and
  other emergencies, the United States Government
  shall establish a single, comprehensive approach
  to domestic incident management. The objective of
  the United States Government is to ensure that
  all levels of government across the Nation have
  the capability to work efficiently and
  effectively together, using a national approach
  to domestic incident management

18
What is the National Incident Management System,
or NIMS?

• A system that provides a consistent nationwide
  approach for incident management
• Requires Federal, State, tribal, and local
  governments to work together before, during, and
  after incidents
• Involves preparing for, preventing, responding
  to, and recovering from domestic incidents
• All causes, sizes, and complexities of incidents

19
Incident Command System FEMA IS-100

• MA Department of Fire Services
• MA Department of Public Health

20
Why Use ICS

• Time Proven System of Management
• Standardized Approach
• All Hazards Concept
• Modular and Flexible
• Common Terminology

21
Common ICS Terminology

• Span of Control
• Operation Period
• Facilities
• Incident Command Post
• Camps
• Bases
• Staging Areas

22
Origins of ICS

• State of California Late 1970s
• F I R E S C O P E
• Firefighting Resources of California Organized
  for Potential Emergencies
• Goals
• Fire Service Management
• Technology
• Incident Command
• Multi-Agency Coordination

23
Two Key Concepts

• Unity of Command
• You can only take orders from one person
• Span of Control
• You can only directly supervise a limited number
  of people

24
(No Transcript)
25
(No Transcript)
26
ICS Organizational Titles

• Standard and Specific to ICS
• Positions not filled by Rank
• Qualified Personnel
• Minimizes Confusion
• Management Areas

27
Incident Commander

• Responsible for Overall Incident
• Objectives
• Strategies
• Priorities
• Life Safety
• Incident Stabilization
• Property Conservation

28
Command Staff
29
Command Staff Positions

• Incident Commander
• Safety Officer
• Liaison Officer
• Public Information Officer

30
General Staff Sections
Sections Comprise General Staff Chief for Each
Management Section
31
Operations Section

• Position Title - Operations Chief
• Executes IAP Operations Responsible for
• Reports to IC
• Accomplishing Objectives
• Strategies
• Tactics
• Tasks

32
Planning Section

• Position Title - Planning Chief
• Develops the IAP
• Responsible for
• Reports to IC
• Data Evaluation
• Long Term Direction
• Technical Specialists

33
Incident Action Plan

• Every Incident - Verbal or Written
• Provides Direction for
• Operational Period
• Measurable Tactical Operations
• Minimum of Four Elements
• What do We Want to do?
• Who is Responsible for Job?
• How to Communicate?
• Procedures for Injuries?

34
(No Transcript)
35
Planning SectionTechnical Specialists

• Certain Incidents or Events May Require the use
  of Technical Specialists who Have Specialized
  Knowledge and Expertise.
• Assigned Wherever Their Services are Required.
• In the Planning Section, Technical Specialists
  May Report to the Following
• Planning Section Chief
• A Designated Unit Leader

36
Logistics Section

• Position Title - Logistics Chief
• Provides Support, Resources
• Inputs into the IAP
• Responsible for
• Process Requests
• Advise on Capabilities
• Report to IC

37
Finance Section

• Position Title - Finance Chief
• Provides Support, Resources
• Inputs into the IAP
• Responsible for
• Process Requests
• Advise on Capabilities
• Report to IC

38
Types of Incident Facilities

• Incident Location
• Incident Command Post
• Staging Area
• Camps
• Base

39
Responder Responsibilities

• Check In Process
• Locate Personnel for Emergencies
• Ensures Accountability
• Organize the Demobilization
• Tracking Resources
• Prepare for Assignments
• No Freelancing

40
Summary of ICS Concepts

• IC Position Always Filled
• Command Staff-Officers
• General Staff Section Chiefs
• IAP for Operational Period
• Common Terminology Used
• ICS Organization Independent

41
Summary of ICS Concepts

• Span of Control 3-7 persons
• Briefings Must Take Place
• Only One Base Facility - Fixed
• Camps Can Move
• Staging Waiting Area for Assets
• ICS - Flexible Management Tool

42
Questions on FEMA IS-100
43
Quiz

• What is RAM?

• A. Truck with a Hemi
• B. Animal
• C. Random Access Memory
• D. Radioactive Material
• E. Rapid Access Mass Decon

• YESAll of the Above

44
Do You Understand Me

• Communication with Common Language is KEY to
  Success
• NO Acronyms
• NO Codes
• Ten Four Big Buddy
• Understand the Big Picture
• Quick - to the Point Solutions

45
Ten Things Not to Say to a FR

• Sievert
• Gray
• Depth Dose Equivalent
• Let Me Think About That
• We Cant Do That
• You Cant Do That
• Committed Dose
• Effective Dose
• Be Gentle With The Equipment
• Discuss the Quantum Theory

46
Get to Know Your Local Responders

• Fire
• Police
• EMS
• Lower the Better
• Offer Training Assistance
• Get to Know Local/State Assets and Response
  Organizations

47
FEMA CERT Program

• Citizens Emergency Response Teams
• National Program
• Local Implementation
• Prepares Communities to Respond
• Training is Local by Local
• Emergency and Non-Emergency

48
FEMA CERT Program

• Benefits
• Better Understanding of Community
• Potential Community Hazards
• Understanding Develops Perspective
• Improves Disaster Response
• More Hands Make Lighter Work
• Credentialing
• http//training.fema.gov/emiweb/cert/dir.asp

49
State SERC / Local LEPC

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know
  Act (EPCRA)
• Clean Air Act (CAA)
• SERC
• State Emergency Response Commissions
• LEPC
• Local Emergency Planning Committee

50
Local LEPC Members

• Local Emergency Planning Committee
• Appointed by the SERC
• Must Contain Representatives from
• Local Officials
• Local Public Safety
• Local Public Health
• Local Emergency Management
• Local Hospitals
• Community Groups
• Facilities Subjected to EPCRA

51
Local LEPC Activities

• Develop Emergency Plans
• Community Specific
• Prepare for And Respond to Chemical
• Annual Review of Plan
• Exercise the Plan
• Work with Facilities to Minimize Risk
• Inform Population of Chemical Risks
• http//www.rtknet.org/resources.php

52
Summary

• Learn the Responders View of Incidents
• Get Integrated into Your Community
• Understand Your Audiences Needs
• Fast Breaking EventsFast Solutions
• Understand the Response Systems
• Learn the Systems
• Volunteer Your Expertise
• There is Always a Solution

Photo by Capt Cadd CA