Introduction to the Incident Command System for Amateur Radio Operators

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Introduction to the Incident Command Systemfor
Amateur Radio Operators
Sharon Kennedy, AC7UK City of Hillsboro Emergency
Manager voice [phone] fax (503)
681-6208 sharonk_at_ci.hillsboro.or.us
Its not as hard as it looks!
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Introduction to ICSModule Overview

• Why ICS?
• ICS Components
• ICS Major Functional Areas
• Incident Commander
• Command Staff
• General Staff
• ICS Examples
• ICS Planning Process

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Why ICS?

• Need for Organization
• Bring order out of chaos!
• Standardize response to different situations
• It has Advantages
• Flexible, yet concepts are consistent
• Everyone knows their place
• Integrated communications plan
• It just makes sense!
• Used by first responders around the nation
• Its proven, and it works!

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ICS Components

• Common terminology
• Modular organization
• Integrated communications
• Unified command structure
• Consolidated action plans
• Manageable span of control
• Pre-designated incident facilities
• Comprehensive resource management

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ICS Major Functional Areas

• Incident Command
• Command Staff
• General Staff

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ICS Major Functional AreasIncident Command

• Manages all incident operations
• May be single or unified command
• Performs all functions not delegated
• Prioritizes response actions, releases all
  resources
• Always first position
• to be activated

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ICS Major Functional AreasCommand Staff

• Safety Officer, Public Information Officer, and
  Liaison Officer
• Report directly to Incident Commander
• Management responsibilities for overall incident
  - all activities and sites

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ICS Major Functional AreasCommand Staff - Safety

• Identifies and evaluates hazards for all incident
  operations
• Provides direction for safe operations
• May halt unsafe operations
• May have assistants from
• other disciplines
• Mandated by law
• (SARA)

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ICS Major Functional AreasCommand Staff - Public
Info

• Gathers accurate, timely, and complete
  information
• Prepares press releases (with Incident
  Commanders approval)
• Acts as single media interface
• May prepare others for media interviews
• May have assistants

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ICS Major Functional AreasCommand Staff - Liaison

• Point of contact for representatives from other
  agencies
• Single command - all assisting agencies
• Unified command - all agencies not represented in
  command
• Authorized to speak
• for the commander
• on all matters

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Command Post Concept

• Staffed by Command Staff
• Directs tactical operations
• Keeps situation and resource status
• Located on-site
• Out of hot zone, but near operations
• May be just a vehicle!
• Performs command functions

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Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Concept

• Performs support functions
• Supports tactical operations carried out by the
  emergency responders in the field
• Allows emergency responders to focus on incident
• Is One Stop Shopping for tactical operations
• Is the keeper of the big picture
• Writes the Incident Action Plan

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ICS Major Functional AreasGeneral Staff -
Operations

• Reports to the Incident Commander
• Manages all tactical operations field
  activities designed to
• Reduce the immediate hazard
• Establish situation control
• Restore normal operations
• May supervise several
• subordinate functions

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ICS Major Functional AreasGeneral Staff -
Planning

• Reports to the Incident Commander
• Collects, evaluates, disseminates tactical
  information about the incident
• Maintains situation and resource status
• Manages the planning cycle
• May supervise several
• subordinate functions

May use amateur radio operators for this - as
spies in the field!
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ICS Major Functional AreasGeneral Staff -
Logistics

• Reports to the Incident Commander
• Provides all responder resources personnel,
  supplies, facilities, equipment, maintenance and
  fueling, transportation, feeding, medical
  services, and communications
• May supervise several
• subordinate
• functions

Including amateur radio!
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ICS Major Functional AreasGeneral Staff - Finance

• Reports to the Incident Commander
• Tracks all incident costs
• Responsible for payment of personnel costs,
  contracting and procurement, cost recovery,
  compensation for injuries claims
• May supervise several
• subordinate functions

Includes workers compensation for amateur radio
volunteers!
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ICS In Its Simplest Form!
Incident Commander
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Another Simple ICS Organization
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Emergency Operations CenterICS Structure
You are here!
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ICS In a Pre-Planned EventY2K
You are here!
(Doing damage assessment function or reporting
neighborhood status)
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EOC/Field Integration
In the EOC
Out in the Field
Site A
Site B
Site C
Site D
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More EOC/Field Integration!
Federal Government
State ECC
Site A
Site B
Site C
Site D
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ICS Planning Cycle

• There is a method to their madness!
• Absolutely necessary in a protracted event
• Responsibility of Planning Section, which must
  develop a split personality
• Monitors implementation of current action plan
• Generates action plan for next shift
• Requires input from all other sections
• Defines staffing and other resource requirements

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Operations Shift Change Briefing

• Present situation update
• Review Incident Action Plan
• Make any last-minute changes
• Discuss assignment of incident objectives
• Ask questions and clarify assignments
• Discuss logistical support details
• Communications, Medical Plan, Transportation,
  etc.
• Review safety message

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Do What You Can to Fit Into Your Served Agency

• Find your champion on their staff
• Learn more about their emergency
  operations/organization, such as their use the
  Incident Command System
• Accept their message forms, and translate them
  onto a radiogram if needed
• Exercise with them on a regular basis

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Quiz Question 1

• The Incident Command System (ICS) is applicable
  to both small day-to-day operations as well as
  very large and complex incidents.
• True or false?

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Quiz Question 2

• The Incident Command System (ICS) is applicable
  to amateur radio operations such as public safety
  events, club picnics, or Field Day.
• True or false?

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Quiz Question 3

• Depending upon the function they are performing,
  amateur radio operators could be part of the
  Logistics and/or Planning Sections.
• True or false?

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Quiz Question 4

• The Incident Commander is responsible for
  performing the functions of any position that
  hasnt been delegated.
• True or false?

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Quiz Question 5

• The Operations Chief is responsible for the
  management of all tactical activities, which
  are activities designed to
• Reduce the immediate hazard
• Establish situation control
• Restore normal operations
• True or false?

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Quiz Question 6

• In the case of a unified command, the incident
  objectives must adequately reflect the policies
  and needs of all participating jurisdictions or
  agencies.
• True or false?
• (This is a trick question!)

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Quiz Question 7

• The span of control of any supervisor should
  range from three to seven people, with five as
  ideal.
• True or false?

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Quiz Question 8

• The first arriving person should wait for the
  Incident Commander to arrive before establishing
  a command post and implementing the Incident
  Command System.
• True or false?

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Quiz Question 9

• If a representative of the media approaches you
  for an interview, you can talk to them about the
  contributions of amateur radio operators, but not
  about the progress of the incident.
• True or false?

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Quiz Question 10

• The Safety Officer provides oversight for all
  tactical activities and has the authority to
  stop/prevent unsafe acts.
• True or false?

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ICS Resources

• FEMA Independent Study Course (IS-195, Basic
  Incident Command System)
• http//training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/crslist.asp
• ICS Web-based Training
• http//www.wildlandfire.net/
• ICS E-Tools
• http//www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/ics/index.html
• Hospital Emergency ICS (HEICS) Sample Plan
• http//www.emsa.cahwnet.gov/dms2/heics3.htm

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QUESTIONS?
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The graphic below shows the general flow of
planning events and timing for the planning
cycle. Times are approximate.
EMERGENCY CENTER DAILY PLANNING CYCLE