Title: Introduction to the Incident Command System for Amateur Radio Operators
1Introduction to the Incident Command Systemfor
Amateur Radio Operators
Sharon Kennedy, AC7UK City of Hillsboro Emergency
Manager voice (503) 681-6412 fax (503)
681-6208 sharonk_at_ci.hillsboro.or.us
Its not as hard as it looks!
2Introduction to ICSModule Overview
- Why ICS?
- ICS Components
- ICS Major Functional Areas
- Incident Commander
- Command Staff
- General Staff
- ICS Examples
- ICS Planning Process
3Why 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!
4ICS Components
- Common terminology
- Modular organization
- Integrated communications
- Unified command structure
- Consolidated action plans
- Manageable span of control
- Pre-designated incident facilities
- Comprehensive resource management
5ICS Major Functional Areas
- Incident Command
- Command Staff
- General Staff
6ICS 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
7ICS 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
8ICS 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)
9ICS 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
10ICS 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
11Command 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
12Emergency 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
13ICS 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
14ICS 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!
15ICS 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!
16ICS 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!
17ICS In Its Simplest Form!
Incident Commander
18Another Simple ICS Organization
19Emergency Operations CenterICS Structure
You are here!
20ICS In a Pre-Planned EventY2K
You are here!
(Doing damage assessment function or reporting
neighborhood status)
21EOC/Field Integration
In the EOC
Out in the Field
Site A
Site B
Site C
Site D
22More EOC/Field Integration!
Federal Government
State ECC
Site A
Site B
Site C
Site D
23ICS 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
24(No Transcript)
25Operations 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
26Do 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
27Quiz 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?
28Quiz 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?
29Quiz 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?
30Quiz Question 4
- The Incident Commander is responsible for
performing the functions of any position that
hasnt been delegated. - True or false?
31Quiz 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?
32Quiz 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!)
33Quiz Question 7
- The span of control of any supervisor should
range from three to seven people, with five as
ideal. - True or false?
34Quiz 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?
35Quiz 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?
36Quiz Question 10
- The Safety Officer provides oversight for all
tactical activities and has the authority to
stop/prevent unsafe acts. - True or false?
37ICS 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
38QUESTIONS?
39 The graphic below shows the general flow of
planning events and timing for the planning
cycle. Times are approximate.
EMERGENCY CENTER DAILY PLANNING CYCLE