Sarcf: Nims - The Incident Command System

Front 1

Incident Command System (ICS) is:

Back 1

A combination of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications operating within a common organizational structure, designed to aid in domestic incident management activities.

Front 2

Incident Command System (ICS) is used:

Back 2

A broad spectrum of emergencies, from small to complex incidents, both natural and manmade, including acts of catastrophic terrorism.

Front 3

Incident Command System (ICS) is used by:

Back 3

All levels of government—Federal, State, local, and tribal, as well as by many private-sector and nongovernmental organizations.

Front 4

ICS is usually organized around:

Back 4

Five major functional areas: command, operations, planning, logistics, and finance and administration

Front 5

Some of the more important “transitional steps” that are necessary to apply ICS in a field incident environment include:

Back 5

• recognizing and anticipating the requirement that organizational elements will be activated and taking the necessary steps to delegate authority as appropriate;• establishing incident facilities as needed, strategically located, to support field operations;• establishing the use of common terminology for organizational functional elements, position titles, facilities, and resources; and• rapidly evolving from providing oral direction to the development of a written Incident Action Plan.

Front 6

The ICS organizational structure is:

Back 6

Modular, extending to incorporate all elements necessary for the type, size, scope, and complexity of a given incident.

Front 7

The IC structural organization builds:

Back 7

From the top down; responsibility and performance begin with the incident command element and the IC.

Front 8

The Operations Section is:

Back 8

responsible for managing tactical operations at the incident site directed toward reducing the immediate hazard, saving lives and property, establishing situation control, and restoring normal conditions. Incidents can include acts of terrorism, wild land and urban fires, floods, hazardous material spills, nuclear accidents, aircraft accidents, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, tropical storms, war-related disasters, public health and medical emergencies, and other incidents requiring an emergency response.

Front 9

The types of agencies that could be included in the Operations Section include:

Back 9

Fire, law enforcement, public health, public works, and emergency services, working together as a unit or in combinations, depending on the situation. Many incidents may involve private individuals, companies, or nongovernmental organizations, some of which may be fully trained and qualified to participate as partners.

Front 10

What are the several different methods of organizing incident tactical operations?

Back 10

In some cases, a method will be selected to accommodate jurisdictional boundaries. In other cases, the approach will be strictly functional. In still others, a mix of functional and geographical approaches may be appropriate. The ICS offers extensive flexibility in determining the appropriate approach using the factors described above.

Front 11

The Operations Section Chief:

Back 11

Directly manages all incident tactical activities and implements the IAP.

Front 12

An Operations Section Chief should be designated:

Back 12

For each operational period and will have direct involvement in the preparation of the IAP for the period of responsibility.

Front 13

Divisions and groups are established:

Back 13

When the number of resources exceeds the Operations Section Chief’s manageable span of control.

Front 14

Divisions demarcate:

Back 14

Physical or geographical areas of operation within the incident area under the Operations Section.

Front 15

Groups demarcate:

Back 15

Functional areas of operation for the incident under the Operations Section.

Front 16

Why is the use of the two terms (Division and Groups) necessary for the Operational Section?

Back 16

Because division always refers to a geographical assignment and group always refers to a functional assignment. Both divisions and groups may be used in a single incident if there is justification for their use and if proper coordination can be effected. As additional types of resources are added to the organization, resources should be assigned into a division structure.

Front 17

What is a Single Resource?

Back 17

Resources may be employed on an individual basis. This is typically the case in the context of the initial response to the incident. During sustained operations, situations will typically arise that call for the use of a single helicopter, vehicle, mobile equipment, etc.

Front 18

What is a Task Force?

Back 18

Task Forces are any combination of resources put together to accomplish a specific mission. Task Forces have a designated leader and operate with common communications. Combining resources into Task Forces allows several key resource elements to be managed under one individual’s supervision, thus aiding in span of control.

Front 19

What is a Strike Team?

Back 19

A Strike Team consists of a set number of resources of the same kind and type operating under a designated leader with common communications between them. Strike Teams represent known capability and are highly effective management units.

Front 20

What is the recommended span of control?

Back 20

The recommended span of control is 1:5 (or as high as 1:10 for larger-scale law enforcement operations).

Front 21

When the recommended span of control is exceeded, the Operations Section Chief should:

Back 21

Set up two branches, allocating the divisions and groups between them.

Front 22

When should the Operations Section Chief establish Branches?

Back 22

• The Numbers of Divisions and/or Groups Exceed the Recommended Span of Control for the Operations Section Chief• The Nature of the Incident Calls for a Functional Branch Structure• The Incident is Multi-jurisdictional

Front 23

The Operations Section Chief may designate a director for the Air Operations Branch when:

Back 23

The complexity of air operations requires additional support and effort or when the incident requires mixing tactical and logistical utilization of helicopters and other aircraft.

Front 24

What is the purpose of the Air Support Branch?

Back 24

Flight safety is a paramount concern in complex operations and supports the requirement for a designated Air Operations Branch to ensure the de-confliction of assets and the integration of safety considerations into operational planning and mission execution.

Front 25

Who does a Branch report to?

Back 25

Operations Section Chief

Front 26

Who does a Division Report to?

Back 26

Operations Section Chief

Front 27

Who does a Group Report to?

Back 27

Operations Section Chief

Front 28

The Planning Section is responsible for:

Back 28

Collecting, evaluating, and disseminating tactical information pertaining to the incident.

Front 29

The Planning Section maintains:

Back 29

Information and intelligence on the current and forecasted situation, as well as the status of resources assigned to the incident.

Front 30

The Planning Section has how many primary units?

Back 30

The Planning Section has four primary units. (Five, if Technical Specialists are necessary)

Front 31

The Planning Section's main function:

Back 31

Prepares and documents IAPs and incident maps and gathers and disseminates information and intelligence critical to the incident.

Front 32

What are the primary units of the Planning Section?

Back 32

Resources Unit, Situation Unit, Documentation Unit, Demobilization Unit and Technical Specialists.

Front 33

The Planning Section Chief oversees:

Back 33

All incident-related data gathering and analysis regarding incident operations and assigned resources, develops alternatives for tactical operations, conducts planning meetings, and prepares the IAP for each operational period. This individual will normally come from the jurisdiction with primary incident responsibility and may have one or more deputies from other participating jurisdictions.

Front 34

What are the Responsibilities of the Resources Unit?

Back 34

Physical resources consist of personnel, teams, facilities, supplies, and major items of equipment available for assignment to or employment during incidents. The Resources Unit makes certain that all assigned personnel and other resources have checked in at the incident. This unit should have a system for keeping track of the current location and status of all assigned resources and should maintain a master list of all resources committed to incident operations.

Front 35

For effective management of their employment, resources must be categorized by:

Back 35

Capability and capacity across disciplines and tracked continuously as to status.

Front 36

What tools are necessary for maintaining an up-to-date and accurate picture of resource utilization?

Back 36

Status Conditions and Change in Status

Front 37

Tactical resources at an incident can have one of three status conditions - What are they?

Back 37

• Assigned resources are personnel, teams, equipment, or facilities that have checked in (or in the case of equipment and facilities, receipted for) and are supporting incident operations.• Available resources are personnel, teams, equipment, or facilities that have been assigned to an incident and are ready for a specific work detail or function.• Out-of-service resources are personnel, teams, equipment, or facilities that have been assigned to an incident but are unable to function for mechanical, rest, or personal reasons; or because their condition makes them unusable.

Front 38

Who is responsible for reporting a Change in Status?

Back 38

Normally, the individual who changes the status of a resource, such as equipment location and status, is responsible for promptly informing the Resources Unit.

Front 39

When should the Resources Unit be informed of a Change in Status?

Back 39

Promptly.

Front 40

What is the purpose of the Situation Unit?

Back 40

Collects, processes, and organizes ongoing situation information; prepares situation summaries; and develops projections and forecasts of future events related to the incident

Front 41

Who prepares maps and gathers and disseminates information and intelligence for use in the IAP?

Back 41

The Situation Unit.

Front 42

The Documentation Unit maintains:

Back 42

Accurate and complete incident files, including a complete record of the major steps taken to resolve the incident; provides duplication services to incident personnel; and files, maintains, and stores incident files for legal, analytical, and historical purposes.

Front 43

Why is Documentation is part of the Planning Section?

Back 43

Primarily because this unit prepares the IAP and maintains many of the files and records that are developed as part of the overall IAP and planning function.

Front 44

The Demobilization Unit develops:

Back 44

An Incident Demobilization Plan that includes specific instructions for all personnel and resources that will require demobilization.

Front 45

When should the Demobilization Unit should begin its work?

Back 45

Early in the incident, creating rosters of personnel and resources and obtaining any missing information as check-in proceeds.Note that many city- and county-provided resources, because they are local, do not require specific demobilization instructions.

Front 46

Once the Incident Demobilization Plan has been approved, the Demobilization Unit ensures:

Back 46

That it is distributed both at the incident and elsewhere as necessary.

Front 47

What is a Technical Specialist?

Back 47

These personnel have special skills and are activated only when needed.

Front 48

Where can a Technical Specialist serve within ICS?

Back 48

Specialists may serve anywhere within the organization, including the Command Staff.

Front 49

Why are Technical Specialist not considered a primary unit of the Planning Section?

Back 49

Generally, if the expertise is needed for only a short period and normally involves only one individual, that individual should be assigned to the Situation Unit. If the expertise will be required on a long-term basis and may require several personnel, it is advisable to establish a separate Technical Unit in the Planning Section.

Front 50

Who does a Resources Unit report to?

Back 50

Planning Section Chief

Front 51

Who does a Situation Unit report to?

Back 51

Planning Section Chief

Front 52

Who does a Documentation Unit report to?

Back 52

Planning Section Chief

Front 53

Who does a Demobilization Unit report to?

Back 53

Planning Section Chief

Front 54

Who do Technical Specialists report to?

Back 54

Planning Section Chief

Front 55

The Logistics Section:

Back 55

Meets all support needs for the incident, including ordering resources through appropriate procurement authorities from off-incident locations. It also provides facilities, transportation, supplies, equipment maintenance and fueling, food service, communications, and medical services for incident personnel.

Front 56

A Section Chief's Second in Command is known as:

Back 56

A Deputy.

Front 57

When the incident is very large or requires a number of facilities with large numbers of equipment, the Logistics Section can be divided into how many branches?

Back 57

Two.

Front 58

What are the two branches of a Logistics Section?

Back 58

Service Branch and Support Branch.

Front 59

The Supply Unit is responsible for:

Back 59

Orders, receives, stores, and processes all incident-related resources, personnel, and supplies.Once established, the Supply Unit also has the basic responsibility for all off-incident ordering, including• all tactical and support resources (including personnel)• all expendable and nonexpendable supplies required for incident support.Also provides the support required to receive, process, store, and distribute all supply orders; handles tool operations, which include storing, disbursing, and servicing of all tools and portable, nonexpendable equipment.

Front 60

The Facilities Unit is responsible for:

Back 60

Sets up, maintains, and demobilizes all facilities used in support of incident operations. The unit also provides facility maintenance and security services required to support incident operations.The Facilities Unit sets up the ICP, incident base, and camps, as well as trailers and/or other forms of shelter for use in and around the incident area. The incident base and camps may often be established in areas having existing structures, which may be used in their entirety or only in part. The Facilities Unit also provides and sets up necessary personnel support facilities, including areas for:• food and water service;• sleeping;• sanitation and showers; and• staging.This unit also orders, through supply, such additional support items as portable toilets, shower facilities, and lighting units.Note that providing shelter for victims is a critical operational activity, which will be incorporated into the IAP. Sheltering will normally be conducted by appropriate nongovernmental organization staff, such as the American Red Cross or other similar entities.

Front 61

The Ground Support Unit is responsible for:

Back 61

• maintains and repairs primary tactical equipment, vehicles, and mobile ground support equipment;• records usage time for all ground equipment (including contract equipment) assigned to the incident;• supplies fuel for all mobile equipment; provides transportation in support of incident operations (except aircraft); and • develops and implements the Incident Traffic Plan.In addition to its primary functions of maintaining and servicing vehicles and mobile equipment, the Ground Support Unit also maintains a transportation pool for major incidents. This pool consists of vehicles (e.g., staff cars, buses, pick-ups) that are suitable for transporting personnel. The Ground Support Unit also provides up-to-date information on the location and status of transportation vehicles to the Resources Unit.

Front 62

The Communications Unit is responsible for:

Back 62

Develops the Communications Plan (ICS205) to make the most effective use of the communications equipment and facilities assigned to the incident, installs and tests all communications equipment, supervises and operates the incident communications center, distributes and recovers communications equipment assigned to incident personnel, and maintains and repairs communications equipment on site.

Front 63

The Communications Unit major responsibility is:

Back 63

Effective communications planning for the ICS, especially in the context of a multiagency incident. This is critical for determining required radio nets, establishing interagency frequency assignments, and ensuring the interoperability and the optimal use of all assigned communications capabilities.

Front 64

The Communications Unit Leader is responsible for:

Back 64

Attend all incident-planning meetings to ensure that the communication systems available for the incident can support tactical operations planned for the next operational period.Incident communications are managed through the use of a common communications plan and an incident-based communications center established solely for the use of tactical and support resources assigned to the incident.Advance planning is required to ensure that an appropriate communications system is available to support incident operations requirements. This planning includes the development of frequency inventories, frequency-use agreements, and interagency radio caches.

Front 65

Which Unit is responsible for the Incident Communications Plan?

Back 65

The Communications Unit is responsible for planning the use of radio frequencies; establishing networks for command, tactical, support, and air units; setting up on-site telephone and public address equipment; and providing any required off-incident communication links. Codes should not be used for radio communication; a clear spoken message—based on common terminology that avoids misunderstanding in complex and noisy situations—reduces the chances for error.

Front 66

When is an Incident Communications Plan necessary?

Back 66

Most complex incidents will require an Incident Communications Plan.

Front 67

How are radio networks for large incidents normally organized?

Back 67

1. Command-Net.Links together: incident command, command staff, section chiefs, branch directors, division, and group supervisors.2. Tactical-Nets.Several tactical nets may be established to connect agencies, departments, geographical areas, or specific functional units. The determination of how nets are set up should be a joint planning, operation, and logistics function. The Communications Unit Leader will develop the overall plan.3. Support-Net.A support net may be established primarily to handle changes in resource status but also to handle logistical requests and other non-tactical functions.4. Ground-to-Air Net.To coordinate ground-to-air traffic, either a specific tactical frequency may be designated, or regular tactical nets may be used.5. Air-to-Air Nets.Air-to-air nets will normally be pre-designated and assigned for use at the incident.

Front 68

The Food Unit is responsible for:

Back 68

Determines food and water requirements; plans menus, orders food, provides cooking facilities, cooks, serves, maintains food service areas, and manages food security and safety concerns.Efficient food service is important, but especially so for any extended incident. The Food Unit must be able to anticipate incident needs, both in terms of the number of people who will need to be fed and whether the type, location, or complexity of the incident indicates that there may be special food requirements. The unit must supply food needs for the entire incident, including all remote locations (i.e., camps and staging areas), as well as supply food service to operations personnel unable leave operational assignments. The Food Unit must interact closely with the following elements:• Planning Section, to determine the number of personnel that must be fed;• Facilities Unit, to arrange food-service areas; • Supply Unit, to order food; • Ground Support Unit, to obtain ground transportation; and • Air Operations Branch Director, to obtain air transportation. Careful planning and monitoring is required to ensure food safety before and during food service operations, including the assignment, as indicated, of public health professionals with expertise in environmental health and food safety.Note that feeding victims is a critical operational activity, which will be incorporated into the IAP. Feeding activities will normally be conducted by members of an appropriate nongovernmental organization, such as the American Red Cross or similar entities.

Front 69

The Medical Unit is responsible for:

Back 69

Effective and efficient provision of medical services to incident personnel. The Medical Unit will ensure patient privacy to the fullest extent possible.Note that patient care and medical services for those who are not incident personnel (victims of a bioterror attack, hurricane victims, etc.) are critical operational activities associated with a host of potential incident scenarios. As such, these activities are incorporated into the IAP as key considerations of the Plans and Operations Sections. These sections should be staffed accordingly with appropriately qualified Emergency Medical Services public health, medical personnel, technical experts, and other professional personnel, as required.

Front 70

The Medical Leader is responsible for:

Back 70

Will develop a medical plan, which will, in turn, form part of the IAP.

Front 71

What is a Medical plan?

Back 71

The medical plan should provide specific information on medical assistance capabilities at incident locations, potential hazardous areas or conditions, and off-incident medical assistance facilities and procedures for handling complex medical emergencies.

Front 72

Which of the two branches of the Logistics Section does the Communications Unit report to?

Back 72

Service Branch.

Front 73

Which of the two branches of the Logistics Section does the Medical Unit report to?

Back 73

Service Branch.

Front 74

Which of the two branches of the Logistics Section does the Food Unit report to?

Back 74

Service Branch.

Front 75

Which of the two branches of the Logistics Section does the Supply Unit report to?

Back 75

Support Branch.

Front 76

Which of the two branches of the Logistics Section does the Facilities Unit report to?

Back 76

Support Branch.

Front 77

Which of the two branches of the Logistics Section does the Ground Support Unit report to?

Back 77

Support Branch.

Front 78

List the three Units under the Service Branch of the Logistics Section.

Back 78

Communications Unit, Medical Unit and Food Unit.

Front 79

List the three Units under the Support Branch of the Logistics Section.

Back 79

Supply Unit, Facilities Unit and Ground Support Unit.

Front 80

When is a Finance/Administration Section is established?

Back 80

When there is a specific need for financial, reimbursement (individual and agency or department), and/or administrative services to support incident management activities.

Front 81

What are the responsibilities of the Finance/Administration Section Chief?

Back 81

Track and report to the IC the financial “burn rate” as the incident progresses, allowing the IC to forecast the need for additional funds before operations are affected negatively. May also need to monitor cost expenditures to ensure that statutory rules that apply are met. Close coordination with the Planning Section and Logistics Section are also essential so that operational records can be reconciled with financial documents. Will determine, given current and anticipated future requirements, the need for establishing specific subordinate units. Because of the specialized nature of finance functions, the Section Chief should come from the agency that has the greatest requirement for this support.

Front 82

List the four Units under the Finance/Administration Section.

Back 82

Compensation/Claims Unit, Cost unit, Procurement Unit and Time Unit.

Front 83

Who does a Compensation/Claims Unit report to?

Back 83

Finance/Administration Section

Front 84

Who does a Cost Unit report to?

Back 84

Finance/Administration Section

Front 85

Who does a Procurement Unit report to?

Back 85

Finance/Administration Section

Front 86

Who does a Time Unit report to?

Back 86

Finance/Administration Section

Front 87

The Time Unit is responsible for:

Back 87

Primarily responsible for ensuring proper daily recording of personnel time, in accordance with the policies of the relevant agencies. The Time Unit also ensures that the Logistics Section records or captures equipment usage time, through the Ground Support Unit for ground equipment and through the Air Operations Support Group for aircraft.If applicable (depending on the agencies involved), personnel time records will be collected and processed for each operational period. The unit leader may require the assistance of personnel familiar with the relevant policies of any affected agencies. These records must be verified, checked for accuracy, and posted according to existing policies. Excess hours worked must also be determined, for which separate logs must be maintained.

Front 88

The Procurement Unit is responsible for:

Back 88

Administers all financial matters pertaining to vendor contracts. This unit coordinates with local jurisdictions to identify sources for equipment, prepares and signs equipment rental agreements, and processes all administrative requirements associated with equipment rental and supply contracts.Note that, in some agencies, the Supply Unit in the Logistics Section will be responsible for certain procurement activities. The Procurement Unit will also work closely with local cost authorities.

Front 89

The Compensation/Claims Unit is responsible for:

Back 89

Under ICS, a single unit handles injury compensation and claims. The specific activities are, of course, varied and may not always be accomplished by the same person. The individual handling injury compensation ensures that all forms required by workers’ compensation programs and local agencies are completed. This individual also maintains files on injuries and illnesses associated with the incident and ensures that all witness statements are obtained in writing. Since the Medical Unit may also perform certain of these tasks, close coordination between the Medical and Compensation and Claims Units is essential. The claims function handles investigations of all civil tort claims involving property associated with or involved in the incident. The Compensation and Claims Unit maintains logs on the claims, obtains witness statements, and documents investigations and agency follow-up requirements.

Front 90

The Cost Unit is responsible for:

Back 90

Provides cost analysis data for the incident. This unit must ensure that equipment and personnel for which payment is required are properly identified, obtain and record all cost data, and analyze and prepare estimates of incident costs. The Cost Unit also provides input on cost estimates for resource use to the Planning Section. The Cost Unit must maintain accurate information on the actual costs of all assigned resources.

Front 91

When is an Area Command established?

Back 91

When the complexity of the incident and incident management span-of-control considerations so dictate.

Front 92

Who makes the decision to establish an Area Command?

Back 92

Generally, the administrator(s) of the agency having jurisdictional responsibility for the incident.

Front 93

What is the purpose of an Area Command?

Back 93

Is either to oversee the management of multiple incidents that are each being handled by a separate ICS organization or to oversee the management of a very large or complex incident that has multiple incident management teams engaged.This type of command is generally used when there are a number of incidents in the same area and of the same type, such as two or more HAZMAT spills or fires. These are usually the kinds of incidents that may compete for the same resources. When incidents are of different types and/or do not have similar resource demands, they are usually handled as separate incidents or are coordinated through an EOC. If the incidents under the authority of the Area Command span multiple jurisdictions, a Unified Area Command should be established. This allows each jurisdiction involved to have appropriate representation in the Area Command.Area Commands are particularly relevant to public health emergencies, given that these events are typically not site specific, not immediately identifiable, geographically dispersed, and evolve over time ranging from days to weeks. Such events as these, as well as acts of biological, chemical, radiological, and nuclear terrorism, call for a coordinated intergovernmental, private-sector, and nongovernmental organization response, with large-scale coordination typically conducted at a higher jurisdictional level.

Front 94

The Area Command is responsible for:

Back 94

The Area Command does not have operational responsibilities. For the incidents under its authority, the Area Command:• sets overall agency incident-related priorities; • allocates critical resources according to the established priorities; • ensures that incidents are properly managed; ensures effective communications; • ensures that incident management objectives are met and do not conflict with each other or with agency policies; • identifies critical resource needs and reports them to the interagency coordination system (generally EOCs); • ensures that short-term “emergency” recovery is coordinated to assist in the transition to full recovery operations; and • provides for personnel accountability and a safe operating environment.The Area Command develops an action plan detailing incident management priorities, needs, and objectives. This plan should clearly state policy, objectives, and priorities; provide a structural organization with clear lines of authority and communications; and identify incident management functions to be performed by the Area Command (i.e., public communications).

Front 95

What is an Incident Command Post (ICP)?

Back 95

The ICP signifies the location of the tactical-level, on-scene incident command and management organization. It typically comprises the IC and immediate staff and may include other designated incident management officials and responders from Federal, State, local, and tribal agencies, as well as private-sector and nongovernmental organizations. Typically, the ICP is located at or in the immediate vicinity of the incident site and is the locus for the conduct of direct, on-scene control of tactical operations. Incident planning is also conducted at the ICP; an incident communications center also would normally be established at this location. The ICP may be collocated with the incident base, if the communications requirements can be met. The ICP may perform local EOC-like functions in the context of smaller jurisdictions or less complex incident scenarios.

Front 96

What is an Incident Base?

Back 96

An Incident Base is the location at which primary support activities are conducted. A single incident base is established to house all equipment and personnel support operations. The Logistics Section, which orders all resources and supplies, is also located at this base. The Incident Base should be designed to be able to support operations at multiple incident sites.

Front 97

What is a Camp?

Back 97

Camps are separate from the Incident Base and are located in satellite fashion from the Incident Base where they can best support incident operations. Camps provide certain essential auxiliary forms of support, such as food, sleeping areas, and sanitation. Camps may also provide minor maintenance and servicing of equipment. Camps may be relocated to meet changing operational requirements.

Front 98

Why are Staging Areas established?

Back 98

Staging areas are established for temporary location of available resources. A Staging Area can be any location in which personnel, supplies, and equipment can be temporarily housed or parked while awaiting operational assignment. Staging Areas may include temporary feeding, fueling, and sanitation services. The Operations Section Chief assigns a manager for each Staging Area, who checks in all incoming resources, dispatches resources at the Operations Section Chief’s request, and requests Logistics Section Support, as necessary, for resources located in the Staging Area. Personnel check in with the Resources Unit at the Staging Area, while supplies and equipment are checked in with the Supply Unit. If neither of these functions is activated, resources report to the Staging Area Manager for direction.

Front 99

Who establishes a Staging Area?

Back 99

Staging Areas will be established by the Operations Section Chief to enable positioning of and accounting for resources not immediately assigned.

Front 100

What is the first primary phase in the planning process for an Incident Action Plan (IAP)

Back 100

Understand the Situation. The first phase includes gathering, recording, analyzing, and displaying situation and resource information in a manner that will ensure• a clear picture of the magnitude, complexity, and potential impact of the incident; and • the ability to determine the resources required to develop and implement an effective IAP.

Front 101

What is the second primary phase in the planning process for an Incident Action Plan (IAP)

Back 101

Establish Incident Objectives and Strategy. The second phase includes formulating and prioritizing incident objectives and identifying an appropriate strategy. The incident objectives and strategy must conform to the legal obligations and management objectives of all affected agencies. Reasonable alternative strategies that will accomplish overall incident objectives are identified, analyzed, and evaluated to determine the most appropriate strategy for the situation at hand. Evaluation criteria include public health and safety factors; estimated costs; and various environmental, legal, and political considerations.

Front 102

What is the third primary phase in the planning process for an Incident Action Plan (IAP)

Back 102

Develop the Plan. The third phase involves determining the tactical direction and the specific resource, reserves, and support requirements for implementing the selected strategy for one operational period. This phase is usually the responsibility of the IC, who bases decisions on resources allocated to enable a sustained response. After determining the availability of resources, the IC develops a plan that makes the best use of these resources.Prior to the formal planning meetings, each member of the Command Staff and each functional Section Chief is responsible for gathering certain information to support these decisions. During the Planning Meeting, the Section Chiefs develop the plan collectively.

Front 103

What is the fourth primary phase in the planning process for an Incident Action Plan (IAP)

Back 103

Prepare and Disseminate the Plan. The fourth phase involves preparing the plan in a format that is appropriate for the level of complexity of the incident. For the initial response, the format is a well-prepared outline for an oral briefing. For most incidents that will span multiple operational periods, the plan will be developed in writing according to ICS procedures.

Front 104

What is the fifth and final primary phase in the planning process for an Incident Action Plan (IAP)

Back 104

Evaluate and Revise the Plan. The planning process includes the requirement to evaluate planned events and check the accuracy of information to be used in planning for subsequent operational periods. The General Staff should regularly compare planned progress with actual progress. When deviations occur and when new information emerges, that information should be included in the first step of the process used for modifying the current plan or developing the plan for the subsequent operational period.

Front 105

The Planning Section Chief has the following responsibilities and specific planning activities when developing the IAP :

Back 105

Conduct the Planning Meeting and coordinate preparation of the IAP. The Planning Section Chief should review the general responsibilities associated with the Planning Meeting and the development of the IAP with the General Staff prior to the planning meeting.

Front 106

The Incident Commander has the following responsibilities and specific planning activities when developing the IAP :

Back 106

• Provide overall control objectives and strategy. • Establish procedures for off-incident resource ordering. • Establish procedures for resource activation, mobilization, and employment. • Approve completed IAP plan by signature.

Front 107

The Finance Section Chief has the following responsibilities and specific planning activities when developing the IAP :

Back 107

• Provide cost implications of control objectives, as required. • Evaluate facilities being used to determine if any special arrangements are needed. • Ensure that the IAP is within the financial limits established by the IC.

Front 108

The Operations Section Chief has the following responsibilities and specific planning activities when developing the IAP :

Back 108

• Determine division work assignments and resource requirements.

Front 109

The Logistics Section Chief has the following responsibilities and specific planning activities when developing the IAP :

Back 109

• Ensure that incident facilities are adequate. • Ensure that the resource ordering procedure is made known to appropriate agency dispatch center(s). • Develop a transportation system to support operational needs. • Ensure that the section can logistically support the IAP. • Place order(s) for resources.