Overview of the Incident Command System (ICS) Part 3

Instructions: Read the statement and decide which member of the Command Staff is being described. Scroll to see all of the choices. Click the circle to the left of the Command Staff member to select your answer, then click Check.

Statement: I work very closely with Operations to make sure that our people in the field are wearing appropriate protective equipment and implementing safe tactical options.

Instructions: Read the statement and decide which member of the Command Staff is being described. Scroll to see all of the choices. Click the circle to the left of the Command Staff member to select your answer, then click Check.

Statement: I provide briefings to supporting Agency Representatives and work with them to address their questions and concerns about the operation. I remain visible on the incident scene to all incoming cooperating and assisting agencies.

Instructions: Read the statement and decide which member of the Command Staff is being described. Scroll to see all of the choices. Click the circle to the left of the Command Staff member to select your answer, then click Check.

Statement: I am the primary contact for anyone who wants details about the incident and our response to it. I serve an external audience through the media and an internal audience including incident staff and agency personnel.

Now that we've discussed the Command Staff roles, let's take a look at how the overall incident is coordinated.
Coordination involves the activities that ensure the onsite Incident Command System (ICS) organization receives the information, resources, and support needed to achieve those incident objectives. Coordination takes place in a number of entities and at all levels of government. Examples of coordination activities include:
Establishing policy based on interactions with agency executives, other agencies, and stakeholders.
Collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information to support the establishment of shared situational awareness.
Establishing priorities among incidents.
Resolving critical resource issues.
Facilitating logistics support and resource tracking.
Synchronizing public information messages to ensure that everyone is speaking with one voice.
Let's take a look at how this coordination happens.

Effective incident management consists of four overarching areas of responsibility:
Direct tactical response to save lives, stabilize the incident, and protect property and the environment
Incident support through resource acquisition, information gathering, and interagency coordination
Policy guidance and senior level decision making
Outreach and communication with the media and public to keep them informed about the incident
These objectives are accomplished through the use of the Incident Command System (ICS), Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs), Multi-agency Coordination (MAC) Groups, and the Joint Information System (JIS), respectively.
The Command and Coordination component of NIMS defines these structures and explains how various elements operating at different levels of incident management interface to achieve the maximum effect through a shared understanding.

Jurisdictions and organizations across the Nation use Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) as an element of their emergency management programs.
Typically, an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) supports the on-scene response by relieving the Incident Commander of the burden of external coordination and the responsibility for securing additional resources.
An EOC is:
A physical or virtual location where staff from multiple agencies come together to address imminent threats and hazards
Staffed with personnel trained for, and authorized to, represent their agency/discipline
Equipped with mechanisms for communicating with the incident site
Providing support to the incident by obtaining resources
Applicable at different levels of government
EOCs may be established at the Federal, state, territorial, tribal, and local levels.
If you are from a non-governmental organization (NGO) or from the private sector, you may be asked to assist at the EOC to assess a situation, provide advice, and make recommendations based on your knowledge and professional expertise.

Another coordination entity is the Joint Information Center (JIC). The JIC:
May be established to coordinate all incident-related public information activities
Serves as the central point of contact for all news media—when possible, public information officials from all participating agencies should co-locate at the JIC
JICs may be established at various levels of government and at incident sites. Depending on your role in the incident, you may need to direct individuals or organizations to the JIC to obtain information.

1. Establish objectives, make assignments, and order resources.
2. Collect, analyze, and disseminate information.
3. Synchronize public information messages.
4. Establishing priorities among incidents.

This lesson introduced you to the:
Five major Incident Command System (ICS) Functional Areas
ICS organizational structure
Incident Commander roles and responsibilities
Selection and transfer of Incident Commanders
Command Staff roles and responsibilities
Differences between incident command and incident coordination
The next lesson provides an introduction to the ICS General Staff Roles.

In the previous lesson, you learned that the Command Staff supports the Incident Commander who is responsible for overall management of the incident. This lesson introduces you to the General Staff. By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
Identify the Incident Command System (ICS) titles used for General Staff members.
Describe the major activities of the four general staff sections.

To maintain span of control, the Incident Commander may establish any or all of the following four sections: Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration.

The person in charge of each section is designated as a Section Chief. Section Chiefs have the ability to expand their sections to meet the needs of the situation. As shown here, they report directly to the Incident Commander. Let's take a closer look at these General Staff positions.

In an expanding incident, the Incident Commander first establishes the Operations Section. The remaining sections are established as needed to support the operation.

The Incident Commander determines whether there is a need for an Operations Section and, if so, will designate an Operations Section Chief. It is up to the Operations Section Chief to activate any additional staffing that is needed. When the Operations Section Chief is designated, the staging and management of operational resources moves from the Incident Command to Operations.
If no Operations Section is established, the Incident Commander will perform all operations functions.

The major activities of the Operations Section may include:
Implementing strategies and developing tactics to carry out the incident objectives
Directing the management of all tactical activities on behalf of the Incident Commander
Supporting the development of the Incident Action Plan to ensure it accurately reflects current operations
Organizing, assigning, and supervising the tactical response resources

The Planning Section Chief is designated only after the Incident Commander determines whether there is a need for a Planning Section. It is up to the Planning Section Chief to activate any additional staffing that is needed.
The Incident Commander will perform all planning functions if no Planning Section is established.

The major activities of the Planning Section may include:
Preparing and documenting Incident Action Plans
Managing information and maintaining situational awareness for the incident
Tracking resources assigned to the incident
Maintaining incident documentation
Developing plans for demobilization

The Logistics Section Chief is designated only after the Incident Commander determines whether there is a need for a Logistics Section. It is up to the Logistics Section Chief to activate any additional staffing that is needed.
The Incident Commander will perform all logistics functions if no Logistics Section is established.

The Logistics Section is responsible for all services and support needs, including:
Ordering, obtaining, maintaining, and accounting for essential personnel, equipment, and supplies
Providing communication planning and resources
Setting up food services for responders
Setting up and maintaining incident facilities
Providing support transportation
Providing medical services to incident personnel

The Incident Commander determines whether there is a need for a Finance/Administration Section at the incident. If so, the Incident Commander will designate an individual to fill the position of the Finance/Administration Section Chief.
The Time, Compensation/Claims, Cost, and Procurement Units may be established within this section.

The Finance/Administration Section is set up for any incident that requires incident-specific financial management. The Finance/Administration Section is responsible for:
Contract negotiation and monitoring
Timekeeping
Cost analysis
Compensation for injury or damage to property
Documentation for reimbursement (e.g., under mutual aid agreements and assistance agreements)

Instructions: Read the statement and decide which member of the General Staff is being described. Click the circle to the left of a Section Chief to select your answer, then click Check.

Statement: In advance of severe flooding, there is a need to get generators and communications equipment to the Staging Areas to equip advance response teams. It's my responsibility to make sure the needed equipment arrives at the Staging Areas.

Instructions: Read the statement and decide which member of the General Staff is being described. Click the circle to the left of a Section Chief to select your answer, then click Check.

Statement: As the response is underway, my section tracks all personnel participating in the response.

Instructions: Read the statement and decide which member of the General Staff is being described. Click the circle to the left of a Section Chief to select your answer, then click Check.

Statement: My section conducts response activities such as search and rescue, and coordinates medical services being provided to disaster survivors.

Instructions: Read the statement and decide which member of the General Staff is being described. Click the circle to the left of a Section Chief to select your answer, then click Check.

Statement: I support the incident response activities by overseeing contracting for needed supplies and services that are not already available.

Instructions: Read the statement and decide which member of the General Staff is being described. Click the circle to the left of a Section Chief to select your answer, then click Check.

Statement: Throughout the incident and during the after-action review process, the reports that we develop will be very useful.