Managing Your NRG in a Disaster The Incident Command System Central Marin NRGs nrgmarin.org
Why Use Incident Command System ? COMMAND CONTROL COMMUNICATE Standard established and used by Government ICS is proven and efficient way of managing events at all scales. ICS identifies the functions we need. An ICS organized team is instantly recognizable by emergency responders. Using the ICS model gives NRGs added credibility.
ICS for NRGs
NRG Equivalents to ICS Jobs & Roles Incident Commander: The person providing overall coordination of all activities. The Commander will also cover any tasks not assigned to other persons. Liaison Officer: The person coordinating with CERT Command Post and other NRGs. Situation Unit : The person receiving information from the Block Captains and any others, and organizing and recording the information. Medical Unit Leader : The person in charge of the neighborhood medical tem. CERT Liaison: The person in charge of communicating with neighborhood CERT team. ICS for NRGs
Incident Command Positions in an NRG ICS for NRGs
ICS for NRGs
ICS for NRGs
NRG-IC Level One Up to 30 residences? 1 to 2 People – Two Functions/Roles: Situation Unit -Communicate with Block Captains Commander/Liaison –Command and communicate with CERT Command Post and other NRGs Equipment: 2 radios Pad and pencil ICS for NRGs
ICS for NRGs
NRG IC Level 2 30-75 residences? Add 1 additional person = 3 total Situation Unit Radio Control – communication with BCs Scribe Commander/Liaison Officer Communicate with CERT Command Post, other NRGs Equipment Add forms for scribe ICS for NRGs
ICS for NRGs
NRG-IC Level 3 75-125 Residences? Add 2 people = 5 total Commander/Liaison Officer Communicate with CERT Command Post, other NRGs Situation Unit Radio Control – communication with BCs Scribe White board recorder Medical Team leader (MD, nurse) Add Equipment White boards Tables and chairs Maybe weather protection ( pop up canopy?) Radio for Medical Unit Medical supplies ICS for NRGs
ICS for NRGs
White Board Recorder ICS for NRGs
NRG-IC Level 4 125 residences and up Add 1 person = 6 total Commander/Liaison Officer Command and Communicate with CERT Command Post, other NRGs Situation Unit Radio Control – communication with BCs Scribe White board recorder Medical Team leader (MD, nurse) S&R/CERT Liaison (assumes CERT team) communicate with CERT field team Add Equipment Radio for S&R/CERT Liaison Medical supplies ICS for NRGs
ICS for NRGs
Incident Command Protocol for NRGs Incident Command (IC) is responsible for staffing and directing the NRG’s response effort in a disaster. If a major earthquake happens it will mobilize for a “shelter in place” emergency response. It has no role in a wildfire where the only objective is total evacuation. 2. In a disaster, the first member of an IC on scene is the Incident Commander, and remains so until relinquishing command to a more experienced or senior person. 3. The IC must be able to: Record all calls from Block Captains Record all events and their subsequent resolution. Display event status, probably on white board, so that relieving IC members and arriving authorities can quickly identify problems. ICS for NRGs
Incident Command Protocols (Continued) 4. The NRG IC Command Post (CP) location is dynamic. Report its location to the next higher authority, presently CERT. Always report your activation status to that authority at the earliest convenience. 5. Only report life-threatening injury or hazard. Each NRG will have to handle less serious events. 6. Use Command Channel 15/15 only to radio the CERT CP. 7. During a drill only, always say “This is a drill,” when opening up the NRG’s radio internal net and at frequent intervals thereafter. 8. Every NRG is assigned its own internal channel which is a main FRS/GMRS channel plus a ‘PL”, sometimes called a privacy code. All members of the response team must know how to set their radios to this channel. 9. Block Captains (Team members) communicate on the assigned internal channel only to NRG Incident Command, never among themselves. ICS for NRGs