Incident Management ICS/NIMS Overview Presented by Alan Phillips Emergency Management Coordinator Emergency Management Coordinator Ohio Department of Transportation

2 Transportation’s Role in Disaster Response The recent events along our Gulf Coast drives home the importance of an effective, coordinated response from all agencies. The Incident Command System and now the National Incident Management System are the primary structures for a coordinated multi-agency response. FEMA Certification Required - NIMCAST

3 What are the Basics Of the Incident Command System?

4 What the ICS is: A process management tool A process management tool A flexible organizational structure A flexible organizational structure The standard for managing emergency incidents The standard for managing emergency incidents Easily adapted to large or small-scale incidents Easily adapted to large or small-scale incidents Lets take a look at the Basic ICS Structure

5 ICS Organization Incident Commander Public Information Officer Safety Officer Liaison Officer(s) The Incident Commander’s “Command” Staff: These personnel are the IC’s “Command” Staff

6 ICS Organization ICS has five basic functions Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration. The section chiefs are the IC’s “General” Staff. Incident Commander OperationsPlanningLogistics Finance/ Administration

7 ICS Organization Incident Commander Operations ChiefPlanning ChiefLogistics Chief Finance/Administration Chief Public Information Officer Officer Safety Officer Liaison Officer (s) The Incident Commander’s “Command” and “General” Staff: Span of control: 3-7 personnel

8 ICS Organization The Operations Section: OperationsSection Branches (up to 5) Divisions or Groups (up to 25) Resources Operations develops the tactical organization and directs all resources to carry out the Incident Action Plan

9 ICS Organization The Operations Section: Divisions and Groups OperationsSection Branch I Group A Division B Branch II Groups C Division D Divisions and Groups are established when the number of resources exceeds the Operations Section Chief’s manageable span of control.

10 ICS Organization The Operations Section: Functional Groups OperationsSection SuppressionGroupRescueGroupEmergencyMedicalServicesGroup Functional groups can best be used to describe areas of like activity (e.g., rescue, evacuation, medical.)

11 ICS Organization The Operations Section: Multi-Jurisdictional OperationsSection Branch(County)Branch(Tribal)Branch(City)Branch(State)Branch(Federal) In the case of a multi-jurisdictional incident, resources are best managed under the agencies that normally control them.

12 ICS Organization The Operations Section: Air Operations Branch OperationsSection Air OPS Branch Director Air Support Group Supervisor Helibase(s) Heliport Fixed Wing Base(s) Air Field Air Tactical Group Supervisor HelicopterCoordinator Helicopters Fixed Wing Coordinator Aircraft The Air Support Group establishes and operates bases for rotary and fixed wing aircraft.

13 ICS Organization The Planning Section Staff: Planning Section Resources Unit Technical Specialists Situation Unit Demobilization Unit Documentation Unit Planning develops the Incident Action Plan to accomplish the objectives, collects and evaluates information, and maintains status of assigned resources

14 ICS Organization The Logistics Section Staff: Logistics Section Service Branch CommunicationsBranch Medical UnitFood Unit Support Branch Supply UnitFacilities Unit Ground Support Unit Logistics provides the resources and all other services needed to support the organization

15 ICS Organization The Finance/Administration Section Staff: Finance/AdministrationSection Time UnitProcurement Unit Compensation/Claims Unit Cost Unit Finance/Administration monitors costs related to the incident, provides accounting, procurement, time recording, cost analysis, and fiscal guidance.

16 General Guidelines Lengthy Assignments –Assemble a travel kit with technical information. (maps, manuals, contacts, reference materials) –Prepare personal items. Clothing, medications, money etc. –Ensure family members have a plan. –Determine travel authorization, plans and return information. –Establish payroll procedures via home agency. –Take ID’s. –Understand assignment, reporting locations, positions and authority prior to departure. –Vaccinations, Logistical Supplies

17 The National Incident Management System (NIMS)

18 National Incident Management System What is the basis for NIMS? Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 provides for the creation of a National Incident Management System. Response agencies must use ICS/NIMS to maintain Federal Funding.

19 National Incident Management System Why was NIMS established: To allow responders to focus more on the response instead of organizing the response. This, along with enhancement to teamwork and assignments to all authorities, will provide for a better coordinated response. NIMS provides logistical and technical support to responders.

20 A consistent nationwide approach to incident management A consistent nationwide approach to incident management Interoperability and compatibility among Federal, State, local, and Tribal Interoperability and compatibility among Federal, State, local, and Tribal Governments Governments A core set of concepts, principles, terminology, and technologies A core set of concepts, principles, terminology, and technologies The Incident Command System The Incident Command System Multi-agency coordination system Multi-agency coordination system Unified command Unified command Training Training Identification and management of resources Identification and management of resources Qualifications and certification Qualifications and certification Collection, tracking, and reporting of incident information and incident Collection, tracking, and reporting of incident information and incident resources resources National Incident Management System NIMS will provide:

21 NIMS Component Parts The Basic Six NIMS Components: Command and Management Command and Management Preparedness Preparedness Resource Management Resource Management Communications and Information Management Communications and Information Management Supporting Technologies Supporting Technologies On-going Management and Maintenance On-going Management and Maintenance

22 National Incident Management System What are the NIMS Sub-Components? Command and Management Command and Management - Incident Command System - Incident Command System - Multi-agency Coordination System - Multi-agency Coordination System - Public Information Systems - Public Information Systems Preparedness Preparedness - Planning - Planning - Training - Training - Exercises - Exercises - Qualification and Certification - Qualification and Certification - Equipment Certification - Equipment Certification - Publications Management - Publications Management

23 National Incident Management System What are the NIMS Sub-Components? (cont.): Resource Management Resource Management - Describe - Describe - Inventory - Inventory - Track - Track - Dispatch - Dispatch - Mobilize - Mobilize - Recover - Recover Communications and Information Management Communications and Information Management - Incident Management Communications - Incident Management Communications - Information Management - Information Management

24 National Incident Management System What are the NIMS Sub-Components? (cont.): Supporting Technologies Supporting Technologies - Systems - Systems - Capabilities - Capabilities Ongoing Management and Maintenance Ongoing Management and Maintenance - Strategic Direction - Strategic Direction - Oversight - Oversight

25 NIMS Incident Management Area Command: O versees the management of multiple incidents O versees the management of multiple incidents Oversees the management of large or multiple incidents to which Oversees the management of large or multiple incidents to which several Incident Management Teams have been assigned several Incident Management Teams have been assigned Develops overall strategy and priorities Develops overall strategy and priorities Allocates resources according to priorities Allocates resources according to priorities Ensuresproper management of incidents Ensures proper management of incidents Ensuresobjectives are met and strategies are followed Ensures objectives are met and strategies are followed Ensureseffective communications Ensures effective communications Area Command becomes Unified Area Command when an incident becomes multi-jurisdictional.

26 NIMS Incident Management Area Command Organization: Area Command becomes Unified Area Command when an incident becomes multi-jurisdictional. It operates under the same basic principles as ICS. Area Commander Area Command Logistics Chief Area Command Planning Chief Area Command Support Positions Area Command Critical resources Unit Leader Area Command Situation Unit Leader Area Command Public Information Officer Area Command Liaison Officer Area Command Aviation Coordinator

27 NIMS Incident Management Multi-Agency Coordination Systems (MACS): What is MACS: What is MACS: - It is a mechanism for combining facilities, equipment, personnel, - It is a mechanism for combining facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications into a common operating system procedures, and communications into a common operating system with responsibility for coordinating and supporting domestic with responsibility for coordinating and supporting domestic incident management. incident management. MACS Elements: MACS Elements: - Emergency Operations Centers – the physical location at which the - Emergency Operations Centers – the physical location at which the coordination of information and resources to support incident coordination of information and resources to support incident management takes place management takes place - Multi-Agency Coordinating Entities – typically consist of principals, - Multi-Agency Coordinating Entities – typically consist of principals, or their designees, from organizations or agencies with direct incident or their designees, from organizations or agencies with direct incident management responsibility, or with significant incident management management responsibility, or with significant incident management support or resource responsibilities support or resource responsibilities

28 NIMS Incident Management Unified Command: Advantages Advantages - A single set of objectives for the entire incident - A single set of objectives for the entire incident - A collective approach to develop strategies to achieve objectives - A collective approach to develop strategies to achieve objectives - Improved information flow and coordination - Improved information flow and coordination - All agencies with responsibility for the incident understand - All agencies with responsibility for the incident understand priorities and restrictions priorities and restrictions - No agencies’ legal authorities compromised or neglected - No agencies’ legal authorities compromised or neglected - Combined efforts optimize performance - Combined efforts optimize performance

29 NIMS Incident Management Public Information Systems: Systems and protocols for communicating timely and accurate Systems and protocols for communicating timely and accurate information to the public are critical during crisis or emergency information to the public are critical during crisis or emergency situations situations The PIO supports the Incident Command The PIO supports the Incident Command Public Information functions must be coordinated and integrated Public Information functions must be coordinated and integrated across all jurisdictional and functional boundaries across all jurisdictional and functional boundaries Organizations participating in Incident Management retain their Organizations participating in Incident Management retain their independence independence Public Information Systems Components: Public Information Systems Components: - Joint Information System – a mechanism - Joint Information System – a mechanism - Joint Information Center – a location - Joint Information Center – a location

30 NIMS Incident Management Public Information Systems Wiring Diagram Research Team Media Operations Logistic Team

31 Support Multi-Agency Approach The Executive must plan for an Area Command approach prior to the incident : Hold planning meetings and prepare mutual aid agreements Hold planning meetings and prepare mutual aid agreements Involve other agencies’ personnel in your ICS organization Involve other agencies’ personnel in your ICS organization Advocate the use of “Area and/or Unified Command” Advocate the use of “Area and/or Unified Command” Conduct interagency training and exercises Conduct interagency training and exercises Revise plans based on findings of exercises and training Revise plans based on findings of exercises and training events events “The last place I want to meet you for the first time, is at an incident site.” (Unknown) (Unknown)

32 Executive Responsibilities (summary) The Executive has four major responsibilities: Articulate Policy Articulate Policy Assess the Response Assess the Response Plan for Multi-Agency Response Plan for Multi-Agency Response Provide input to the Incident Commander establishing Provide input to the Incident Commander establishing priorities, goals, and direction priorities, goals, and direction

33 NIMS Conclusions NIMS: Incorporates best practices of current incident management Incorporates best practices of current incident management (e.g., ICS, Joint, Multi-Agency, Unified Incident Management) (e.g., ICS, Joint, Multi-Agency, Unified Incident Management) Recognizes need to integrate Crisis and Consequence Recognizes need to integrate Crisis and Consequence management management Recognizes the need to establish standards and common Recognizes the need to establish standards and common operating systems.. operating systems.. Stresses interoperability in communications, equipment and Stresses interoperability in communications, equipment and operational response. operational response.

34 Conclusions There are no quick or easy fixes to these issues There are no quick or easy fixes to these issues Open the dialogue process with other agencies Open the dialogue process with other agencies Revise your preparedness plans based on lessons learned Revise your preparedness plans based on lessons learned (a plan is a living document; it evolves based on your (a plan is a living document; it evolves based on your collective experiences and evolving best practices) collective experiences and evolving best practices) Deploy your personnel to ICPs and EOCs – half the battle is Deploy your personnel to ICPs and EOCs – half the battle is maintaining good communications maintaining good communications Now is the time to develop agency’s goals, priorities, and policies. Develop multiple scenarios based on different potential events in your area. Make sure your staff is trained!

35 Parting Thoughts We’ve all seen and heard the discussions and attempts to define interoperability. To some, it’s radios being able to “talk” to one another. To others, it’s being able to interchange air tanks among different response organizations. At your level, what is interoperability? One more idea for the mix. Decision-makers must have the ability to see a common operating picture, and to anticipate the consequences of decisions on their own jurisdiction, as well as the consequences to surrounding jurisdictions. Interoperability

36 Three Key Points to Remember! Establish ICS early at any incident and keep it simple.. This will be your foundation for the incident. If you don’t you will be chasing after the incident instead of managing it! Think of ICS as a toolbox full of tools you may or may not choose to use, use what you need, remember to pick the tools up! Practice ICS at every incident so when the “Big One” hits you will be ready!……

37 Are YouReady?

38Questions? Contact Information: Al Phillips FEMA EMI Training Click on “Online Training (NETC Virtual Campus)” Click “OK” for FEMA then “New Student”