1. Introduction to the National Incident Management System Harry R. Evans, Research Affiliate, University of Texas at Austin 8 April 2015 CE 397 Flood Forecasting, University of Texas at Austin

2. Visual 5.2 General Staff Functions Incident Command Structure

3. Visual 5.3 General Staff Functions General Staff Overview – Expanding Incidents Incident Command Incident Command Operations Section Operations Section Planning Section Planning Section Logistics Section Logistics Section Finance/Admin Section Finance/Admin Section Directs all response/ tactical actions to achieve the incident objectives. Activated, as needed, to support the incident response directed by the Operations Section.

4. Visual 5.4 General Staff Functions Expanding Incidents Expanding incidents may add supervisory layers to the organizational structure as needed. Divisions Groups Units Branches Single Resources Sections Incident Commander Operations Section Chief Command

5. Visual 5.5 General Staff Functions ICS Supervisory Position Titles Organizational LevelSupervisor TitleSupport Position Title Incident CommandIncident CommanderDeputy Command StaffOfficerAssistant General Staff (Section)ChiefDeputy BranchDirectorDeputy Division/GroupSupervisorN/A UnitLeaderManager Strike Team/Task ForceLeaderSingle Resource Boss

6. Visual 5.6 General Staff Functions ICS Section Chiefs and Deputies  Section Chiefs may have one or more deputies.  Deputies must be as proficient and qualified as the Section Chief. Chief Deputy

7. Visual 5.7 General Staff Functions Increasing Interagency Coordination When an incident involves multiple organizations, assigning Deputies from other organizations can increase interagency coordination. Operations Section Chief Operations Section Chief Incident Commander Incident Commander Deputy Operations Section Chief Deputy Operations Section Chief

8. Visual 5.8 General Staff Functions Operations Section: Major Activities  Directs and coordinates all incident tactical operations.  Is typically one of the first organizations to be assigned to the incident.  Expands from the bottom up.  Has the most incident resources.  May have Staging Areas and special organizations. Rescue Group Rescue Group Investigation Group Investigation Group Operations Section Operations Section Staging Area Incident Command Incident Command

9. Visual 5.9 General Staff Functions Operations: Single Resources On a smaller incident, the Operations Section may be comprised of an Operations Section Chief and single resources. Industrial Hygienist Operations Section Chief Operations Section Chief IT Specialist Facility Engineer

10. Visual 5.10 General Staff Functions Operations: Teams Single resources may be organized into teams. Using standard ICS terminology, the two types of team configurations are:  Task Forces, which are a combination of mixed resources with common communications supervised by a Leader.  Strike Teams, which include all similar resources with common communications supervised by a Leader.

11. Visual 5.11 General Staff Functions Sample Strike Teams and Task Forces Search & Rescue Strike Team Search & Rescue Strike Team Medical Aid Strike Team Medical Aid Strike Team Perimeter Security Strike Team Operations Section Chief Operations Section Chief Damage Assessment Task Force Shelter and Feeding Task Force Public Works Task Force

12. Visual 5.12 General Staff Functions Operations: Too Many Teams! Additional levels of supervision must be added as the number of teams expands. Shelter and Feeding Task Force Public Works Task Force Medical Aid Strike Team 1 Medical Aid Strike Team 1 Perimeter Security Strike Team 2 Perimeter Security Strike Team 1 Damage Assessment Task Force 1 Damage Assessment Task Force 1 Medical Aid Strike Team 2 Medical Aid Strike Team 2 Search & Rescue Strike Team 2 Search & Rescue Strike Team 2 Search & Rescue Strike Team 1 Search & Rescue Strike Team 1 Damage Assessment Task Force 2 Damage Assessment Task Force 2 Operations Section Chief Operations Section Chief

13. Visual 5.13 General Staff Functions The Solution: Add Functional Groups Groups, led by a Supervisor, are used to perform functional areas of operation. Response & Recovery Group Supervisor Response & Recovery Group Supervisor Search & Rescue Strike Team 1 Search & Rescue Strike Team 1 Search & Rescue Strike Team 2 Search & Rescue Strike Team 2 Damage Assessment Task Force Restoration/Recovery Task Force Perimeter Security Group Supervisor Perimeter Security Strike Team 1 Perimeter Security Strike Team 2 Shelter and Feeding Task Force Medical Aid Strike Team 1 Operations Section Chief Operations Section Chief Emergency Services Group Supervisor Medical Aid Strike Team 2

14. Visual 5.14 General Staff Functions Geographic Divisions & Groups Divisions, led by a Supervisor, are used to divide an incident geographically. East Division Supervisor East Division Supervisor Search & Rescue Strike Team 1 Search & Rescue Strike Team 1 Perimeter Security Strike Team 1 Perimeter Security Strike Team 1 Medical Aid Strike Team 1 Medical Aid Strike Team 1 Shelter and Feeding Task Force 1 Shelter and Feeding Task Force 1 Recovery Group Supervisor Damage Assessment Task Force Restoration/Recovery Task Force West Division Supervisor West Division Supervisor Search & Rescue Strike Team 2 Search & Rescue Strike Team 2 Perimeter Security Strike Team 2 Perimeter Security Strike Team 2 Medical Aid Strike Team 2 Medical Aid Strike Team 2 Shelter and Feeding Task Force 2 Shelter and Feeding Task Force 2 Operations Section Chief Operations Section Chief

15. Visual 5.15 General Staff Functions Adding Branches helps to:  Supervise Groups and Divisions.  Further reduce span of control. Complex Incidents Search & Rescue Group Supervisor Search & Rescue Group Supervisor Medical Aid Group Supervisor Medical Aid Group Supervisor Perimeter Security Group Supervisor Evacuation Group Supervisor Shelter & Feeding Group Supervisor Shelter & Feeding Group Supervisor Emergency Response Branch Director Emergency Response Branch Director Operations Section Chief Operations Section Chief Crisis Intervention Group Supervisor Crisis Intervention Group Supervisor Services Branch Director Services Branch Director

16. Visual 5.16 General Staff Functions Planning Section: Major Activities  Collecting, evaluating, and displaying incident intelligence and information.  Preparing and documenting Incident Action Plans.  Tracking resources assigned to the incident.  Maintaining incident documentation.  Developing plans for demobilization. Incident Command Incident Command Operations Section Operations Section Planning Section Planning Section Logistics Section Logistics Section Finance/Admin Section Finance/Admin Section

17. Visual 5.17 General Staff Functions Planning Section: Units Planning Section Resources Unit Resources Unit Situation Unit Situation Unit Demobilization Unit Demobilization Unit Documentation Unit Documentation Unit Technical Specialists Technical Specialists

18. Visual 5.18 General Staff Functions Logistics Section: Major Activities  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 for injured personnel. Incident Command Incident Command Operations Section Operations Section Planning Section Planning Section Logistics Section Logistics Section Finance/Admin Section Finance/Admin Section

19. Visual 5.19 General Staff Functions Logistics Section: Branches and Units  The Logistics Section can be further staffed by two Branches and six Units.  The titles of the Units are descriptive of their responsibilities. Communications Unit Communications Unit Medical Unit Medical Unit Supply Unit Supply Unit Facilities Unit Facilities Unit Logistics Section Service Branch Food Unit Food Unit Ground Support Unit Ground Support Unit Support Branch

20. Visual 5.20 General Staff Functions Finance/Administration Section: Major Activities 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 MOUs). Incident Command Incident Command Operations Section Operations Section Planning Section Planning Section Logistics Section Logistics Section Finance/Admin Section Finance/Admin Section

21. Visual 5.21 General Staff Functions Finance/Administration Section: Units Finance/Administration Section Finance/Administration Section Procurement Unit Procurement Unit Time Unit Time Unit Cost Unit Cost Unit Compensation/ Claims Unit Compensation/ Claims Unit

22. Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Emergency Preparedness Emergency Management Central Command and Control

23. Emergency Operations Center (EOC) EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Recognition of Risk Ranking of Risk Development of emergency plans

24. Emergency Operations Center (EOC) EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT Incident Type Type 1 – most complex, national resources Type 2 – regional/state resources Type 3 – multiple operational periods, extensive resources Type 4 & 5 – most common, single to strike team resources

25. Emergency Operations Center (EOC) CENTRAL COMMAND AND CONTROL Strategic Overview Doesn’t control field assets Collect/Gather analyze data Maintain Continuity of Organization