1. 1 Introduction to the Incident Command System for Amateur Radio Operators Sharon Kennedy, AC7UK City of Hillsboro Emergency Manager voice: (503) 681-6412 fax: (503) 681-6208 sharonk@ci.hillsboro.or.us “It’s not as hard as it looks!”

2. 2 Introduction to ICS Module Overview Why ICS? Why ICS? ICS Components ICS Components ICS Major Functional Areas ICS Major Functional Areas –Incident Commander –Command Staff –General Staff ICS Examples ICS Examples ICS Planning Process ICS Planning Process

3. 3 Why ICS? Need for Organization Need for Organization Bring order out of chaos!Bring order out of chaos! Standardize response to different situationsStandardize response to different situations It has Advantages It has Advantages Flexible, yet concepts are consistentFlexible, yet concepts are consistent –Everyone knows their place –Integrated communications plan It just makes sense! It just makes sense! Used by first responders around the nationUsed by first responders around the nation It’s proven, and it works!It’s proven, and it works!

4. 4 ICS Components  Common terminology  Modular organization  Integrated communications  Unified command structure  Consolidated action plans  Manageable span of control  Pre-designated incident facilities  Comprehensive resource management

5. 5 ICS Major Functional Areas Incident Command Incident Command Command Staff Command Staff General Staff General Staff

6. 6 ICS Major Functional Areas Incident Command  Manages all incident operations  May be single or unified command  Performs all functions not delegated  Prioritizes response actions, releases all resources  Always first position to be activated

7. 7 ICS Major Functional Areas Command Staff Safety Officer, Public Information Officer, and Liaison Officer Safety Officer, Public Information Officer, and Liaison Officer Report directly to Incident Commander Report directly to Incident Commander Management responsibilities for overall incident - all activities and sites Management responsibilities for overall incident - all activities and sites

8. 8 ICS Major Functional Areas Command Staff - Safety Identifies and evaluates hazards for all incident operations Identifies and evaluates hazards for all incident operations Provides direction for safe operations Provides direction for safe operations May halt unsafe operations May halt unsafe operations May have assistants from May have assistants from other disciplines Mandated by law Mandated by law(SARA)

9. 9 ICS Major Functional Areas Command Staff - Public Info Gathers accurate, timely, and complete information Gathers accurate, timely, and complete information Prepares press releases (with Incident Commander’s approval) Prepares press releases (with Incident Commander’s approval) Acts as single media interface Acts as single media interface May prepare others for media interviews May prepare others for media interviews May have assistants May have assistants

10. 10 ICS Major Functional Areas Command Staff - Liaison Point of contact for representatives from other agencies Point of contact for representatives from other agencies –Single command - all assisting agencies –Unified command - all agencies not represented in command Authorized to speak Authorized to speak for the commander on all matters

11. 11 Command Post Concept Staffed by Command Staff Staffed by Command Staff –Directs tactical operations –Keeps situation and resource status Located on-site Located on-site –Out of “hot zone,” but near operations –May be just a vehicle! Performs command functions Performs command functions

12. 12 Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Concept Performs support functions Performs support functions –Supports tactical operations carried out by the emergency responders “in the field” –Allows emergency responders to focus on incident Is “One Stop Shopping” for tactical operations Is “One Stop Shopping” for tactical operations Is the keeper of the “big picture” Is the keeper of the “big picture” Writes the Incident Action Plan Writes the Incident Action Plan

13. 13 ICS Major Functional Areas General Staff - Operations Reports to the Incident Commander Reports to the Incident Commander Manages all tactical operations: field activities designed to Manages all tactical operations: field activities designed to –Reduce the immediate hazard –Establish situation control –Restore “normal” operations May supervise several May supervise several subordinate functions

14. 14 ICS Major Functional Areas General Staff - Planning Reports to the Incident Commander Reports to the Incident Commander Collects, evaluates, disseminates tactical information about the incident Collects, evaluates, disseminates tactical information about the incident Maintains situation and resource status Maintains situation and resource status Manages the planning cycle Manages the planning cycle May supervise several May supervise several subordinate functions May use amateur radio operators for this - as “spies” in the field!

15. 15 ICS Major Functional Areas General Staff - Logistics Reports to the Incident Commander Reports to the Incident Commander Provides all “responder” resources: personnel, supplies, facilities, equipment, maintenance and fueling, transportation, feeding, medical services, and communications Provides all “responder” resources: personnel, supplies, facilities, equipment, maintenance and fueling, transportation, feeding, medical services, and communications May supervise several May supervise severalsubordinatefunctions Including amateur radio!

16. 16 ICS Major Functional Areas General Staff - Finance Reports to the Incident Commander Reports to the Incident Commander Tracks all incident costs Tracks all incident costs Responsible for: payment of personnel costs, contracting and procurement, cost recovery, compensation for injuries & claims Responsible for: payment of personnel costs, contracting and procurement, cost recovery, compensation for injuries & claims May supervise several May supervise several subordinate functions Includes worker’s compensation for amateur radio volunteers!

17. 17 ICS In Its Simplest Form! Incident Commander

18. 18 Another Simple ICS Organization

19. 19 Emergency Operations Center ICS Structure You are here!

20. 20 ICS In a Pre-Planned Event Y2K You are here! (Doing damage assessment function or reporting neighborhood status)

21. 21 Site ASite BSite CSite D Out in the Field In the EOC EOC/Field Integration

22. 22 More EOC/Field Integration! Other City EOCs State ECC Federal Government Site ASite BSite CSite D

23. 23 ICS Planning Cycle There is a method to their madness! There is a method to their madness! –Absolutely necessary in a protracted event Responsibility of Planning Section, which must develop a “split personality:” Responsibility of Planning Section, which must develop a “split personality:” –Monitors implementation of current action plan –Generates action plan for next shift –Requires input from all other sections Defines staffing and other resource requirements Defines staffing and other resource requirements

24. 24

25. 25 Operations Shift Change Briefing Present situation update Present situation update Review Incident Action Plan Review Incident Action Plan –Make any last-minute changes –Discuss assignment of incident objectives –Ask questions and clarify assignments Discuss logistical support details Discuss logistical support details –Communications, Medical Plan, Transportation, etc. Review safety message Review safety message

26. 26 Do What You Can to Fit Into Your “Served” Agency Find your “champion” on their staff Find your “champion” on their staff Learn more about their emergency operations/organization, such as their use the Incident Command System Learn more about their emergency operations/organization, such as their use the Incident Command System Accept their message forms, and translate them onto a radiogram if needed Accept their message forms, and translate them onto a radiogram if needed Exercise with them on a regular basis Exercise with them on a regular basis

27. 27 Quiz Question #1 The Incident Command System (ICS) is applicable to both small day-to-day operations as well as very large and complex incidents. True or false?

28. 28 Quiz Question #2 The Incident Command System (ICS) is applicable to amateur radio operations such as public safety events, club picnics, or Field Day. True or false?

29. 29 Quiz Question #3 Depending upon the function they are performing, amateur radio operators could be part of the Logistics and/or Planning Sections. True or false?

30. 30 Quiz Question #4 The Incident Commander is responsible for performing the functions of any position that hasn’t been delegated. True or false?

31. 31 Quiz Question #5 The Operations Chief is responsible for the management of all “tactical” activities, which are activities designed to –Reduce the immediate hazard –Establish situation control –Restore “normal” operations True or false?

32. 32 Quiz Question #6 In the case of a unified command, the incident objectives must adequately reflect the policies and needs of all participating jurisdictions or agencies. True or false? (This is a trick question!)

33. 33 Quiz Question #7 The “span of control” of any supervisor should range from three to seven people, with five as ideal. True or false?

34. 34 Quiz Question #8 The first arriving person should wait for the Incident Commander to arrive before establishing a command post and implementing the Incident Command System. True or false?

35. 35 Quiz Question #9 If a representative of the media approaches you for an interview, you can talk to them about the contributions of amateur radio operators, but not about the progress of the incident. True or false?

36. 36 Quiz Question #10 The Safety Officer provides oversight for all tactical activities and has the authority to stop/prevent unsafe acts. True or false?

37. 37 ICS Resources FEMA Independent Study Course (IS-195, Basic Incident Command System) FEMA Independent Study Course (IS-195, Basic Incident Command System) – http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/crslist.asp ICS Web-based Training ICS Web-based Training –http://www.wildlandfire.net/ ICS E-Tools ICS E-Tools –http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/ics/index.html Hospital Emergency ICS (HEICS) Sample Plan Hospital Emergency ICS (HEICS) Sample Plan –http://www.emsa.cahwnet.gov/dms2/heics3.htm

38. 38 QUESTIONS?

39. 39 EMERGENCY CENTER DAILY PLANNING CYCLE The graphic below shows the general flow of planning events and timing for the planning cycle. Times are approximate. Call Out Initial Response ICS 201 Briefing Initial Decisions By Team IC's Strategy & Objectives *Develop *Validate *Revise Tactics Meeting IC, PSC, OPS, LSC *Develop *Revise Prepare for Planning Meeting *Intelligence *Resource Update Planning Meeting *Finalize 215 *Approve Plan Prepare Incident Action Plan Brief Operations Personnel on next Operational Period Operational Shift Change Start Operation Over on a Daily or Operational Period Basis HOUR 1 HOUR 2 HOUR 3 HOUR 5 HOUR 6 HOUR 11 HOUR 12