The document discusses major incident and disaster response, including the Incident Command System (ICS) used to coordinate multi-agency emergency responses. ICS establishes a clear chain of command and modular organizational structure. A key aspect is the Incident Command Post, which is the on-site command center, and the Emergency Operations Center, which coordinates response on a wider scale from a centralized location. The document outlines the roles and responsibilities of first responders in major incidents and disasters, and how technology can enhance response efforts through mobile command vehicles and specialized equipment.

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Police TechnologyPolice Technology
Chapter SeventeenChapter Seventeen
Major IncidentMajor Incident
AndAnd
Disaster ResponseDisaster Response

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Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives
 Be familiar withBe familiar with Federal EmergencyFederal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA)Management Agency (FEMA) andand
understandunderstand Incident Command SystemIncident Command System
(ICS)(ICS)
 Understand how technology can enhanceUnderstand how technology can enhance
the different organizational missions,the different organizational missions,
goals, and objectives at a major incidentgoals, and objectives at a major incident
or disasteror disaster

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 Understand the importance of anUnderstand the importance of an IncidentIncident
Command Post (ICP)Command Post (ICP)
 Understand the typical configuration of anUnderstand the typical configuration of an
Emergency Operations Center (EOC)Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
 Explore some of the technologies used inExplore some of the technologies used in
the response to major incidents andthe response to major incidents and
disastersdisasters
Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

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IntroductionIntroduction
 AA major incidentmajor incident is any incident where oneis any incident where one
police officer assumes the responsibility topolice officer assumes the responsibility to
direct the actions of two or more officers atdirect the actions of two or more officers at
the scene of an incidentthe scene of an incident
 AA disasterdisaster is any unexpected occurrenceis any unexpected occurrence
that disrupts routine life in a community forthat disrupts routine life in a community for
more than twenty-four hours and causesmore than twenty-four hours and causes
life of life or property.life of life or property.

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Two types of disastersTwo types of disasters
NaturalNatural
 A Geological eventA Geological event
(e.g., earthquake,(e.g., earthquake,
landslide, sinkhole)landslide, sinkhole)
 Weather-relatedWeather-related
event (e.g.,event (e.g.,
Hurricane, flood, fire)Hurricane, flood, fire)
Photograph provided by Robert Eplett, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services

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Two types of disastersTwo types of disasters
Human causedHuman caused
 Aircraft crashAircraft crash
 Chemical spillChemical spill
 Traffic Collision (100-Traffic Collision (100-
car pile-ups)car pile-ups)
 Major crime incidentMajor crime incident
(Hostage situations,(Hostage situations,
North Hwy shootout)North Hwy shootout)
Photograph provided by Robert Eplett, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services

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DisastersDisasters
The first step inThe first step in
returning to areturning to a
state of normalcystate of normalcy
is establishingis establishing
leadership overleadership over
the incident.the incident.Photograph provided by Robert Eplett, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services

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Incident Command SystemIncident Command System
 Consider ICS anConsider ICS an
organizationalorganizational
technology!technology!
Photograph provided by Robert Eplett, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services

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Incident Command SystemIncident Command System
 An organizational model for command,An organizational model for command,
control, and coordination of an agency’scontrol, and coordination of an agency’s
response to an unusual occurrence.response to an unusual occurrence.
 Originally developed by firefighters toOriginally developed by firefighters to
coordinate multiple agency response to ancoordinate multiple agency response to an
emergencyemergency
 Law enforcement do not have as manyLaw enforcement do not have as many
mutual aid experiences as the fire servicemutual aid experiences as the fire service

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Standardized EmergencyStandardized Emergency
Management System (SEMS)Management System (SEMS)
 Requires state law enforcement toRequires state law enforcement to
use SEMS so they will be eligible foruse SEMS so they will be eligible for
state funding.state funding.
 Encourages local agencies to useEncourages local agencies to use
SEMSSEMS
 In 1994, FEMA adopted SEMSIn 1994, FEMA adopted SEMS

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National Incident ManagementNational Incident Management
SystemSystem
 After 9/11, one of the majorAfter 9/11, one of the major
recommendations of the 9/11 Commissionrecommendations of the 9/11 Commission
was the adoption of thewas the adoption of the National IncidentNational Incident
Management SystemManagement System
 There was a clear difference between theThere was a clear difference between the
responses in New York (no adoption ofresponses in New York (no adoption of
ICS) and Washington, DC (where ICS hadICS) and Washington, DC (where ICS had
been adopted.been adopted.
New Information
Photograph provided by Robert Eplett, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services

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National Incident ManagementNational Incident Management
SystemSystem
 NIMS is nearlyNIMS is nearly
identical to SEMS/ICSidentical to SEMS/ICS
 NIMS is required forNIMS is required for
federal funding fromfederal funding from
the Department ofthe Department of
Homeland SecurityHomeland Security
 The primary conceptThe primary concept
isis Unified CommandUnified Command Photograph provided by Robert Eplett, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
New Information

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Incident Command SystemIncident Command System
Incorporates 7Incorporates 7
basic emergencybasic emergency
managementmanagement
conceptsconcepts
 Unified commandUnified command
 Modular OrganizationModular Organization
 Span of ControlSpan of Control
 Common terminologyCommon terminology
 Consolidated actionConsolidated action
plansplans
 ComprehensiveComprehensive
resourceresource
ManagementManagement
 CommunicationCommunication
InteroperabilityInteroperability

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The modular organization of the ICS organizationalThe modular organization of the ICS organizational
structure has five primary components:structure has five primary components:
Incident
Commande
r
Planning
Section
Operations
Section
Logistics
Section
Finance/
Admin.
Section
Incident Command SystemIncident Command System

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The Incident Commander should be theThe Incident Commander should be the mostmost
qualified person,qualified person, not merely the highest-rankingnot merely the highest-ranking
individual.individual.
TheThe first responderfirst responder is generally the Incidentis generally the Incident
Commander unless and until that responsibilityCommander unless and until that responsibility
is assumed by a more qualified person.is assumed by a more qualified person.
Incident Command SystemIncident Command System

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Situation EstimateSituation Estimate
 Location of incidentLocation of incident
 Perceived area involvedPerceived area involved
 Type of incidentType of incident
 Special hazardsSpecial hazards
 Types of resources neededTypes of resources needed
 Ingress and egress routesIngress and egress routes

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Incident Command PostIncident Command Post
 Is the field office from which the incidentIs the field office from which the incident
commander operates (temporarycommander operates (temporary
headquarters)headquarters)
 Must be close enough to the incident toMust be close enough to the incident to
manage itmanage it
 Far enough away to not become part ofFar enough away to not become part of
the problemthe problem

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Incident
Commande
r
Planning
Section
Operations
Section
Logistics
Section
Finance/
Admin.
Section
Operations SectionOperations Section
Most First Responders
Work with the Operations
Section

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 Is responsible for carrying out the actionIs responsible for carrying out the action
plans decided upon by the Incidentplans decided upon by the Incident
Commander.Commander.
 Action plansAction plans identify objectives andidentify objectives and
strategies (written or oral)strategies (written or oral)
 Operations can branch out (differentOperations can branch out (different
functions, locations, teams of workers)functions, locations, teams of workers)
Operations SectionOperations Section

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Incident Command PostIncident Command Post
TechnologyTechnology
 The patrol vehicle isThe patrol vehicle is
fast become a mobilefast become a mobile
office.office.
 Many policeMany police
department havedepartment have
taken passengertaken passenger
police cars andpolice cars and
outfitted them asoutfitted them as
mobile incidentmobile incident
command posts.command posts.
Photograph provided by 308 Systems

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Bigger ICPsBigger ICPs
Police cars - Trunk-Police cars - Trunk-
mounted platformsmounted platforms
work well for mostwork well for most
incidentsincidents
SUVs – larger, canSUVs – larger, can
carry more resourcescarry more resources
to the scene of anto the scene of an
incident.incident.
Photographs provided by Troy Products, Inc
Photographs provided by Troy Products, Inc

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Specialty VehicleSpecialty Vehicle
Can be a convertedCan be a converted
RV, bus, or tractorRV, bus, or tractor
trailer rig.trailer rig.

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Emergency Operation CentersEmergency Operation Centers
 Can be thought of as a complexCan be thought of as a complex
dispatch center used for thedispatch center used for the
management and control of themanagement and control of the
disaster.disaster.
 May be supplemented by multipleMay be supplemented by multiple
ICPs in the field.ICPs in the field.

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EOC structure similar to ICSEOC structure similar to ICS
Director
Operations Planning Logistics Admin.

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Job of the EOC. . .Job of the EOC. . .
 Coordinates all theCoordinates all the
activities within aactivities within a
jurisdiction on a widerjurisdiction on a wider
scale.scale.
 Relieves some of theRelieves some of the
admin burden fromadmin burden from
the Incidentthe Incident
commanders.commanders.
 Directs resourcesDirects resources
E O C
ICP1 ICP2
ICP3 ICP4

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Technological ConsiderationsTechnological Considerations
for the First Responderfor the First Responder
Police officers dutiesPolice officers duties
as a major incident oras a major incident or
disaster include:disaster include:
DO NOT becomeDO NOT become
part of the problem!part of the problem!
 Perimeter controlPerimeter control
 Incident securityIncident security
 Traffic controlTraffic control
 Crowd controlCrowd control
 Assisting evacuationAssisting evacuation
 Preserving andPreserving and
collecting evidencecollecting evidence
 Admin support to ICAdmin support to IC

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What’s Not Included?What’s Not Included?
 Robots used forRobots used for
disarming explosivedisarming explosive
devices anddevices and
searching dangeroussearching dangerous
areasareas
 Specialized protectionSpecialized protection
equipmentequipment Photograph provided by Robert Eplett, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services

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Police TechnologyPolice Technology
Go to theGo to the Student ResourcesStudent Resources page atpage at
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