Presentation on Colorado IMTs and how they can assist during an incident.

1. Incident Management TeamsIncident Management Teams
In ColoradoIn Colorado
Daniel Hatlestad, Paramedic
EMS Captain
Inter-Canyon Fire/Rescue
Information Officer, Type 2
Jefferson County IMT
Colorado Team 1
EMSAC
November 2011
Southwest
Colorado
IMT

2. IMTs in Colorado
Incident Command System Structure
IMTs in Colorado
National Incident Management System
History Of the Incident Command System
EMS and ICS: Working with IMTs
Objectives

3. NIMS
National Incident Management System
Objectives

4. National Response Plan (NRP)
 Issued February 28, 2003, Homeland Security
Presidential Directive 5 (HSPD-5), called for the
creation of a National Response Plan (NRP) to
“integrate Federal Government domestic prevention,
preparedness, response, and recovery plans into one
all-discipline, all-hazards plan”.
 The purpose of the NRP is to enhance the ability of the
United States to prepare for and to manage domestic
incidents by establishing a single, comprehensive
national approach.

5. National Incident Management
System (NIMS)
 Under the NRP, a National Incident Management System
(NIMS) will be developed to provide a consistent
nationwide framework to standardize incident
management practices and procedures to ensure that
Federal, State, and local governments can work
effectively and efficiently together to prepare for, respond
to, and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of
cause, size, or complexity.
 NIMS adopted the basic tenets of the Incident Command
System (ICS) as its foundation.

6. History of ICS
History Of the Incident Command System
Objectives

7. Incident Command System
ICS is a well organized, team approach for managing
critical incidents. It has the following hallmarks:
1. Manageable Span of Control
2. Common Terminology
3. Modular/Scalable Organization
4. Integrated Communications
5. Unified Command Structure
6. Consolidated Action Plans
7. Pre-designated Command Centers
8. Comprehensive Resource Management

8. Incident Command System History
The Incident command
System (ICS) was developed
in response to a series of
fires in Southern California in
the early 1970s by an
interagency effort called
FIRESCOPE.

9. ICS Based in Wildfire
ICS was designed to manage
rapidly moving wildfires and to
address reoccurring problems:
 Too many people reporting to
one supervisor
 Different emergency response
organizational structure
 Lack of reliable incident
information
 Inadequate and incompatible
communications

10. While the ICS was designed
to manage rapidly moving
wildfires, the system has
been widely adopted by
many public service
agencies/NIMS/FEMA for
response to disasters of all
kinds
ICS Adaptation

11. ICS Structure
Incident Command System Structure
Objectives

12. ICS Essential Requirements
The designers of ICS had four essential requirements:
1. The system must be organizationally flexible to meet the
needs of incidents of any kind and size.
2. Agencies must be able to use the system on a day-to-
day basis as well as for major emergencies.
3. The system must be sufficiently standardized to allow
personnel from a variety of agencies and diverse
geographic locations to rapidly meld into a common
management structure.
4. The system must be cost effective.

13. Goals of ICS
Local, state, federal cooperation
Interagency coordination
Enhanced communication
Interoperability
Unified command
Personnel accountability
Operational effectiveness
Citizen and Responder safety
Use existing capabilities/competencies

14. Incident Command System –
Modular Organization
Organizational structure…
 Develops top-down, from first-in unit.
 Is based on incident’s management needs.
 Is always staffed with a designated IC; other
functions staffed as needed.
 Capable of rapid expansion to meet the
needs of the authorizing agency.

15. Incident Command System
Incident
Commander Command
Information
Safety
Liaison
Command
Staff
Operations Planning Logistics Finance
General
Staff
COMMAND
• Has incident responsibility
event
• Command Staff includes
Information, Safety & Liaison
OPERATIONS
• Directs all resources
• Conducts tactical operations
PLANNING
• Develops the action plan to
accomplish the objective
LOGISTICS
• Provides support to meet
incident needs
FINANCE/ADMINISTRATION
• Monitors costs, time and
procurement related to
incident

16. ICS Organization
BRANCH
DIVISIONS &
GROUPS
BRANCH
GROUP
STRIKE TEAMS
& TASK
FORCES
RESOURCES UNIT
SITUATION UNIT
DEMOBILIZATION UNIT
DOCUMENTATION UNIT
INTELLIGENCE AND
INFORMATION UNIT
TECHNICAL
SPECIALISTS
TIME UNIT
PROCUREMENT
UNIT
COMPENSATION
COST UNIT
SERVICE BRANCH
COMMUNICATIONS
MEDICAL
FOOD
SUPPORT BRANCH
SUPPLY
FACILITIES
GROUND SUPPORT
COMMAND
OPERATIONS LOGISTICS PLANNING FINANCE
PIO
SAFETY
LIAISON
RESOURCES

17. The Incident Management Team
An IMT is an overhead team consisting of the Command and
General Staff positions of the ICS organization. A scalable
group of specially trained & experienced individuals who work
with the existing organization for the command, control,
coordination, support and/or management of the incident
organization & resources with maximum effectiveness,
efficiency, and safety.
Need:
 Any incident which exceeds the capabilities of local resources
 Any incident expanding beyond Operations
 Any incident lasting longer than one operational period

18. Incident/Threat
Notification
Initial Response
& Assessment
Agency Administrator
Briefing
(If Appropriate)
Incident Briefing
ICS 201
Initial UC Meeting
(If Unified
Command)
IC/UC Sets Initial
Incident
Objectives
Initial Strategy
Meeting &
Information
Sharing
InformationGathering&
Sharing
InitialResponse
IC/UC
Validate or
Adjust
Objectives
Strategy
Meeting If
Objectives
Adjusted
Execute
Plan &
Assess
Progress
Begin
Operational
Period
Operational
Period
Briefing
IAP
Preparation
& Approval
Planning
Meeting
Preparing for
Planning
Meeting
Tactics
Meeting
Information Gathering and
Sharing
Information Gathering and
Sharing
The Planning “P”
• Command manages the
organization whereas
Operations manages the
incident.
• Subsequently, the IMT focuses
on assisting with the
management of the
organization.
• Planning for each operational
period (typically 12 hours) is a
critical function of the IMT.
• The Plans group produces the
Incident Action Plan (IAP).

19. The Incident Action Plan
Step 1: Understand agency policy and direction.
Step 2: Assess incident situation.
Step 3: Establish incident objectives.
Step 4: Select appropriate strategy or strategies to achieve objectives.
Step 5: Perform tactical direction (applying tactics appropriate to the
strategy, assigning the resources, and monitoring performance).
Step 6: Provide necessary followup (changing strategy or tactics, adding or
subtracting resources, etc.).
Management by Objectives
All levels of a growing ICS organization must have a
clear understanding of the functional actions required
to manage the incident. Management by objectives is
an approach used to communicate actions throughout
the entire ICS organization. It can be accomplished
through the Incident Action Plan, which includes the
following steps:

20. National or State levelNational or State level
National or State levelNational or State level
State or metro area levelState or metro area level
City or county levelCity or county level
Single incident levelSingle incident level
Incident Management Team Types

21. Types 1 IMTs – 35-50 members
A self-contained, all-hazard or
wildland team recognized at the
National and State level,
coordinated through the State,
Geographic Area Coordination
Center, or National Interagency
Fire Center.
Multiple operational periods
Written Incident Action Plan
Incident Personnel > 500
• California (5)
• Pacific NW (2)
• Alaska
• Northern Rockies (2)
• Great Basin (2)
• Rocky Mountain
• Southwest (2)
• Southern (2)
• NIMO (2)

22. Type 2 IMTs – 20-35 members
A self-contained, all-hazard or
wildland team recognized at the
National and State level,
coordinated through the State,
Geographic Area Coordination
Center, or National Interagency
Fire Center.
Multiple operational periods
Written IAP
Incident Personnel < 500
Approximately 35 Nationally certified
Type 2 teams in the U.S.

23. Type 3 IMTs – 12-20 members
State or Regional multi-agency/
multi-jurisdiction team for
extended incidents
May be used at incidents such as
a tornado touchdown, wildfires,
earthquake, flood, multi-day
hostage/standoff situation, or at
large planned events.
2+ operational periods
Written IAP
Colorado currently has three certified Type 3 teams and
additional teams are working toward certification by the state.

24. Type 4 IMT – 7-10 members
A single and/or multi-
agency team for expanded
incidents, typically formed
and managed at the city,
township or county level or
by a pre-determined local
or regional entity.
1 operational period
No written Incident Action Plan
Commonly formed during mutual aid responses with
Command staff from many organizations.

25. Type 5 IMTs – 2-5 members
Often a discipline specific
response (i.e. fire, law) of 2-5
command level officers that
provide the Incident Commander
with support (command mutual
aid). 1 operational period
No written Incident Action Plan
Type 5 teams typically take shape when an individual
identifies themselves as Incident Command.

26. What is an All-Hazards Incident
Management Team?
Designed to serve not only in wildfires, but in all major
incidents, an AHIMT is a team comprised of:
 Personnel from single or multiple agencies and jurisdictions
 Community resources
 Law enforcement, fire, EMS, public health, schools
heathcare facilities, industry

27. When to begin thinking
about calling the IMT
 You may run into a second operational period
 You have more resources than you normally manage or
feel comfortable safely managing.
 You have heavy media attention.
 You are activating multiple mutual aid operational assets,
you automatically have:
• Commensurate overhead needs
• Increased resource accountability demand
• Increased communication demands
• Increased documentation requirements
• Increased risks

28. May be used in…
• Planned events
• Emergencies
• Disasters (natural, human-
made, etc.)
• Classified / Sensitive / High
Visibility situations
When can an IMT be used?

29. Tornado
2,000+ Injured…
600 Structures destroyed, including the local
hospital, 1500+ homes and businesses damaged
Neighboring Counties also damaged – mutual aid
not available.

30. Hazardous Materials
Is your system prepared to:
Operate for 5-10 days?
Evacuate 3,000+ citizens?
Support 20+ Mutual Aid Fire
Departments, ambulances, Haz-
Mat units for several days?
Supply 300+ gallons of fuel per
hour?
Assemble 50+ EMS units?

31. Floods
200+ Injured…
300 Structures destroyed, including the fire
station, police department, 1500+ homes
and businesses damaged
Neighboring Counties also damaged –
mutual aid not available.

32. Major Building Collapse
Do you have a Plan…
First 5 minutes?
First 3 hours?
First 6 hours?
Multiple operational periods for
search, rescue and recovery?

33. MCI with prolonged Operations
How many responders can youHow many responders can you
quickly assemble?quickly assemble?
Could you request 30 - 50Could you request 30 - 50
ambulances?ambulances?

34. Disease Outbreak
 Cannot be managed with local resources
 Multiple patients
 Special hazards
• Chemical
• Radiological
• Biological
 Mass Immunizations
 Evacuations
 Prolonged recovery

35. Blizzards
 Local resources may be unable to respond
 Evacuation of healthcare facilities
 Transport
• Food
• Fuel
• Medication
 Animal feeding
 Mobilization of state resources
 Snow removal

36. IMTs in Colorado
IMTs in Colorado
Objectives

37. Colorado Type III IMTs
Type 3 IMTs in Colorado:
1.Are certified by the Colorado Division of Fire Safety
2.Have multiple staff in each position
3.Have members qualified at Type 3, 2 and 1 positions
4.Work together to staff large incidents
5.Are deployed to assist other states with large incidents

38. Colorado Type III IMTs
This initiative is designed to:
Strategically locate teams throughout the state.
Provide incident management for state level disasters.
Management of an incident until arrival of Type 1 or 2 team.
Prepare team personnel for all-hazard incidents.
Deploy IMT personnel when local jurisdictions are
overwhelmed or incidents with a prolonged operational periods.

39. Colorado IMTs
Colorado is a recognized national leader in
the development and utilization of Type III
All-Hazards Incident Management Teams.
The teams include members from law
enforcement, EMS, fire, public health,
school systems, and industry. The teams
have in-depth coverage of all command
positions - allowing for prolonged
assignments.
The teams have been deployed during the
blizzards in SE Colorado, Alamosa
Salmonella outbreak, Windsor tornado,
DNC convention, the Rainbow Family
gathering on U.S.F.S. property and various
wildland fires throughout Colorado.Southwest
Colorado IMT

40. Activation of the Colorado IMTs
Activation of the IMT by local agency - Contact CDEM
•Type of Incident
•Support needed
•Location of incident
•Extent of incident
•Contact names, phone numbers
Confirmation of team response within minutes

41. What will the IMT want from me?
 ICS 201-type information
 What resources are on the scene
 Where are the resources
 What is the current organization
 What is the current situation
• Objectives & Strategies
 Scene sketch, if available
 The IMT will want to know who it works for (AHJ) and
what its assignments are (Delegation of Authority).
 The Delegation of Authority is critical as it outlines
resources, finances, goals, limitations, and constraints.
The Delegation of Authority requires politicians.

42. Transition to the IMT
The IMT responds with:
•Overhead management team
with trained and skilled multi-
service Command and General
staff.
•Communications equipment and
van for multi-system radio links.
•Self-supporting offices.

43. What will the IMT do upon arrival?
Immediate Actions
Check in with Incident Commander
Receive briefing from Incident Command
The IMT will brief and assign their staff
Establish IMT objectives that support the
mission as assigned by the IC
• Support & fortify Resources Management
• Support & fortify Communications
• Support & Fortify Responder Health & Safety
• Support & fortify the Planning Cycle

44. Transition from Local to IMT
Transition is the most challenging and dangerous time
Delegation of Authority from Agency Having Jurisdiction (AJD)
Identification of Resources in the field and at the Incident
Command Post
Communications plan
Integration of IMT with local resources

45.  Transfer of command occurs when:
 Typically at the beginning of an
Operational Period
 The incident situation changes
over time, resulting in a legal
requirement to change command.
 There is normal turnover of personnel on
extended incidents.
 The incident response is concluded and
responsibility is transferred to the home
agency.
Transfer of Command

46. Command Structures
 Single Command
 One commander for
entire incident
 Works well for:
• Short duration
incidents
• Limited jurisdictions
 Does not work well for:
• Overlapping
responsibilities
• Overlapping
jurisdictions
• Incidents that evolve
over time
 Unified Command
 Agency command
personnel unify
 Right agency at right
time
 Stimulates cooperation
 Provides for balanced
decision-making
 Maintains
• Adequate span of
control
• Unity of command

47. Unified Command – Local and IMT
 Enables all responsible
agencies to manage an
incident together by
establishing a common set
of incident objectives and
strategies.
 Allows Incident Commanders
to make joint decisions by
establishing a single
command structure.
 Maintains unity of command.
Each employee only reports
to one supervisor.
Incident Command Post
Agency 1 Agency 2 Agency 3
Agency 1
Incident
Commander
Agency 2
Incident
Commander
Agency 3
Incident
Commander

48. EMS and ICS
EMS and ICS: Working with IMTs
Objectives

49. Our World Has Changed!
Are You Prepared To Meet These New Challenges !
Shanksville, a small
community in western
Pennsylvania, was also
impacted on 9/11
New York City has robust
EMS, fire, and MCI capability.
NYC used multiple IMTs in
the days following 9/11

50. EMS In Major Incidents
Effective C3
begins with first unit
 Establish command
 Do NOT treat patients
 START Triage

51. EMS in ICS Organization
BranchesBranches Air Ops
Branch
Air Ops
Branch
DivisionsDivisions GroupsGroups
Operations SectionOperations Section
Single ResourceSingle Resource
Task ForceTask Force
Strike TeamStrike Team
Resources
Unit
Resources
Unit
Planning SectionPlanning Section
Demob.
Unit
Demob.
Unit
Situation
Unit
Situation
Unit
Doc.
Unit
Doc.
Unit
Logistics SectionLogistics Section Finance/Admin.
Section
Finance/Admin.
Section
Time
Unit
Time
Unit
Compensation
Claims Unit
Compensation
Claims Unit
Procurement
Unit
Procurement
Unit
Cost
Unit
Cost
Unit
Incident CommanderIncident Commander
Public Information
Officer
Public Information
Officer
Liaison
Officer
Liaison
Officer
Safety
Officer
Safety
Officer
Commun.
Unit
Commun.
Unit
Medical
Unit
Medical
Unit
Food
Unit
Food
Unit
Service
Branch
Service
Branch
Support
Branch
Support
Branch
Supply
Unit
Supply
Unit
Facilities
Unit
Facilities
Unit
Ground
Support
Unit
Ground
Support
Unit
2-28/31
EMS in Medical
Unit

52. EMS in ICS Organization
BranchesBranches Air Ops
Branch
Air Ops
Branch
DivisionsDivisions GroupsGroups
Operations SectionOperations Section
Single ResourceSingle Resource
Task ForceTask Force
Strike TeamStrike Team
Resources
Unit
Resources
Unit
Planning SectionPlanning Section
Demob.
Unit
Demob.
Unit
Situation
Unit
Situation
Unit
Doc.
Unit
Doc.
Unit
Logistics SectionLogistics Section Finance/Admin.
Section
Finance/Admin.
Section
Time
Unit
Time
Unit
Compensation
Claims Unit
Compensation
Claims Unit
Procurement
Unit
Procurement
Unit
Cost
Unit
Cost
Unit
Incident CommanderIncident Commander
Public Information
Officer
Public Information
Officer
Liaison
Officer
Liaison
Officer
Safety
Officer
Safety
Officer
Commun.
Unit
Commun.
Unit
Medical
Unit
Medical
Unit
Food
Unit
Food
Unit
Service
Branch
Service
Branch
Support
Branch
Support
Branch
Supply
Unit
Supply
Unit
Facilities
Unit
Facilities
Unit
Ground
Support
Unit
Ground
Support
Unit
EMS in
Operations

53. ICS – EMS in Operations
L a w E n fo r c e m e n t B r a n c h
S t a g in g
T r ia g e S o u t h
T r e a t m e n t S o u t h
T r a n s p o r t S o u t h
D e p u t y S o u t h
T r ia g e C e n t r a l
T r e a t m e n t C e n t r a l
T r a n s p o r t C e n t r a l
D e p u t y C e n t r a l
T r ia g e N o r t h
T r e a t m e n t N o r t h
T r a n s p o r t N o r t h
D e p u t y N o r t h
E M S B r a n c h F ir e R e s c u e B r a n c h
O p e r a t io n s
C o m m a n d

54. IMS Terminology
 Division = A geographical subdivision of an incident
(North Division, Interior Division)
 Group = A functional subdivision of an incident
(Suppression Group, Rescue Group, EMS Group,
Ventilation Group)
Division vs. Group

55. IMS Terminology
 Single Resource = One of anything (ambulance, fire engine,
rescue truck) plus required staff
 Task Force = Combination of single resources assembled for
specific mission (battalion chief, EMS supervisor, engine,
truck, heavy rescue, ambulance)
 Strike Team = Set of single resources of same kind plus
leader in vehicle (EMS supervisor and 5 ambulances)

56. EMS Branch Director
 Declare major incident
 Perform size-up
 Priorities
 Life Safety
 Incident Stabilization (stable vs. unstable)
 Property Conservation
 Request appropriate assistance – consider IMT
 Designate staging area
 Designate treatment area(s)
 Coordinate with other agencies as Unified Command
 Direct EMS activities until relieved

57. Triage
 Coordinate patient removal from danger with
rescue/extrication personnel
 Provide Command with updates
 Identify/correct life-threats without slowing triage
 Assess, categorize, tag
 Coordinate “hazard zone” activities
 Continuously retriage

58. Staging
 Identify safe location for vehicle staging
 Assure access routes
 Assure orderly parking, traffic flow
 Categorize units, capabilities
 Assign units as requested
 Inform Command of status

59. Treatment
 Locate treatment areas, advise Command and Triage
 Evaluate resources needed for treatment
 Assign, coordinate treatment personnel
 Maintain Morgue, Rehab units as needed
 Inform Command of status
 Inform Command of available staff

60. Transport
 Establish transport area(s)
 Request ambulances from staging
 Coordinate transport of patients with dispatch or command
hospital
 Direct transport to appropriate facilities
 Main records of patient destinations
 Inform Command of status

61. Incident Command System - EMS
EMS
Branch Director
Staging
Officer
Transport
Officer
Treatment
Officer
Triage
Officer
Hospitals
Dispatch
Movement
Communication

62. IMTs in Colorado
Incident Command System Structure
IMTs in Colorado
National Incident Management System
History Of the Incident Command System
EMS and ICS: Working with IMTs
Objectives
I’m with the IMT and I’m Here to Help…
No really, I am

63. Incident Management TeamsIncident Management Teams
In ColoradoIn Colorado
Daniel Hatlestad
daniel.hatlestad@gmail.com
720-232-5926
EMSAC
November 2011
Southwest
Colorado
IMT