1. US Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
Overview of the Incident
Command System as Practiced in
the United States
2. Basic ICS Concepts
๏ฎ The ICS is a disaster response management
organization structure: specific technical
competency skills are integrated in the ICS
organization
๏ฎ ICS used on day-to-day basis for routine
incidents as well as for major emergencies;
activated at first response
3. For Example:
Day to Day Routine Incident
Structure Fire or Motor Vehicle
Accident
4. ICS Features
๏ฎ Clear objectives and priorities
๏ฎ Defined operational objectives and organization
๏ฎ Incident Action Plan
Objectives and Priorities Organization Chart
Tactical Assignments Medical Plan
Communication Plan Air Operations Plan
Weather Safety
Travel Routes/Maps
๏ฎ Common terminology
5. ICS Features (cont)
๏ฎ Common communications
๏ฎ Uniform resource typing
๏ฎ Written Position Descriptions
โ Roles and responsibilities defined
โ Clear lines of authority, chain of command and
reporting requirements
๏ฎ Standardized personnel qualifications and
training โ national coordinating group
6. Five Major Management
Activities
๏ฎ Command
โข Sets objectives
โข Sets priorities
โข Overall responsibility at the incident
๏ฎ Planning
โข Develops the action plan to accomplish the
objectives
โข Collects and evaluates information
โข Maintains resource status
โข Maintains incident documentation
7. Five Major Management Activities
๏ฎ Logistics
โข Provides support to meet incident needs
โข Provides resources and all other services needed
to support the incident
๏ฎ Finance/Administration
โข Monitors costs related to incident
โข Provides accounting, procurement, time recording,
and cost analyses
8. Five Major Management Activities
๏ฎ Operations
โข Conducts tactical operations to carry out the plan
โข Develops the tactical objectives, organization, and
directs all resources
12. The World Trade Center
11 September, 2001
๏ฎ The planning section was asked to develop
a comprehensive plan for the rescue and
recovery of the World Trade Center
Disaster
๏ฎ The Incident Action Plan included a
summary of the cooperating agencies (26+),
objectives, daily assignments and accounted
for resources.
21. Span of Control
๏ฎ Number of resources
๏ฎ Complexity of the incident
๏ฎ What is needed
๏ฎ Safety
๏ฎ Cost effectiveness
๏ฎ Resource protection
๏ฎ Effective leadership
25. Earthquake Example โ
Functional Groups
Operations
Section
Chief
Branch 1
Medical Aid
Branch 3
Search and
Rescue
Branch 4
Commodity
Shelter
Branch 2
Site
Security
26. Example: Small Incident
Mt. Saint Helens โ Volcano
๏ฎ The responsible official requested an
Incident Management Team comprised
of the Command and General Staff to
monitor and develop a public safety and
education program while the volcano was
active and presented a potential threat to
local communities.
28. Example of a Complex Incident
Hurricane Ivan: Multi-Branch
29. Multi-Branch Organization
Supply Unit
Information
Liaison
Unified Commander
Law/Fire
Other Agencies with Jurisdiction
Safety
Finance/Admin Sct
Time Unit
Procurement
Logistics Section
Support Brnch
Food Unit
Medical Unit
Communication
Services Branch
Facilities Unit
Ground Suprt
Planning/IntelSection
Situation Unit
Resource Unit
SF/SAR Spclst
USAR Spclst
Document Unit
Operations Section
Staging
Heavy Equip
Group
Utilities
Group
Debris
Removal Gp
Public Works
Branch
Scene Security
(Group)
Traffic Control
(Group)
Evacuation
Group
Law
Branch
Medical
Group
Patient
Transport Gp
Multi-Casualty
Branch
Helicopter
Coordinator
Helibase
Manager
Air/Operations
Branch
Division A
Division B
Fire Suppress.
Group
USAR Group
SF/SAR
Branch
USAR Group
USAR Group
30. Type 1 Incident Commander
Type 2 Incident
Commander
Local
Incident
Commander
Responsible
Official
34. Key Points of ICS
๏ฎ Delegation of Authority
๏ฎ Flexible and dynamic
๏ฎ Provides consistency
๏ฎ Relies on functionalism
๏ฎ Works on all incidents no matter the scope
or size
35. Summary
Incident Command System
๏ฎ Provides a Plan
๏ฎ Organizes the resources
๏ฎ Implements the actions
๏ฎ Supports all personnel
๏ฎ Effective Leadership Model