ICS 100 Flashcards
ICS is the standard for…
For emergency management across the country
ICS is
Inter-disciplinary and organizationally flexible
ICS is the key feature of
(NIMS) The national incident management system
What does EOC stand for?
Emergency operations center
What is an EOC
A multi agency coordination entity that provides support and coordination to the on scene responders.
Although the EOC uses ICS management principles it does not manage what?
It does not manage on scene operations
An occurrence, either caused by humans or natural phenomena, that requires response actions to prevent or minimize the loss of life or damage to property or the environment
An Incident
The incident command system, or ICS, is a
Standardized, on scene, all hazard incident management concept
ICS allows its users to adopt what?
An integrated organizational structure without being hindered by jurisdictional boundaries
When and why was ICS developed?
In the 1970s following a series of fires in California’s urban interface
Studies found that response to major incidents failed because of what?
The inadequate management of these incidents
Weaknesses in incident management are often due to:
Lack of accountability
Unclear chain of command
poor communication
Lack of a systematic planning process
No pre-designed management structure
No pre-defined methods to integrate interagency requirements
NIMS stands for
National Incident Management System
Homeland security presidential directive 5 (HSPD-5) was
Issued by President Bush in February 2003 in response to September 11 attacks
HSPD-5 called for and created
NIMS and
Identified steps for improved coordination of Federal, State, local, and private industry response to incidents
ICS is proven management system base on what?
successful business practices and the result of decades of lessons learned
What has become the standard for emergency management across the country?
The Incident Command System (ICS) which is a component of NIMS
What type of organizational structure does ICS have?
Modular that can become bigger or smaller as needed
ICS emphasizes what?
Effective planning and management by objective and reliance on an incident action plan
ICS helps ensure full utilization of all incident resources by:
Maintaining a manageable span of control
Establishing pre-designated incident locations and facilities
Implementing resource management practices
Ensuring integrated communications
Formal transfer of command occurs when?
Whenever leadership changes
How does ICS ensure the ability to communicate?
By using common terminology and clear text - by using plain English
Organizational functions are:
Major functions and functional units with incident management responsibilities are named and defined. Terminology for the organizational elements involved is standard and consistent
Resource descriptions are?
Major resources are given common names and are categorized or “typed” By their capabilities. This helps to avoid confusion and to enhance inter-operability
Incident Facilities
Common terminology is used to designate incident facilities
Position titles:
ICS management or supervisory positions are referred to by titles, such as Officer, Chief, director, supervisor, or leader
ICS organizational structure develops in a
Top down, modular fashion based on the size and complexity of the incident
As the complexity of an incident increases,
The organizational structure expands from the top down as functional responsibilities are delegated.
What management style is used in ICS?
Management by objectives
What are the steps of the incident action planning process?
Step one: understand agency policy and direction
Step two: assess incident situation
Step three: establish incident objectives
Step four: select the appropriate strategy to achieve objectives
Step five: preform tactical direction (applying tactics appropriate to the strategy, assigning the right resources, and monitoring their performance)
Step six: provide necessary follow up (changing strategy or tactics, adding or subtracting resources etc.)
In ICS, considerable emphasis is placed on what?
Developing an effective incident action plan
An Incident Action Plan (IAP) is
And oral or written plan containing general objectives reflecting the overall strategy for managing an incident
And IAP includes
The identification of operational resources and assignments.
An IAP includes the measurable strategic operations to be achieved and are prepared around a timeframe called?
An operational period
What incidents require a written IAP?
Hazardous materials incident
What are the four elements of an IAP?
What do we want to do?
Who is responsible for doing it?
How do we communicate with each other?
What is the procedure if someone is injured?
What is span of control?
The number of individuals or resources that one supervisor can manage effectively during an emergency response incident or a special event
What is the Effective span of control on an incident?
3 to 7. With one supervisor to five reporting elements being recommended
The incident command post (ICP) Should be positioned where?
Outside of the present and potential hazard zone, but close enough to the incident to maintain command
What is the staging area?
Temporary locations at an incident where personnel and equipment are kept while waiting for tactical assignments
What is a base?
The location from which primary logistics and administrative functions are coordinated and administered
What is a camp?
The location where resources may be kept to support incident operations if a base is not accessible to all resources
What is a helibase?
The location from which helicopter centered air operations are conducted. Usually include services for refueling and maintenance
What is a helispot?
Is a more temporary location at the incident, or helicopters can safely land and take off
What are the two categories of ICS resources?
Tactical resources and support resources
Tactical Resources are:
Personnel and major items of equipment that are available to the operations function on assignment to incidents
Support resources are:
All other resources required to support the incident. For example: Food, communications equipment, tents, supplies etc.
Tactical resources are always classified as one of the following
ASSIGNED: assigned resources are working on an assignment under the direction of a supervisor.
AVAILABLE: resources are assembled, have been issued their equipment, and are ready for immediate assignment.
OUT-OF-SERVICE: Resources that are not ready for available or assigned status
What is a critical component of resource management?
Maintaining accurate and up-to-date picture of resource utilization
Effective ICS communications include what three elements?
MODES: The “hardware” systems that transfer information
PLANNING: planning for the use of all available communications resources
NETWORKS: The procedures and processes for transferring information internally and externally
How does ICS define chain of command?
And orderly line of authority within the ranks of an organization, with lower level subordinate to, and connected to higher levels.
How does ICS define unity of command?
Means that every individual is accountable to only one designated supervisor to whom they report at the scene of an incident.
What are the two ways the command function may be carried out?
As a single command.
Or as a unified command
What is a single command?
When the incident commander has complete responsibility for the incident management.
What is a unified command?
Is one in which responding agencies and or jurisdictions with responsibility for the incident share incident management together.
When might unified command be needed?
Incidents involving:
- multiple jurisdictions
- A single jurisdiction with multiple agencies sharing responsibility
- Multiple jurisdictions with multi agency involvement
In a unified command how many command post should there be?
One command post with the different Incident commanders from different agencies or jurisdictions
The transfer of command process always includes a what?
A transfer of command briefing which may be written or oral, or a combination of both
Check in information is usually recorded on what form?
ICS form 211
Check-in locations can include:
- Incident command post
- Base or camp
- Staging area
- Helibase
- Division/group supervisor (for direct assignment)
ICS briefings For incoming personnel should include:
- Current situation assessment
- Identification of your specific job responsibilities
- Identification of coworkers and location of work area
- Identification of eating and sleeping arrangements
- Instructions for obtaining additional supplies, services, and personnel
- Operational periods/work shifts
- Required safety procedures and PPE
What are the five major management functions also known as general staff positions
- Incident command
- Operations section
- Planning section
- Logistics section
- Finance/administration section
Incident command’s function
Sets the incident objectives, strategies, and priorities and has overall responsibility for the incident
Operations section function
Conducts tactical operations to carry out the plan. Develops the tactical objectives and directs all tactical resources
Planning Section function
Prepares and documents the IAP to accomplish the objectives. Collects and evaluates info, maintains resource status, and maintains documentation for the incident records.
Logistics section function
Provide support, resources, and all other services needed to meet the operational objectives.
Finance/administration section functions
Monitors costs related to the incident. Provides accounting, procurement, time recording, and cost analysis.
On small events, who might do all five functions?
The incident commander
What is the only position that is always staffed?
Incident commander
Supervisory position titles in ICS
Incident Command: Incident commander/Deputy
Command Staff: Officer/Assistant
General Staff: Chief/Deputy
Branch: Director/Deputy
Division/Group: Supervisor/NA
Unit: Leader/manager
Strike team/Task force: Leader/single resource boss
Incident commander responsibilities- The incident commander Is specifically responsible for what?
- Ensuring incident safety.
- Providing information to external and internal stakeholders
- Establishing and maintaining liaison with other agencies participating in the incident
What are the three command staff positions?
- Public information officer
- Safety officer
- Liaison officer
Who Serves as the conduit for information to internal and external stakeholders including the media
Public Information Officer
Who Monitors safety conditions and develops measures for assuring the safety of all assigned personnel
Safety Officer
Who Serves as the primary contact for supporting agencies assisting at an incident
Liaison Officer
What are the four general staff positions?
- Operations chief
- Planning Chief
- Logistics chief
- Finance/administration chief
The operations section chief is normally
The person with the greatest technical and tactical experience in dealing with the problem at hand
Divisions can be used to break down span of control by
Dividing an incident geographically
Groups can be used to break down span of control by
Functional areas of operation
Branches can be used When
The number of divisions or groups exceeds the span of control and can be geographical or functional
The people in charge of the division or group are called
Supervisors
The purpose of ICS divisions is
To divide an incident into geographical areas of operation
Operational groups are usually named according to what?
The job they are assigned
If the number of operations divisions or groups exceeds the span of control, what may be established?
Branches
The person in charge of a branch is called what?
A director
What is defined as A set Number of resources of the same kind and tied with common communications operating under the direct supervision of a strike team leader
A Strike Team
The planning section may be staffed with four units. Those units are?
- Resources unit
- Situation unit
- Documentation unit
- Demobilization unit
The planning section resources unit does what?
Conducts all check in activities and maintains the status of all incident resources. Plays a significant role in preparing the IAP
The planning section situation unit does what?
Collects and analyzes info on the current situation, prepares situation displays and situation summaries, and develops maps and projections
The planning section documentation unit does what?
Provides duplication services, including the written IAP. Maintains in archives all incident related documentation
The planning section demobilization unit does what?
Assists in ensuring that resources are released from the incident in an orderly, safe, and cost-effective manner
The logistics section is responsible for what?
- Ordering, obtaining, maintaining, and accounting for essential personne, equip, and supplies
- Providing communication planning and resources.
- setting up food services and maintaining incident facilities
- Providing support trasportation.
- medical services etc. for incident personnel
The logistics section can be staffed to include what two additional branches and six additional units?
- Service branch
A. Communication unit
B. Medical unit
D. Food unit - Support branch
C. Supply unit
E. Facilities unit
F. Ground support unit
Communication unit of the logistics section does what?
Prepares and Implements the incident communication plan (ICS-205) and Deals with communication equipment
The logistics section medical unit does what?
Develops the medical plan (ICS-206) and provides first aid and light medical treatment for personnel actually assigned to the incident
The logistics section food unit does what?
Provides meals and water for incident personnel
The logistics section supply unit does what?
Determines what supplies are needed to support the incident. all resource orders are placed through the supply unit
The logistics section facilities unit does what?
Maintains incident facilities. Also responsible for facility security and clean up
If you logistics section ground support unit does what?
Prepares the transportation plan. Responsible for the fueling and maintenance of the assigned ground transportation.
What are the four units of the finance and administration section that may become activated?
- Procurement unit
- Time unit
- Cost unit
- Compensation/claims unit
The finance/administration section procurement unit does what?
Responsible for administering all financial matters pertaining to vendor contracts, leases, fiscal agreements
The financial/administration section time unit does what?
Responsible for incident personnel time recording
The finance/administration section cost unit does what?
Collects all cost data, provides cost estimates, and makes cost savings recommendations
The finance/administration section compensation/claims unit does what?
Responsible for all matters pertaining to compensation for injury and claims related to activities during the incident
NIMS requires the use of ____ for all domestic responses/
ICS
What are the applications for the use of ICS
- Fire, Structural/wildland
- Natural disasters
- Search and Rescue
- Hazardous materials incidents
- Criminal acts/crime scene investigations
- Terrorist Incidents
- Planned events
How many bases are there per incident.
1
Resource management includes processes for:
Categorizing
ordering
dispatching
tracking
recovering (resources)
Intelligence may come from a variety of different sources such as;
Risk assessments
medical intel
weather info
Geospatial data
Structural designs
toxic contaminant levels
utilities and public works data
In regards to Incident Recordkeeping
if you are expected to be a supervisor you must do what 2 things?
Maintain a daily unit log (ICS-214)
Give briefings to subordinates, adjacent forces, and replacement personnel.
Can ICS grow or shrink to meet the different needs of the incident?
yes
