Intro to ICS Lesson 4 Flashcards
• Identify the ICS titles used for General Staff members. • Describe the roles and functions of the four Sections.
General Staff
To maintain span of control, the Incident Commander may establish the following four Sections:
- Operations Sections
- Planning Sections
- Logistics Sections
- Finance/Administration Sections
The General Staff, or Section Chiefs, report directly to the:
Incident Commander.
In an expanding incident, the Incident Commander first establishes the _____________ Section. The remaining
Sections are established as needed to support the operation.
Operations Sections
What are the resposibilities of the Operations Section?
Directs all response/tactical actions to achieve the incident objectives.
Once the Operations Sections is activated, what sections are activated as needed, to support the incident response?
Planning Section
Logistics Section
Finance and Administration
The organizational level with responsibility for a major functional area of incident management (e.g., Operations, Planning, Logistics, Finance/Administration) is a?
A Section
The person in charge of each Section is
designated as a Chief.
The organizational level having responsibility for operations within a defined geographic area is a?
A Division
The person in charge of each Division is designated as a Supervisor.
An organizational subdivision established to divide the incident management structure into functional areas of operation is a?
A Group
The person in charge of each Group is designated as a Supervisor.
An organizational level used when the number of Divisions or Groups exceeds the span of control. Can be either geographical or functional:
A Branch
The person in charge of each Branch is designated as a Director.
A combination of mixed resources with common communications operating under the direct supervision of a Task Force Leader. Is known as a?
A Task Force
A set number of resources of the same kind and type with common communications operating under the direct supervision of a Strike Team Leader, is known as a?
A Strike Team
An individual, a piece of equipment and its personnel complement, or a crew or team of individuals with an identified supervisor that can be used at an incident is known as a single resource.
Single Resource
Section Chiefs and Deputies
The person in charge of each Section is designated as a Chief.
Do Section Chiefs have the ability to expand their Sections to meet the needs of the situation?
YES: Section Chiefs have the ability to expand their Sections to meet the needs of the situation
TRUE or FALSE
Each of the Section Chiefs may have a
Deputy, or more than one, if necessary.
TRUE: Each of the Section Chiefs may have a Deputy, or more than one, if necessary.
A Deputy may assume responsibility for a specific portion of the primary position, work as relief, or be assigned other tasks. Additionally a Deputy should:
Should always be as proficient as the
person for whom he or she works.
TRUE or FALSE
When an incident involves multiple agencies, assigning Deputies from other organizations can increase interagency coordination.
TRUE: When an incident involves multiple agencies, assigning Deputies from other organizations can increase interagency coordination.
An Incident Commander is responsible for all incident management functions including:
Operations
Planning
Logistics
Finance and Administration.
Depending on the incident needs, the Incident Commander may delegate some or all of these functions by establishing Sections. If a Section Chief is assigned to an incident, he or she will report directly to:
The Incident Commander.
Together the Section Chiefs are referred to as the:
General Staff
The Operations Section Chief is responsible for:
Developing and implementing strategy and tactics to accomplish the incident objectives.
The Operations Section Chief organizes, assigns, and supervises all the tactical or response resources assigned to the incident.
If a Staging Area is established, the Operations Section Chief would manage it.
If a Staging Area is established,who would manage it?
The Operations Section Chief would manage it.
The Planning Section Chief oversees:
The collection, evaluation, and dissemination of operational information related to the incident.
What section chief will be responsible for preparing and disseminating the Incident
Action Plan, as well as track the status of all incident resources.
Planning Section Chief
The Planning Section helps ensure responders have accurate information and:
Provides resources such as
maps and floor plans.
The Logistics Section is responsible for:
Providing facilities, services, and material support for the incident.
Logistics is critical on more complex incidents.
The Logistics Section Chief assists the Incident Commander and Operations Section Chief by providing the resources and services required to support incident activities. During an incident, Logistics is responsible for
Ensuring the well-being of responders by providing sufficient food, water, and medical services.
Logistics is also responsible for arranging communication equipment, computers, transportation, and anything else needed to support the incident.
The Finance and Administration Section Chief is responsible for:
All of the financial and cost analysis aspects
of an incident.
These include contract negotiation, recording personnel and equipment time, documenting and processing claims for accidents and injuries occurring at the incident, and keeping a running tally of the costs associated with the incident.
It is important to remember that the ICS organizational structure is determined based on:
The incident objectives and resource requirements.
ICS expands and contracts in a flexible manner. And, only:
Functions, positions, or sections necessary for a particular incident are filled.
Typically, the Operations Section Chief is the person with the:
Greatest tactical expertise in dealing with the
problem at hand.
The Operations Section Chief:
Develops and implements strategy and tactics to carry out the incident objectives.
Organizes, assigns, and supervises the tactical response resources.
Single resources may be organized into teams. Using standard ICS terminology, the two types of team configurations are:
Task Forces — A combination of mixed resources with common communications operating under the direct supervision of a Leader.
Strike Teams — Consist of all similar resources with common communications operating under the direct supervision of a Leader.
What is a Task Force?
Task Forces — A combination of mixed resources with common communications operating under the direct supervision of a Leader.
What are Strike Teams?
Strike Teams — Consist of all similar resources with common communications operating under the direct supervision of a Leader.
On a large, complex incident the Operations Section may become
very large. Using the ICS principle of modular organization, the Operations Section may add the following elements to manage span of control:
Groups — Used to describe functional areas of operation.
Divisions — Used to divide an incident geographically.
The major activities of the Planning Section may include:
Collecting, evaluating, and displaying incident intelligence and information.
Preparing and documenting Incident Action Plans.
Tracking resources assigned to the incident.
Maintaining incident documentation.
Developing plans for demobilization.
The Planning Section may include the following units:
Resources Unit:
Situation Unit:
Demobilization Unit:
Documentation Unit:
Planning Section, Resources Unit is responsible for:
Responsible for recording the status of resources committed to the incident. This Unit also evaluates resources committed currently to the incident, the effects additional responding resources will have on the incident, and anticipated resource needs.
Planning Section Situation Unit is responsible for:
Unit: Responsible for the collection, organization, and analysis of incident status information, and for analysis of the situation as it progresses.
Planning Section Demobilization Unit is responsible for:
Responsible for ensuring orderly, safe, and efficient demobilization of incident resources.
Planning Section Documentation Unit is responsible for:
Collecting, recording, and safeguarding all documents relevant to the incident.
The Logistics Section is responsible for all services and support needs, including:
Ordering, obtaining, maintaining, and accounting for essential personnel, equipment, and supplies.
Providing communication planning and resources.
Setting up food services for responders.
Setting up and maintaining incident facilities.
Providing support transportation.
Providing medical services to incident personnel.
Within the Logistics Section, the following six primary Units may be established:
Supply Unit
Ground Support Unit
Facilities Unit
Food Unit
Communications Unit
Medical Unit
Logistics Section Supply Unit is responsible for:
Orders, receives, stores, and processes all incident-related resources, personnel, and
supplies.
Logistics Section Ground Support Unit
is responsible for:
Provides all ground transportation during an incident.
The Unit is also responsible for maintaining and supplying vehicles, keeping usage records, and developing incident Traffic Plans.
Logistics Section Facilities Unit is responsible for:
Sets up, maintains, and demobilizes all facilities used in support of incident operations.
The Unit also provides facility maintenance and security services required to support incident operations.
Logistics Section Food Unit is responsible for:
Determines food and water requirements, plans menus, orders food, provides cooking facilities, cooks, serves, maintains food service areas, and manages food security and safety concerns.
Logistics Section Communications Unit is responsible for:
Major responsibilities include effective communications planning as well as
acquiring, setting up, maintaining, and accounting for communications equipment.
Logistics Section Medical Unit is responsible for:
Responsible for the effective and efficient provision of medical services to incident
personnel.
The Finance/Administration Section is set up for any incident that requires incident-specific financial management. The Finance/Administration Section is responsible for:
Contract negotiation and monitoring.
Timekeeping.
Cost analysis.
Compensation for injury or damage to property.
Documentation for reimbursement (e.g., under mutual aid agreements and assistance agreements).
Within the Finance/Administration Section, the following four Units may be established:
Compensation/ Claims Unit
Cost Unit
Procurement Unit
Time Unit
Finance/Administration Section Compensation/ Claims Unit is responsible for:
For financial concerns resulting from property damage, injuries, or fatalities at the incident.
Finance/Administration Section Cost Unit is responsible for:
For tracking costs, analyzing cost data, making estimates, and recommending cost
savings measures.
Finance/Administration Section Procurement Unit is responsible for:
For financial matters concerning vendor contracts.
Finance/Administration Section Time Unit is responsible for:
For recording time for incident personnel and hired equipment.
