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INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
To direct, control, and coordinate response and recovery operations, an incident management system should be implemented.
Specific organizational roles, titles, and responsibilities shall be identified for each function as shown in the following Incident Command System (ICS).
ICS Position Descriptions
Introduction
The ICS organization develops around five major functions that are required on any incident whether it is large or small. For some incidents, and in some applications, only a few of the organization's functional elements may be required. However, if there is a need to expand the organization, additional positions exist within the ICS framework to meet virtually any need. establishes lines of supervisory authority and formal reporting relationships. There is complete unity of command as each position and person within the system has a designated supervisor. Direction and supervision follows established organizational lines at all times. The following are the major responsibilities and duties of all ICS positions. Individual agencies may have additional responsibilities and more detailed lists of duties.
Incident Commander
The Incident Commander's responsibility is the overall management of the incident. On most incidents the command activity is carried out by a single Incident Commander. The Incident Commander is selected by qualifications and experience. The Incident Commander may have a Deputy I.C., who may be from the same agency, or from an assisting agency. Deputy positions may also be used at section and branch levels of the ICS organization. Deputy positions must have the same qualifications as the person for whom they work as they must be ready to take over that position at any time.
Responsibilities:
- Assess the situation and/or obtain a briefing from the prior Incident Commander.
- Determine Incident Objectives and strategy.
- Establish the immediate priorities.
- Establish an Incident Command Post.
- Establish an appropriate organization.
- Ensure planning meetings are scheduled as required.
- Approve and authorize the implementation of an Incident Action Plan.
- Ensure that adequate safety measures are in place.
- Coordinate activity for all Command and General Staff.
- Coordinate with activated DOCs and EOCs as required.
- Coordinate with key people and officials.
- Approve requests for additional resources or for the release of resources.
- Keep agency administrator informed of incident status.
- Approve the use of trainees, volunteers, and auxiliary personnel.
- Authorize release of information to the news media.
- Order the demobilization of the incident when appropriate.
Information Officer
The Information Officer is responsible for developing and releasing information about the incident to the news media, to incident personnel, and to other appropriate agencies and organizations. Only one Information Officer will be assigned for each incident, including incidents operating under Unified Command and multi-jurisdiction incidents.
The Information Officer may have assistants as necessary, and the assistants may also represent assisting agencies or jurisdictions.
Responsibilities:
Agencies have different policies and procedures relative to the handling of public information.
- Determine from the Incident Commander if there are any limits on information release.
- Develop material for use in media briefings.
- Coordinate and validate information with Information Officer's at agency DOCs and EOCs when activated, to ensure consistency.
- Obtain Incident Commander's approval of media releases.
- Inform media and conduct media briefings.
- Arrange for tours and other interviews or briefings that may be required.
- Obtain media information that may be useful to incident planning.
- Maintain current information summaries and/or displays on the incident and provide information on status of incident to assigned personnel.
- Maintain Unit Log.
Liaison Officer
Incidents that are multi-jurisdictional, or have several agencies involved, may require the establishment of the Liaison Officer position on the Command Staff. The Liaison Officer is the contact for the personnel assigned to the incident by assisting or cooperating agencies. These are personnel other than those on direct tactical assignments or those involved in a Unified Command.
Responsibilities and Duties:
- Be a contact point for Agency Representatives .
- Maintain a list of assisting and cooperating agencies and Agency Representatives .
- Assist in establishing and coordinating inter-agency contacts.
- Keep agencies supporting the incident aware of incident status.
- Monitor incident operations to identify current or potential inter-organizational problems.
- Participate in planning meetings, providing current resource status, including imitations and capability of assisting agency resources.
- Maintain Unit Log.
Agency Representatives
In many multi-jurisdiction incidents, an agency or jurisdiction will send a representative to assist in coordination efforts. An Agency Representative is an individual assigned to an incident from an assisting or cooperating agency who has been delegated authority to make decisions on matters affecting that agency's participation at the incident. Agency Representatives report to the Liaison Officer , or to the Incident Commander in the absence of a Liaison Officer .
Responsibilities:
- Ensure that all agency resources are properly checked-in at the incident.
- Obtain briefing from the Liaison Officer or Incident Commander.
- Inform assisting or cooperating agency personnel on the incident that the Agency Representative position for that agency has been filled.
- Attend briefings and planning meetings as required.
- Provide input on the use of agency resources unless resource Technical Specialists are assigned from the agency.
- Cooperate fully with the Incident Commander and the General Staff on agency involvement at the incident.
- Ensure the well-being of agency personnel assigned to the incident.
- Advise the Liaison Officer of any special agency needs or requirements.
- Report to home agency dispatch or headquarters on a prearranged schedule.
- Ensure that all agency personnel and equipment are properly accounted for and released prior to departure.
- Ensure that all required agency forms, reports and documents are complete prior to departure.
- Have a debriefing session with the Liaison Officer or Incident Commander prior to departure.
Safety Officer
The Safety Officer's function is to develop and recommend measures for assuring personnel safety, and to assess and/or anticipate hazardous and unsafe situations. Only one Safety Officer will be assigned for each incident. The Safety Officer may have assistants as necessary, and the assistants may also represent assisting agencies or jurisdictions. Safety Assistants may have specific responsibilities such as air operations, hazardous materials, etc.
Responsibilities:
- Participate in planning meetings.
- Identify hazardous situations associated with the incident.
- Review the Incident Action Plan for safety implications.
- Exercise emergency authority to stop and prevent unsafe acts that are outside the scope of the Incident Action Plan.
- Investigate accidents that have occurred within the incident area.
- Assign assistants as needed.
- Review and approve the medical plan.
- Maintain Unit Log.
The ICS General Staff Positions
The General Staff consists of the following positions:
- Operations Section Chief
- Planning/Intelligence Section Chief
- Logistics Section Chief
- Finance/Administration Section Chief
Operations Section Chief
Responsibilities:
- Manage tactical operations. Interact with next level lower in the Section, (Branch, Division/Group) to develop the operations portion of the Incident Action Plan. Request resources needed to implement Operational tactics as a part of the Incident Action Plan development (ICS 215).
- Assist in development of the Operations portion of the Incident Action Plan.
- Supervise the execution of the Incident Action Plan for Operations. Maintain close contact with subordinate positions. Ensure safe tactical operations.
- Request additional resources to support tactical operations.
- Approve release of resources from assigned status (not release from the incident).
- Make or approve expedient changes to the Incident Action Plan during the Operational Period as necessary.
- Maintain close communication with the Incident Commander.
- Coordinate with activated Operations Sections at agency DOCs and EOCs.
- Maintain Unit Log.
Branch Director
(Branches may be functional or geographic)
Responsibilities:
- Obtain briefing from the Operations Section Chief.
- Supervise Branch operations.
- Develop alternatives for Branch operations as required.
- Interact with the Operations Section Chief and other Branch Directors to develop tactics to implement incident strategies.
- Be prepared to attend incident planning meetings at the request of the Operations Chief.
- Review Division / Group assignments within the Branch and report status to the Operations Section Chief.
- Assign specific work tasks to Division/Group Supervisors.
- Monitor and inspect progress and make changes as necessary.
- Resolve logistics problems reported by subordinates.
- Maintain Unit Log.
Division/Group Supervisor
Responsibilities:
- Obtain briefing from the Operations Section Chief or appropriate Operations Branch Director.
- Review assignments with subordinates.
- Inform Resource Unit (if established) of status changes of resources assigned to the Division/Group.
- Coordinate activities with adjacent Divisions/Groups.
- Monitor and inspect progress and make changes as necessary.
- Keep supervisor informed of situation and resources status.
- Resolve tactical assignment and logistics problems within the Division/Group.
- Keep supervisor informed of hazardous situations and significant events.
- Ensure that assigned personnel and equipment get to and from their assignments in a timely and orderly manner.
- Maintain Unit Log.
Task Force/Strike Team, Platoon or Squad Leader
Responsibilities:
- Obtain briefing from supervisor (Division/Group Supervisor, Operations Section Chief, or Incident Commander, depending upon how the incident is organized).
- Review assignment with subordinates and assign tasks.
- Travel to and from active assignment area with assigned resources.
- Monitor and inspect progress and make changes as necessary.
- Coordinate activities with adjacent Task Force/Strike Team, Platoon, Squad or with other functional groups working at the same location.
- Keep supervisor advised of situation and resource status.
- Retain control of assigned resources while in available or out-of-service status.
- Maintain Unit Log.
Single Resource
The person in charge of a single tactical resource will carry the unit designation of the resource.
Responsibilities:
- Obtain briefing from the Division/Group Supervisor or Task Force/Strike Team, Platoon or Squad Leader.
- Review assignments.
- Obtain necessary equipment/supplies.
- Review weather/environmental conditions for assignment area.
- Brief subordinates on safety measures.
- Monitor work progress.
- Ensure adequate communications with supervisor and subordinates.
- Keep supervisor informed of progress and any changes.
- Inform supervisor of problems with assigned resources.
- Brief relief personnel, and advise them of any change in conditions.
- Return equipment and supplies to appropriate unit.
- Complete and turn in all time and use records on personnel and equipment.
Staging Area Manager
The Staging Area Manager reports to the Operations Section Chief or to the Incident Commander if the Operations Section Chief position has not been filled.
Note:
In some disciplines, the Staging Area is established as part of the Logistics Section, requiring the Staging Area Manager to report to the Logistics Chief. However, regardless of Section assignment, the duties of the Staging Area Manager remain the same.
Responsibilities:
- Establish layout of Staging Area.
- Post areas for identification and traffic control.
- Provide check-in for incoming resources.
- Determine required resource reserve levels from the Operations Section Chief, Logistics Chief, or Incident Commander.
- Advise the Operations Section Chief, Logistics Chief or Incident Commander when reserve levels reach minimums.
- Maintain and provide status to Resource Unit of all resources in Staging Area.
- Respond to Operations Section Chief, Logistics Chief or Incident Commander requests for resources.
- Request logistical support for personnel and/or equipment as needed.
- Maintain Staging Area in an orderly condition.
- Demobilize or move Staging Area as required.
- Maintain Unit Log.
Air Operations Branch Director
Responsibilities:
- Obtain briefing from Operations Section Chief.
- Organize preliminary Air Operations.
- As appropriate, initiate request for temporary flight restrictions.
- Participate in the preparation of the Incident Action Plan.
- Perform Operational Planning for Air Operations.
- Prepare and distribute the Air Operations Summary Worksheet (ICS Form 220).
- Supervise air operations branch personnel and coordinate with incident and off-incident personnel and agencies.
- Evaluate helibase locations.
- Establish procedures for emergency reassignment of aircraft.
- Schedule approved flights of non-incident aircraft into the incident area.
- Evaluate requests for non-tactical use of incident aircraft.
- Resolve conflicts concerning non-incident aircraft involved in incident over-flights.
- Monitor for accidents or special incidents.
- Maintain Unit Log.
Air Tactical Group Supervisor
Responsibilities:
- Check-in and receive incident assignment (usually via radio).
- Obtain briefing from Air Operations Branch Director or Operations Section Chief. If possible, obtain a copy of the current Incident Action Plan.
- Determine type and quantity of aircraft (fixed-wing and helicopters) operating on the incident; report to Air Operations Branch Director.
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