THE INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM

World Trade Center (2001)

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ICS

Incident Command System (ICS)

Provides a common organizational

structure and language to simplify

communication among disaster response

organizations.

Allows different kinds of agencies

(fire, medical, police), and/or multiple

jurisdictions of similar agencies to

effectively work together in a disaster.

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ICS is a modular / adaptable system

for ALL incidents and facilities

regardless of size.

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ICS

Disasters without ICS

Injury or death of personnel

due to lack of training

Lack of adequate

personnel, equipment and

supplies to provide care

Staff working beyond their

training or certification

Lack of coordination

Hurricane Katrina,

New Orleans (2005)

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Key Principles of the

ICS Structure

The goal of ICS is coordinated disaster response.

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Key Principle #1

The Incident Command System’s

organizational structure is built around

FIVE MAJOR MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.

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Major Management Activities

Incident Command

Operations

Planning

Logistics

Finance/Administration

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ICS Structure and Hierarchy

Liaison Officer Public Information Officer

Safety Officer IC Staff

Operations Planning Logistics Finance/Admin.

Incident Commander (IC)

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Each management activity may be

expanded or contracted in a specific

MCI to meet current needs of the

disaster response.

Not all management activities are used

for every event or disaster.

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Key Principle #2

Functional requirements, not titles,

determine the organizational hierarchy of

the ICS structure.

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Incident Commander (IC)

Maintains overall responsibility for the

disaster response

Area of expertise may influence

selection of Incident Commander

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Liaison Officer

Coordinates the efforts of all responding

agencies

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ICS

Safety Officer

Responsible for safety of responders and

other individuals at the site of the disaster

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Public Information Officer (PIO)

Communicates with both the press and

public

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Operations Section

Conducts operations to carry out the

organizational plan, including the

medical response

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Logistics Section

Provides resources and logistical support

to meet disaster needs

Sets up base of operations for provision

of disaster relief

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ICS

Planning Section

Collects/analyses information to

monitor progress

Makes recommendations for further

operational responses

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ICS

Finance/Administration Section

Monitors costs of the operation

Manages legal affairs

Maintains personnel records

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Key Principle #3

Structure of the ICS is the SAME

regardless of the nature of the disaster.

The DIFFERENCE is in the particular

expertise of key personnel.

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ICS

Safety Officer

Biological Incident Infection Control Expert

Chemical Incident Hazmat Expert

Radiation Incident Expert in radiation

detection and radiation exposure limits

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Key Principle #4

An important part of disaster planning is

the identification of the Incident

Commander and other key positions

BEFORE a disaster occurs.

(24 hours/day – 7 days/week coverage)

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Key Principle #5

ICS must be started EARLY, before an

incident gets out of control.

Each person within the command structure

should supervise between 3-7 persons.

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Key Principle #6

A single emergency operations plan for

many different situations is more

effective than multiple separate plans.

ALL HAZARDS APPROACH

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ICS

The Hospital Incident Command System

(HICS)

HICS is an adaptation of the ICS for

hospital use.

HICS uses the same organizational

structure and language as ICS, allowing

pre-hospital, public safety and other

response organizations to interface

efficiently.

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Advantages of the

Incident Command System:

All disaster assets effectively utilized

to meet the challenges of today’s

complex disasters