# Wikipedia Authors - Incident Command System (Highlights)  ## Metadata **Cover**:: https://readwise-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/static/images/article3.5c705a01b476.png **Source**:: #from/readwise **Zettel**:: #zettel/fleeting **Status**:: #x **Authors**:: [[Wikipedia Authors]] **Full Title**:: Incident Command System **Category**:: #articles #readwise/articles **Category Icon**:: 📰 **URL**:: [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incident_Command_System) **Host**:: [[en.wikipedia.org]] **Highlighted**:: [[2021-02-14]] **Created**:: [[2022-09-26]] ## Highlights - Incident Command System (ICS) - ICS consists of a standard management hierarchy and procedures for managing temporary incident(s) of any size. - ICS includes procedures to select and form temporary management hierarchies - ICS is a system designed to be used or applied from the time an incident occurs until the requirement for management and operations no longer exist. #### Basis ##### Incidents - Incidents are defined within ICS as unplanned situations necessitating a response. ##### Events - Events are defined within ICS as planned situations. #### Key concepts ##### Unity of command - Each individual participating in the operation reports to only one supervisor. - This eliminates the potential for individuals to receive conflicting orders from a variety of supervisors, ##### Common terminology - When different organizations are required to work together, the use of common terminology is an essential element in team cohesion and communications - An incident command system promotes the use of a common terminology ##### Management by objective - Objectives are ranked by priority - should be as specific as possible; must be attainable; and if possible given a working time-frame. SMART - first outlining strategies (general plans of action), then determining appropriate tactics (how the strategy will be executed) for the chosen strategy ##### Flexible and modular organization - Incident Command structure is organized in such a way as to expand and contract as needed - Command is established in a top-down fashion, with the most important and authoritative positions established first. ##### Span of control - the ICS requires that any single person's span of control should be between three and seven individuals, with five being ideal. ##### Coordination ##### Incident Action Plans - Incident Action Plans (IAPs) ensures cohesion amongst anyone involved toward strictly set goals. - They include measurable, strategic objectives set for achievement within a time frame (also known as an operational period) which is usually 12 hours - all Incident Action Plans must have four elements: 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? - IAP is organized by a number of standardized ICS forms ##### Comprehensive resource management - Comprehensive resource management is a key management principle that implies that all assets and personnel during an event need to be tracked and accounted for. - Comprehensive resource management ensures that visibility is maintained over all resources so they can be moved quickly to support the preparation and response to an incident, and ensuring a graceful demobilization. - T-Cards (ICS 219, Resource Status Card) are most commonly used to track these resources. ##### Integrated communications #### Composition ##### Incident commander - Single incident commander ... , a single person commands the incident response and is the decision-making final authority. - A Unified Command involves two or more individuals sharing the authority normally held by a single incident commander. - A Unified Command acts as a single entity. - in Unified Command the command representatives will appoint a single Operations Section Chief. ##### Command staff - Safety officer – The Safety Officer monitors safety conditions and develops measures for assuring the safety of all assigned personnel - Public information officer – The Public Information Officer (PIO or IO) serves as the conduit for information to and from internal and external stakeholders - Liaison Officer – A Liaison serves as the primary contact for supporting agencies assisting at an incident. ##### General Staff - Operations Section Chief: Tasked with directing all actions to meet the incident objectives. - Planning Section Chief: Tasked with the collection and display of incident information, primarily consisting of the status of all resources and overall status of the incident. - Finance/Administration Section Chief: - Logistics Section Chief #### Design ##### Personnel - ICS is organized by levels ##### Command transfer - A role of responsibility can be transferred during an incident for several reasons - As the incident grows a more qualified person is required to take over as Incident Commander - or in reverse where as an incident reduces in size command can be passed down to a less qualified person