ICS 300 - INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM Part 1
1. Designers of the system recognized early that ICS must be interdisciplinary and organizationally flexible to meet what management challenges?
Be cost effective by avoiding duplication of efforts. Provide logistical and administrative support to ensure that operational staff can meet incident objectives.
41. A __________ is the organizational level having functional or geographic responsibility for major parts of the Operations Section or Logistics Section.
Branch
9. _________ is the organizational level having functional or geographic responsibility for major parts of the Operations or Logistics functions.
Branch
42. In the Operations Section, When are Branches established?
Branches are when the number of Divisions or Groups exceeds the span of control.
20. What is referred to as, an orderly line of authority and reporting relationships within the ranks of the organization, with lower levels subordinate to, and connected to, higher levels?
Chain of Command
8. _______ is the ICS title for individuals responsible for functional Sections: Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration.
Chief
Direction and supervision follows established organizational lines at all times, however, how can information be shared throughout the organization?
Information can be shared freely throughout the organization.
34. The information and intelligence function is directed by the Incident Commander. What is the information and intelligence function responsible for?
It's responsible for developing, conducting, and managing information-related security plans and operations.
27. Determine incident objectives and strategy. All agencies employ some sequence of steps to meet incident objectives. What is the suggested four-step approach?
Know Agency Policy Establish Incident Objectives Develop Appropriate Strategies Execute Tactical Direction
26. What is the Incident Commander's second priority?
The Incident Commander's second priority is Incident Stabilization. When considering how to stabilize the incident situation, the Incident Commander must: Ensure life safety; Ensure continuity of command; and Manage resources efficiently and cost effectively.
62. The following interactive activities are part of what process? 1. Determining Resource Needs 2.Resource Ordering 3.Check in Process 4.Utilizing Resources 5.Tracking Resources 6.Evaluating Resources 7.Demobilizing Resources
The Incident Resource Management Process
60. What section orders and supports resources?
The Logistics Section
38. What is the Operations Section Chief responsible for?
The Operations Section Chief responsible for managing all tactical operations at an incident.
59. What section tracks resources, and identifies resource shortages?
The Planning Section
48. The Planning Section is responsible for managing all information relevant to an incident. What is the Planning Section responsibilities?
The Planning Section collects, evaluates, processes, and disseminates information for use at the incident.
The following is a description of what process? Evaluating the situation; Determining objectives; Selecting a proper strategy; Deciding which resources should be used to achieve those objectives in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.
The Planning management process.
47. In the Operations Section, Branch Directors and Staging Managers report to the Operations Section Chief. Divisions and Groups are at an equal level in the organization. To whom will the Supervisors report?
The Supervisors report to Branch Directors or the Operations Section Chief.
4. What is the major advantage of the ICS organization?
The ability to fill only those parts of the organization that are required.
49. What are the basic resource management principles?
The basic resource management principles are Planning; Organizing; Supervising
24. What is Incident Commander's first responsibility?
The first responsibility is to establish immediate priorities.
55. Managing resources safely and effectively is the most important consideration at an incident. What does the formalized resource management process in ICS ensure?
The formalized resource management process in ICS ensures that the management principles translate into practice at the incident.
58. Identifying, assigning and supervising resources needed to accomplish the incident objectives are responsibilities of which section?
Operations Section
66. Resource tracking responsibilities are shared between what two sections?
Planning Section, which is responsible for tracking all resources assigned to the incident and their status (assigned, available, out of service). Operations Section, which is responsible for tracking the movement of resources within the Operations Section itself.
21. The ICS organizational chart is a graphic representation of the incident, which includes?
Positions and functions activated; Chain of command. Reporting relationships; Responsibilities delegated. Information flow.
30. The Incident Commander's major responsibilities are varied. What is of primary concern?
Primary concern is the overall responsibility for the management of the incident.
51. In ICS, what is described as ongoing, cyclical and directed toward operational periods?
Resource Planning
40. The first component of the Operations Section is Ground or Surface Tactical Resources. What are the three ways of organizing tactical resources on an incident?
Resources can be used as: Single Resources Task Forces Strike Teams
17. What is referred to as Personnel and equipment available, or potentially available, for assignment to incidents?
Resources- Resources are described by KIND and TYPE (e.g., Type III Helicopter) and may be used in tactical, support, or overhead capacities at an incident.
68. Even at the most basic level, demobilization should take into account what two factors?
Safety: Organizations should watch for "first in, last out" syndrome. Resources that were first on scene should be considered for early release. They should also be evaluated for fatigue and the distance they will need to travel to their home base prior to release. Cost: Expensive resources should be monitored carefully to ensure that they are released as soon as they are no longer needed, or if their task can be accomplished in a more cost effective manner.
7. A ___________ is the organizational level with responsibility for a major functional area of the incident, e.g., Operations, Planning, Logistics, Finance/Administration.
Section
14. ________________ is a combination of single resources assembled for a particular tactical need with common communications and a Leader.
Task Force
64. The Resources Unit will establish and conduct the check-in function at designated incident locations. If the Resources Unit has not been activated, who will assume this responsibility?
The responsibility for ensuring check-in will be with the Incident Commander or Planning Section Chief.
67. What is the sixth activity in the resource management process?
The sixth activity in the resource management process involves evaluating resources.
5. What is the ICS title for the personnel responsible for the Command Staff positions of: Safety Liaison Public Information
The tittle is Officer: Safety Officer Liaison Officer Public Information Officer
23. A Deputy Incident Commander must be able to assume the Incident Commander's role. What are the three reasons to designate Deputies?
To perform specific tasks as requested by the Incident Commander. To perform the Incident Command function in a relief capacity (e.g., to take over the next operational period). To represent an assisting agency that may share jurisdiction or have jurisdiction in the future.
25. What is the Incident Commander's first priority?
the Incident Commander's first priority is always the safety of: People involved in the incident; Responders; Other emergency workers; and Bystanders.
61. What section pays for resources?
The Finance/Admin Section
6. What does the General Staff consist of?
The General Staff consists of: Operations Section Chief, Planning Section Chief, Logistics Section Chief, Finance/Administration Section Chief. *Each may have one or more Deputies, as needed.
22. 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. How is the Incident Commander is selected?
The Incident Commander is selected by qualifications and experience. *The Incident Commander may have a Deputy, who may be from the same agency, or from an assisting agency.
63. Determining resource needs can be divided into 5 steps. What are the 5 steps?
1. Conduct assessment and develop incident objectives. 2. Identify strategies; 3. Develop detailed tactics; 4. Assign resources; 5. Evaluate outcomes.
29. The final responsibility is to authorize release of information to news media. On small incidents, the Incident Commander is responsible for authorizing the release of information to the media. On larger incidents, who may be assigned to ensure procedures are in place for managing the release of information to the media and responding appropriately to media inquiries?
A Public Information Officer may be assigned to help ensure that procedures are in place for managing the release of information to the media and responding appropriately to media inquiries.
28. Ensure adequate safety measures. Life Safety at the scene of an incident is always the top priority. If the incident is complex, or the Incident Commander is not a tactical expert in all the hazards present, who should be assigned?
A Safety Officer should be assigned if the incident is complex, or the Incident Commander is not a tactical expert in all the hazards present.
36. An agency, which supports the incident or supplies assistance other than tactical resources is considered?
A considered a Cooperating Agency. Examples include: American Red Cross, Salvation Army, utility companies, etc.
35. Agencies such as, fire, police, or public works sending equipment to the Department of Agriculture incident would be considered what type of resource?
Assisting Agency Resource - An agency that is assisting on an incident who is directly contributing tactical resources to the agency or jurisdiction responsible for the incident.
33. In what ways may the intelligence function be organized?
Command Staff during incidents with little need for tactical or classified intelligence. Unit within the Planning Section when there is some need for tactical intelligence, Branch within the Operations Section, when a high need for tactical intelligence (particularly classified intelligence) As a separate General Staff Section, when an incident is heavily influenced by intelligence factors, or where there is a need to manage and/or analyze a large volume of classified or highly sensitive intelligence or information.
57. What does Command responsible for developing?
Command develops: incident objectives, approves resource orders and demobilization.
31. The Incident Commander is normally the most visible person on the incident. What are some of the characteristics associated with an effective Incident Commander?
Command presence; Understands ICS; Proven manager; Puts safety first Proactive and decisive; Calm and objective; Quick thinking Effective communicator; Adaptable and flexible Realistic about personal limitations; Politically astute
56. All five ICS functions play important roles in resource management. In a simplified way, What are these roles?
Command, Operations, Planning, logistics, Finance/Admin
54. In ICS, what involves evaluating the performance of an organization against changing conditions and the Incident Action Plan, making necessary corrections so that incident objectives are accomplished?
Controlling, involves evaluating the performance of an organization against changing conditions and the Incident Action Plan, making necessary corrections so that incident objectives are accomplished.
10. _________ is the ICS title for individuals responsible for supervision of a Branch.
Director
11. ________________ are used to divide an incident geographically. _______________ are used to divide an incident functionally.
Divisions/Groups
39. The Operations Section consists of what components?
Ground or surface-based tactical resources; Aviation or air resources; Staging Areas
43. Divisions have geographic responsibility. What type of responsibility do Groups have?
Groups have functional responsibility.
32. The addition of the Information and Intelligence Officer, as a Command Staff member, may be most appropriate under what conditions?
In incidents with little need for tactical intelligence or classified intelligence, and where the intelligence is provided by supporting Agency Representatives, through real-time reach-back capabilities.
65. What are the incident locations where check-in can be done?
Incident Base; Camp. Staging Area; Resources Unit at the Incident Command Post Helibase
3. As you learned in ICS 200, the ICS organization is built around five major functions that may be applied on any incident whether it is large or small. What are the 5 major management functions?
Incident Command, Operations, Planning, Logistics, Finance/Admin
16. A _____________ is the ICS title for an individual responsible for a Task Force, Strike Team, or functional Unit.
Leader
18. Within ICS, there is complete Unity of Command. This means that?
Means that each position and each person within the system has only one designated supervisor.
37. Depending upon the size and type of incident or event, it may also be necessary for the Incident Commander to designate personnel to perform the other four management functions. What are the General Staff sections?
Operations Section; Planning Section; Logistics Section; Finance/Administration Section
52. What is described as a continuation of the management process after planning, as the Incident Commander and other members of the Command and General Staff group resources into an organization designed to meet incident objectives?
Organizing is a continuation of the management process after planning.
2. ICS is suitable for what applications?
Pest eradication Control of animal diseases Search and rescue
13. A __________ is a specified combination of the same kind and type of resources with common communications and a Leader.
Strike Team
53. What is the process of directing and controlling the efforts of resources toward the attainment of specified incident objectives?
Supervising is the process of directing and controlling the efforts of resources toward the attainment of specified incident objectives.
12. A ________________ is the ICS title for individuals responsible for a Division or Group.
Supervisor
44. What is the designation of person in charge of each Branch?
The person in charge of each Branch is designated as Director.
45. What is the designation of the person in charge of each Division or Group?
The person in charge of each Division or Group is designated as a Supervisor.
46. The person in charge of each Staging Area is designated as a ___________.
The person in charge of each Staging Area is designated as a Manager.
15. A ____________ is the organizational element having functional responsibility for a specific incident Planning, Logistics, or Finance/Administration activity.
Unit
68. While some poor performance is due to the lack of motivation on the part of assigned personnel, it is more likely that management actions have produced or contributed to the problem. What management actions may cause poor performance?
Unrealistic/poorly defined incident objectives, strategies or tactics; The wrong resource was allocated for the assignment. There are inadequate tactical resources or logistical support for the assignment; The resource is not trained or equipped to carry out the assignment. Conflicting agency policies or procedures prevent the resource from carrying out the assignment.