IS-100.C: Introduction to the Incident Command System, ICS 100

The Incident Commander or Unified Command establishes incident objectives that include:

Identifying strategies, tactics, tasks, and activities to achieve the objectives.

Which ICS functional area establishes tactics and directs all operational resources to achieve the incident objectives?

Operations

Which Section organizes, assigns, and supervises tactical response resources?

Operations

One of the benefits of ICS is that it provides an orderly, systematic ___________ process.

Planning

Which ICS functional area tracks resources, collects and analyzes information, and maintains documentation?

Planning

Which General Staff member prepares Incident Action Plans, manages information, and maintains situational awareness for the incident?

Planning Section Chief

When partners representing multiple jurisdictions or agencies work together to establish the incident objectives, what type of Command is being used?

Unified Command

Establishment and Transfer of Command:

The command function should be clearly established at the beginning of an incident. The jurisdiction or organization with primary responsibility for the incident designates the Incident Commander and the process for transferring command. Transfer of command may occur during the course of an incident. When command is transferred, the process should include a briefing that captures all essential information for continuing safe and effective operations

The 14 NIMS Characteristics are:

1. Common Terminology 2. Modular Organization 3. Management by Objectives 4. Incident Action Planning 5. Manageable Span of Control 6. Incident Facilities and Locations 7. Comprehensive Resource Management 8. Integrated Communications 9. Establishment and Transfer of Command 10. Unified Command 11. Chain of Command and Unity of Command 12. Accountability 13. Dispatch/Deployment 14. Information and Intelligence Management

How many NIMS Management Characteristics are there?

14

The Incident Command System (ICS) is:

A standardized approach to incident management that is applicable for use in all hazards.

Check-in, Incident Action Planning, Personal Responsibility, and Resource Tracking are all necessary to ensure:

Accountability

Common Terminology:

Allows diverse incident management and support organizations to work together across a wide variety of emergency functions and hazard scenarios. This common terminology covers the following: Organizational Functions: Major functions and functional units with incident management responsibilities are named and defined. They remain standard and consistent. Resource Descriptions: Major resources - including personnel, equipment, teams, and facilities - are given common names and are "typed" with respect to their capabilities. Incident Facilities: Common terminology is used to designate the facilities in the vicinity of the incident area. During an incident: Communications should use common terms. Organizations should avoid radio codes, agency-specific codes, acronyms, or jargon. Usage of these types of codes may cause confusion or possibly compromise life safety due to a misunderstanding or misinterpretation. The goal is to promote understanding among all parties involved in managing an incident.

When command is transferred, the process should include a(n):

Briefing

Chain of Command:

Chain of command is an orderly line that details how authority flows through the hierarchy of the incident management organization. Allows an Incident Commander to direct and control the actions of all personnel on the incident. Avoids confusion by requiring that orders flow from supervisors. Chain of command does NOT prevent personnel from directly communicating with each other to ask for or share information. While formal direction and control follows the chain of command, informal information sharing occurs throughout the ICS structure.

Which ICS functional area sets the incident objectives, strategies, and priorities, and has overall responsibility for the incident?

Command

If the Incident Commander designates personnel to provide public information, safety, and liaison services, the personnel are collectively referred to as the:

Command Staff

Which NIMS component includes the Incident Command System (ICS)?

Command and Coordination

To ensure efficient, clear, communication, the National Incident Management System Characteristics recommend the use of:

Common terminology

Acquiring, Storing, and Inventorying Resources are part of which NIMS Management Characteristic?

Comprehensive Resource Management

Qualification, Certification, and Credentialing Personnel are part of which NIMS Management Characteristic?

Comprehensive Resource Management

Manageable Span of Control:

Depending on your role within the Incident Command System (ICS) structure, you may be asked to manage the activities of others. Span of control refers to the number of individuals or resources that one supervisor can manage effectively during an incident. The optimal span of control is one supervisor to five subordinates(1:5). However, effective incident management may require ratios significantly different from this. This ratio is a guideline--incident personnel should use their best judgement to determine the appropriate ratio for an incident. If too much responsibility is given to the supervisor, the span of control may become unmanageable. A manageable span of control on incidents may actually vary depending upon the type of incident, nature of the task, hazards and safety factors, and distances between personnel and resources. Maintaining a manageable span is particularly important at incidents where safety and accountability are a top priority.

Incident Facilities and Locations:

Depending upon the incident size and complexity, various types of support facilities may be established by Incident Command. These designated facilities typically include: Incident Command Post (ICP) Incident base, staging areas, and camps Mass casualty triage areas Point-of-distribution Emergency shelters

The Operations Section Chief:

Develops and implements strategies and tactics to achieve the incident objectives.

Which one of the following activities is not an example of incident coordination?

Directing, ordering, or controlling.

Which NIMS Management Characteristic refers to personnel requested through appropriate authorities and established resource management systems?

Dispatch/ Deployment

Accountability:

Effective accountability during incident operations is essential. As part of the Incident CommandSystem (ICS) structure, you will need to abide by agency policies and guidelines and any applicable local, tribal, state, or Federal rules and regulations. There are several principles you will need to adhere to: Check-In/Check-Out. All responders must report in to receive an assignment. Checking out is just as critical as checking in. Incident Action Planning. Response operations must be coordinated as outlined in theIncident Action Plan. Unity of Command. Each individual will be assigned to only one supervisor. Personal Responsibility. ICS relies on each individual taking personal accountability for their own actions. Span of Control. Supervisors must be able to adequately supervise and control their subordinates, as well as communicate with and manage all resources under their supervision. Resource Tracking. Supervisors must record and report resource status changes as they occur. Accountability starts as soon as a resource is requested through the time that there source returns to their home base safely.

Which ICS function is responsible for documentation of mutual aid agreements?

Finance/Administration

Which ICS functional area monitors costs related to the incident and provides accounting, procurement, time recording, and cost analysis?

Finance/Administration

Which General Staff member negotiates and monitors contracts, maintains documentation for reimbursement, and oversees timekeeping for incident personnel?

Finance/Administration Section Chief

Unified Command:

In a Unified Command there is no single "Commander." Instead the Unified Command manages the incident through jointly approved objectives. Unified Command allows agencies with different legal, geographic, and functional responsibilities to work together effectively without affecting individual agency authority, responsibility, or accountability. Unified Command is typically established when no single jurisdiction, agency or organization has the authority and/or resources to manage the incident on its own. This can include incidents involving multiple jurisdictions, a single jurisdiction with multiagency involvement, or multiple jurisdictions with multiagency involvement.

Depending on the incident size and complexity, various types of support facilities may be established by:

Incident Command

Establishment of the ICS modular organization is the responsibility of the:

Incident Commander

Expansion of the ICS modular organization is the responsibility of the:

Incident Commander

Which position is always staffed in ICS applications?

Incident Commander

Who has overall responsibility for managing the on-scene incident?

Incident Commander

Incident objectives that drive incident operations are established by the:

Incident Commander or Unified Command

In a Unified Command, members representing multiple jurisdictions and agencies work together to establish:

Incident Objectives

Incident Action Planning:

Incident action planning guides effective incident management activities. An Incident Action Plan(IAP) is a concise, coherent means of capturing and communicating overall incident priorities, objectives, strategies, tactics, and assignments in the context of both operational and support activities. The IAP should focus on addressing the needs of future timeframes (called operational periods). To be effective, an IAP should: Cover a specified timeframe Be proactive Specify the incident objectives State the activities to be completed Assign responsibilities Identify needed resources Specify communication protocols For smaller/less complex incidents, the IAP may be oral or written, except for hazardous materials incidents, which require a written IAP. FEMA has developed a series of ICS Forms for use in developing a written IAP.

Integrated Communications:

Incident communications are facilitated through the development and use of a common communications plan and interoperable communication processes and systems that include voice and data links. Integrated Communications are necessary to: Maintain connectivity Achieve situational awareness Facilitate information sharing

Information and Intelligence Management:

Incident management must establish a process for gathering, analyzing, assessing, sharing, and managing incident-related information and intelligence. In NIMS, "intelligence" refers exclusively tothreat-related information developed by law enforcement, medical surveillance, and otherinvestigative organizations. Information and intelligence may be gathered from a variety of sources, including: 911 calls Radio, video and data communications among responders Situation Reports (SITREPS) Technical specialists from organizations such as the National Weather Service Reports from field observers Geospatial products, such as GIS, etc. Print, online, broadcast, and social media Risk assessments Terroristic or violent threats Surveillance of disease outbreaks Structural plans and vulnerabilities

Which NIMS Management Characteristic may include gathering, analyzing, and assessing weather service data from technical specialists?

Information and Intelligence Management

Which NIMS Management Characteristic is necessary for achieving situational awareness and facilitating information sharing?

Integrated Communications

The Liaison Officer:

Is the point of contact for other response organizations.

Selection of Incident Commanders is done by the:

Jurisdiction or organization with primary responsibility for the incident

Which member of the Command Staff interfaces with other agencies to meet incident-related information requirements?

Liaison Officer

Which ICS functional area arranges for resources and needed services to support achievement of the incident objectives?

Logistics

Which General Staff member is responsible for ensuring that assigned incident personnel are fed and have communications, medical support, and transportation as needed to meet the operational objective?

Logistics Section Chief

Which item is included in the NIMS Management Characteristic of Accountability?

Maintain an accurate inventory of resources

The number of subordinates that one supervisor can manage effectively during an incident is referred to as:

Manageable Span of Control

Major activities of the Planning Section include:

Preparing and documenting Incident Action Plans.

At the incident scene, who handles media inquiries?

Public Information Officer

The NIMS Management Characteristic of Chain of Command and Unity of Command means that each person:

Reports to only one ICS supervisor.

Dispatch/Deployment:

Resources should be deployed only when requested or when dispatched by an appropriate authority through established resource management systems. Resources not requested should refrain from self-dispatching to avoid overburdening the incident command.

Management by Objectives:

The Incident Commander or Unified Command (which will be discussed later), establishes incident objectives that drive incident operations. Management by Objectives includes the following: Establishing specific, measurable incident objectives. Identifying strategies, tactics, tasks and activities to achieve the objectives. Developing and issuing assignments, plans, procedures, and protocols to accomplish identified tasks. Documenting results for the incident objectives.

Which one of the following activities is not an example of incident coordination?

Synchronizing public information messages.

Within the National Incident Management System Characteristics, the concept of common terminology covers all of the following EXCEPT:

Technical Specifications

Modular Organization:

The Incident Command System (ICS) organizational structure develops in a modular fashion based on the incident's size and complexity. The responsibility for the establishment and expansion of the ICS modular organization rests with the Incident Commander. As the incident grows more complex, the ICS organization may expand as functional responsibilities are delegated.

Who designates the process for transferring command?

The jurisdiction or organization with primary responsibility for the incident

Comprehensive Resource Management

The standard mechanisms to identify requirements, order and acquire, mobilize, track and report, demobilize, and reimburse and restock resources such as personnel, teams, facilities, equipment and supplies. Key resource management activities include: Resource Identification and Typing Qualification, Certification and Credentialing Personnel Planning for Resources Acquiring, Storing and Inventorying Resources

Unity of Command:

While chain of command relates to the overall hierarchy of the organization, unity of command deals with the fact that all individuals have a single designated supervisor they report to. Based on the principle of unity of command, you will: Report to only one Incident Command System (ICS) supervisor. Receive work assignments only from your ICS supervisor. When you are assigned to an incident, you no longer report directly to your day-to-day supervisor. In fact, there is no correlation between the ICS organization and the administrative structure of any single agency or jurisdiction. This is deliberate, because confusion over different position titles and organizational structures has been a significant stumbling block to effective incident management in the past. While chain of command and unity of command are applied in all incidents, the actual command structure itself and the responsibilities of those involved change based on the type of incident and your specific role.