Disaster FEMA: ICS Lessons 3 & 4

Branch Director

A Branch Director is responsible for supervision of a Branch.

Leader

A Leader is responsible for a Task Force, Strike Team, or functional Unit.

Section Chief

A Section Chief is responsible for a functional Section, such as Operations.

Supervisor

A Supervisor is responsible for a Division or Group.

Task Forces

A combination of mixed resources with common communications operating under the direct supervision of a Leader.

Planning Section: Major Activities

Collecting, evaluating, and displaying incident intelligence and information. Preparing and documenting Incident Action Plans. Tracking resources assigned to the incident. Maintaining incident documentation. Developing plans for demobilization.

Sets the incident objectives, strategies, and priorities and has overall responsibility for the incident.

Command

Five Major Management Functions

Command, Operations, Planning, Logistics, Finance & Administration

Finance/Administration Section Units

Compensation/Claims Unit, Cost Unit, Procurement Unit, Time Unit

Strike Teams

Consist of all similar resources with common communications operating under the direct supervision of a Leader.

Finance/Administration Section: Major Activities

Contract negotiation and monitoring. Timekeeping. Cost analysis. Compensation for injury or damage to property. Documentation for reimbursement (e.g., under mutual aid agreements and assistance agreements).

Responsible for ensuring orderly, safe, and efficient demobilization of incident resources.

Demobilization unit

Food Unit

Determines food and water requirements, plans menus, orders food, provides cooking facilities, cooks, serves, maintains food service areas, and manages food security and safety concerns.

Responsible for collecting, recording, and safeguarding all documents relevant to the incident.

Documentation Unit

Monitors costs related to the incident. Provides accounting, procurement, time recording, and cost analyses.

Finance/admin

Provides all ground transportation during an incident. In conjunction with providing transportation, the Unit is also responsible for maintaining and supplying vehicles, keeping usage records, and developing incident Traffic Plans.

Ground Support unit

who serves as the primary contact for supporting agencies assisting at an incident.

Liaison officer

Arranges for resources and needed services to support achievement of the incident objectives.

Logistics

Communications Unit

Major responsibilities include effective communications planning as well as acquiring, setting up, maintaining, and accounting for communications equipment.

Conducts operations to reach the incident objectives. Establishes tactics and directs all operational resources.

Operations

Logistics Section: Major Activities

Ordering, obtaining, maintaining, and accounting for essential personnel, equipment, and supplies. Providing communication planning and resources. Setting up food services for responders. Setting up and maintaining incident facilities. Providing support transportation. Providing medical services to incident personnel.

Supply Unit

Orders, receives, stores, and processes all incident-related resources, personnel, and supplies.

Supports the incident action planning process by tracking resources, collecting/analyzing information, and maintaining documentation.

Planning

Responsible for financial matters concerning vendor contracts.

Procurement Unit

serves as the conduit for information to internal and external stakeholders, including the media and the public.

Public info officer

Responsible for recording the status of resources committed to the incident. This Unit also evaluates resources committed currently to the incident, the effects additional responding resources will have on the incident, and anticipated resource needs.

Resources Unit

Planning Section Units

Resources unit, Situation Unit, Demobilization Unit, Documentation Unit

Compensation/Claims Unit

Responsible for financial concerns resulting from property damage, injuries, or fatalities at the incident.

Time Unit

Responsible for recording time for incident personnel and hired equipment.

Medical Unit

Responsible for the effective and efficient provision of medical services to incident personnel.

Cost Unit

Responsible for tracking costs, analyzing cost data, making estimates, and recommending cost savings measures.

monitors conditions and develops measures for assuring the safety of all personnel.

Safety officer

Facilities Unit

Sets up, maintains, and demobilizes all facilities used in support of incident operations. The Unit also provides facility maintenance and security services required to support incident operations.

Responsible for the collection, organization, and analysis of incident status information, and for analysis of the situation as it progresses.

Situations unit

Logistics Section Units

Supply Unit, Ground Support Unit, Facilities Unit, Food Unit, Communications Unit, Medical Unit

Incident Commander

The Incident Commander is responsible for the overall management of the incident.

Finance/Administration Section

The Time, Compensation/Claims, Cost, and Procurement Units may be established within this Section.

Operations Section: Single Resources

individuals, a piece of equipment and its personnel complement, or a crew or team of individuals with an identified supervisor.

Finance & Administration Section Chief

is responsible for contract negotiation, recording personnel and equipment time, documenting and processing claims for accidents and injuries occurring at the incident, and keeping a running tally of the costs associated with the incident.

Operations Section Chief

responsible for developing and implementing strategy and tactics to accomplish the incident objectives. This means that the Operations Section Chief organizes, assigns, and supervises all the tactical or response resources assigned to the incident. Additionally, if a Staging Area is established, the Operations Section Chief would manage it.