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EMERGENCY INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS:
FUNDAMENTALS AND APPLICATIONS
by Louis N. Molino, Sr.

A “street smart” look at Incident Management in all its permutations

Incident Management Systems (IMS) provide the means by which to coordinate the efforts of
individual
agencies in order to stabilize an incident and protect life, property, and the environment.
Born from the
FireScope project of the late 1960s, which was developed in response to the major wildfires
that
regularly plagued Southern California, these systems have evolved with many similarities
and certain
fundamental differences.

EMERGENCY INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS: FUNDAMENTALS AND
APPLICATIONS
contrasts the major forms of Incident Management/Incident Command Systems. The author
illuminates
these differences and offers a fresh perspective on the concepts on which these systems are
founded in
order to make them more accessible and user-friendly. Without suggesting major changes in
the
systems, he bridges the gap between their theoretical and academic foundations and their
real-world
applications, and makes them more applicable to the professional's daily needs.

Timely features of the book include:
- An “in the field” point of view
- Coverage of incidents of mass destruction
- Filled-out sample forms designed to aid professionals in completing reports

In post–9/11 America, where incident management has become a national priority—one that
must be
easily understood and applicable across all emergency systems—this book provides a
useful tool for
helping today's emergency workers be more informed and more prepared than ever.

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CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PREFACE

1. INTRODUCTION AND HISTORY OF EMERGENCY INCIDENT MANAGEMENT
SYSTEMS
(IMS)
The Military Connection
The Birth of IMS: FIRESCOPE
Evolution of Three IMS Systems.
The Melding of the IMS Concepts of Today
The United States Coast Guard (USCG)
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
The Environmental Projection Agency (EPA)
Other Agencies
Conclusion

2. THE FIVE “C’S” OF COMMAND
Introduction
Command
Control
Communications
Coordination
Cooperation
Conclusion

3. THE EVOLUTION OF THE MODERN APPLICATION OF INCIDENT
MANAGEMENT
SYSTEMS
Taking Control
Adding to the Chaos
Conclusion

4. COMMON COMPONENTS OF THE INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Operating Requirements
Incident Management System Commonalities
Common Terminology
Organizational Functions
General Staff
Modular Organization
Organizational Flexibility
Integrated Communications
Consolidated Incident Action Plans
Manageable Span of Control
Pre-designated Incident Facilities
Comprehensive Resource Management
Management by Objectives
Unified Command
Unity and Chain of Command
Establishment and Transfer of Command
Common Terminology
Conclusion

5. MAJOR COMMAND FUNCTIONS OF THE INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Command
Agency Administrator
Unified Command
Incident Commander Responsibilities
Assessing the Situation
Determining Incident Objectives and Strategy
Establishing Immediate Priorities
Establishing an Incident Command Post
Establishing an Appropriate Incident Management Organization
Ensuring that Planning Meetings are Scheduled as Required
Approving and Authorizing the Implementation of an Incident Action Plan
Ensuring that Adequate Safety Measures Are in Place
Coordinating Activity for Command and General Staff
Coordinating with Key People and Officials from Concerned Agencies and
Organizations
Approving Requests for Additional Resources or for the Release of Resources
Keeping Agency Administrators Informed of Incident Status
Approving the Use of Students, Volunteers, and Auxiliary Personnel
Authorizing Release of Information to the News Media
Ordering the Demobilization of the Incident
Developing and Overseeing the Creation of Any Post-Incident After Action
Reports
Regarding the Incident
Characteristics of an Effective Incident Commander
Chain of Command Basics
Command Staff
Information
Safety Officer
Liaison Officer
Agency Representatives
Intelligence Officer
General Staff
Operations Section
Geographic Divisions
Functional Groups
Combined Divisions and Groups
Branches
Staging Areas
Air Operations Branch
Resource Organization
Planning/Intelligence Section
Planning Section Chief
Situation Unit
Field Observer
Display Processor/Geographic Information System Technician
Weather Observer
Documentation Unit
Demobilization Unit
Intelligence Unit
Technical Specialists
Fire Behavior Specialist
Environmental Specialist
Resource Use Specialist
Training Specialist
Technical Units
Logistics Section
Service Branch
Communications Unit
Medical Unit
Food Unit
Support Branch
Supply Unit
Facilities Unit
Ground Support Unit
Finance/Administration Section
Time Unit
Procurement Unit
Compensations/Claims Unit
Conclusion

6. THE PLANNING PROCESS IN INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Meetings, Huddles, Plays
The Incident Action Plan
Management by Objectives
Incident Command System Forms
ICS 201 Incident Briefing Form
Incident Objectives Form
Organization Assignment Form/Organization Chart
Assignment List
Incident Communications Plan
Medical Plan
Site Safety Plan
Incident Status Summary
Check-in List
General Message Form
Unit Log
Operational Planning Worksheet
Radio Requirements and Frequency Assignment Worksheets
Support Vehicle Inventory
ICS 219 Resource Status Cards
Air Operations Summary
The Incident Action Planning Process
General Responsibilities
Preplanning Steps
Conducting the Planning Meeting
Set Control Objectives
Plot Control Lines and Division Boundaries on Map
Specify Tactics for Each Division
Specify Resources Needed by Division
Specify Operations Facilities and Reporting Locations
Place Resource and Personnel Order
Consider Communications, Medical and Traffic Plan Requirements
Finalize, Approve, and Implement Incident Action Plan
How to Write a Good Objective
Conclusion

7. THE LOGISTICS PROCESS
Branch Directors
Service Branch
Communications Unit
Medical Unit
Food Unit
The Support Branch
Supply Unit
The Facility Unit
The Ground Support Unit
Conclusion
8. CUSTOMIZING INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR SPECIFIC
APPLICATIONS
SECTION ONE - HOSPITAL EMERGENCY INCIDENT MANAGEMENT
SYSTEMS
NFPA Standards 1500 and 1561
Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS)
Regulations and Standards
Integration
The HEICS Organizational Chart
Utilization
Case Study
Documentation and Casualty Reporting Issues
Cost Tracking
Triage at the Scene versus the Hospital
Why “Do” HEICS?
The General Staff
Use of Colors in HEICS
Conclusion
SECTION TWO - LAW ENFORCEMENT INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
The Mindset of Law Enforcement
The Small-Scale Incident
The Large-Scale Incident
The “Big One:” Catastrophic and Apocalyptic Events
Conclusion
SECTION THREE - THE USE OF INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN
AGRICULTURAL INCIDENTS
The History of the Incident Command System
National incident Management System
Advice from Local Governments to Business Continuity Planners
Incident Management Systems/ Business Continuity Planning
Governance
Affinity Groups and Employee Awareness Programs
City and County of Denver Continuity Advice to Business
Organizations
Step 1: Establish an Internal Planning Team
Establish Authority
Develop a Mission Statement
Establish a Schedule and Budget
Step 2: Analyze Capabilities and Hazards
Identify Codes and Regulations
Identify Critical Products, Services, and Operations
Identify Internal Resources and Capabilities
Identify External Resources
List Potential Emergencies
Step 3: Develop the Plan
Emergency Management Elements
Emergency Response Procedures
Supporting Documents
Step 4: Exercise the Plan
Step 5: Implement the Plan
Case Study - The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Case Study - The University of Colorado, Boulder, and Coors Brewing Company
Conclusion

9. ADVANCED INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CONCEPTS
Incident Management Teams
Background
Definition
Typing of Incidents
Typing of Incident Management Teams
Incident Management Team Training
Unified Command
When a Unified Command Should Be Utilized
Unified Command Membership
How the Unified Command Makes Decisions
Representatives Outside of the Unified Command Structure
Advantages of a Unified Command
Unified Command Meeting
Set Priorities and Objectives
Present Considerations
Develop a Collective Set of Incident Objectives
Adopt an Overall Strategy
Select a Unified Command Spokesperson
Conclusion

APPENDIX A: INCIDENT COMMAND POST SYSTEMS POSITION DESCRIPTION
CHECKLISTS

APPENDIX B: INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM FORMS
APPENDIX C: HOSPITAL EMERGENCY INCIDENT COMMAND (HEICS) JOB
ACTION
SHEETS

APPENDIX D: EXAMPLES OF TACTICAL WORKSHEETS FOR INCIDENT
COMMAND

GLOSSARY

INDEX

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

LOUIS N. MOLINO Sr. has been an emergency services provider since 1981. During that
time, he has
served in a variety of positions, including firefighter, emergency medical technician, fire and
emergency
medical dispatcher, fire and emergency medical services (EMS) instructor, emergency
medical dispatch
instructor, fire and EMS training officer, fire and EMS agency safety officer, incident safety
officer,
hazardous materials technician, and HAZMAT team member. He has also served as the
base liaison
officer, captain, battalion chief, and assistant chief for Mutual Aid Emergency Services, Inc.
(MAES),
which provides EMS services to Fort Dix and McGuire Air Force Base.
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2006, 544 pages. Order #DR797
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