Incident Action Planning in the EOC GGC NHC 2018 GGC NHC 2018 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

GGC NHC 2018

Incident Action Planning in the EOC

GGC NHC 2018

Incident Action Planning

• EOC plans are typically more strategic than field IAPs
• A planning process helps synchronize operations and

ensure they support incident objectives

• More than completing forms, the planning process

provides a consistent rhythm and structure to incident management

GGC NHC 2018

Incident Action Planning

• Every incident should have an action plan. However,

not all incidents need written plans

• IAPs provide a concise, coherent means to capture

and communicate objectives, tactics and assignments

GGC NHC 2018

• Inform personnel of the incident objectives and
• perational activities
• Provide a roadmap of operations
• Help individuals understand how their efforts affect

the success of the operation

• Show how supervisory personnel and operational

elements fit into the organization

• Often provide a schedule of the key meetings and

briefings

GGC NHC 2018

Incident Action Plans …

Information vs Intelligence

• Information – raw data placed into some context

– Collected from many sources – Unfiltered and unevaluated – May be incorrect, misleading or irrelevant

• Intelligence – processed information

– Distilled, validated and sorted – Evaluated and properly interpreted – Accurate, timely and relevant

GGC NHC 2018

Information vs Intelligence

• Simply having more information is seldom helpful
• Here is my credit card information

– It is a valid, brand name card – The level is precious metal, atomic number 78 – Has a 16 digit number and 3 digit authentication code – The number includes: 0, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 – Some are used more than twice

• Need the right information in the right context

GGC NHC 2018

Planning Process

• Creates intelligence out of information

– Intelligence helps create better plans – Better plans lead to a safer, more efficient response

• Applicable to any incident and/or organizational

structure

• Ensures situational awareness is maintained and

personnel have access to critical information

GGC NHC 2018

The planning process provides:

• Current information that accurately describes the

incident situation and resource status

• Predictions of the probable course of events
• Alternative strategies to attain critical objectives
• An accurate, realistic Action Plan for the next
• perational period

GGC NHC 2018

Planning Process

• Consider a written Action Plan for every event
• Communicates useful/actionable information

(intelligence) to a diverse audience

• Not the same as a “field” IAP
• May not use a “bunch of ICS forms”
• May choose to address “why” not just “what”

GGC NHC 2018

EOC Action Plan

• Helps provide a Common Operating Picture

– A script / roadmap for the response

• Enhances communication by sharing intelligence
• Guides decision making during an incident

– Encourages forward planning – Discourages freelancing

GGC NHC 2018

EOC Action Plan

• Provides event documentation, including the thought

processes and assumptions regarding the event and response

• Intended for Diverse Audiences

– Responders – Staff – Others

• Err toward oversharing

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EOC Action Plan

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A Vision Without a Plan … is an Hallucination!

• “A concise IAP template is essential”
• “A common format enables other jurisdictions

and organizations to anticipate, and rapidly find and act on, specific incident information.”

National Incident Management System Third Edition, October 2017

Use a Template

GGC NHC 2018

Use a Template

• Highly modified ICS-201 (Incident Briefing Form)

with specialized attachments

• Standardized format (bullet lists and tables) places

information in consistent locations

• If nothing to report, use N/A to show that

information was not inadvertently omitted

• If entire tables are blank, they can be deleted

GGC NHC 2018

• Situation Status helps one to understand the

current situation

• Objectives identify what will be done and who will

complete the tasks

• Resources Needed and Potential Problems address

what is needed what could impede success

• Planning Assumptions (Attachment 1)

Use a Template

GGC NHC 2018

Use a Template

• 1. Coversheet
• 2. Response at a Glance
• 3. Safety Message
• 4. Weather Information
• 5. Summary of Current Situation
• 6. Problems Encountered / Resources Required
• 7. Incident Objectives and Approvals
• 8. Attachments (#1 is Planning Assumptions)

GGC NHC 2018

GGC NHC 2018

Response at a Glance

• Follows cover sheet … both print on one page
• Very brief, very high-level overview

– Detail is provided in the body of the IAP

• Should “never” exceed one page
• Handout for executives and officials
• Outline for conference calls / media conferences

GGC NHC 2018

GGC NHC 2018

Summary of Current Situation

• Strictly formatted (with tables and bulleted lists)
• Briefer is better

– Complete sentences unnecessary – Complete thoughts are critical

• Add significant information … not every detail
• Arrange information in order of importance (Life

Safety/Incident Stabilization/Conserve Property)

• Consider coordinating with PIO (similar info)

GGC NHC 2018

GGC NHC 2018

Problems Encountered / Assistance Required

• Like the Situation Summary, information should

be relevant and concise

• More variable (free-form) narrative sections

– Documents problems and or required assistance

• Be consistent in form and format
• Don’t leave open issues unaddressed

– Document resolution or closure ASAP

GGC NHC 2018

GGC NHC 2018

Incident Objectives

• EOCs influence field incident objectives through

resource prioritization

• Make objectives SMART

– Try to avoid “Ongoing”

• Completed objectives remain for the Next

Operational Period (documents completion)

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Typical Attachments

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Attachment 1 Planning Assumptions Attachment 2 Response to Recovery Transition Attachment 3 Staffing Roster Attachment 4 Conference Call and Meeting Schedule Attachment 5 Shelter Status Report Attachment 6 Unmet Needs

A1 - Planning Assumptions

• IAP/CAP documents WHAT … maybe not WHY

– “Why” is important, especially in unusual events – Assumptions help document/explain why

• Document the thought process

– What did we know (or thought we knew) – When did we know it – When did it change

• Some important things don’t fit the template

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A2 - Response to Recovery Transition

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Essential Element D1 D2 D3 D4 D5

Curfews/Security Damage Assessment Shelters Search & Rescue Communications Road & Bridges Emergency Services Health Care Electricity

GGC NHC 2018

A2 - Response to Recovery Transition

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A6 - Unmet Needs

Continuing the Planning Process

• IAP / CAP provides clear strategic direction and

includes tactics and resources required to achieve incident objectives in a coordinated way

• Development is a cyclical process, repeated every
• perational period
• The IAP uses the best information available at the

time ... do not delay waiting for “better data”

GGC NHC 2018

• Easiest way is to create the next IAP is to modify the

existing IAP – “Track Changes” or “Versioning” – Color-coded highlights

• Updated Info
• To Be Updated
• To Be Deleted
• Update the Attachments and Cover Sheet

GGC NHC 2018

Continuing the Planning Process

• Plans are for the audience … not the author
• Create intelligence … don’t just transcribe information
• Include critical things … not everything
• Consistency aids comprehension … optimize the

template

• Briefer is almost always better
• Complex ideas can be explained with simple words …

if you choose them carefully

Final Thoughts

GGC NHC 2018

THANK YOU

GGC NHC 2018

Gerald Campbell Emergency Manager Retired Email: GGCampbellJr@gmail.com Twitter: @GGeraldCampbell LinkedIn: Gerald Campbell

GGC NHC 2018