Unified Command Unified Command Working Together for a Working - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Unified Command Unified Command “Working Together for a “Working Together for a Common Goal” Common Goal” Kevin C. Easton, Captain Kevin C. Easton, Captain Sarasota County Fire Sarasota County Fire Department Department

Objectives Objectives Provide a brief background of ICS Provide a brief background of ICS Describe the concept of Unified Command Describe the concept of Unified Command Discuss How Unified Command Works Discuss How Unified Command Works Identify the Key Members of Unified Identify the Key Members of Unified Command during a Traffic Related Command during a Traffic Related Emergency Emergency

History of ICS History of ICS Developed in the early 70’s Developed in the early 70’s Originally called FIRESCOPE Originally called FIRESCOPE ( FI refighting RES ources of C alifornia ( FI refighting RES ources of C alifornia O rganized for P otential E mergencies) O rganized for P otential E mergencies)

Reasons for FIRESCOPE Reasons for FIRESCOPE Too many people reporting to one Too many people reporting to one supervisor. supervisor. Different and incompatible emergency Different and incompatible emergency response structures. response structures. Lack of reliable incident information. Lack of reliable incident information. Inadequate and incompatible Inadequate and incompatible communications. communications. Lack of a structure for coordinated Lack of a structure for coordinated planning between agencies. planning between agencies.

Reasons for FIRESCOPE cont. Reasons for FIRESCOPE cont. Unclear lines of authority. Unclear lines of authority. Terminology differences between Terminology differences between agencies. agencies. Unclear or unspecified incident objectives. Unclear or unspecified incident objectives.

NIIMS NIIMS Next was a system known as NIIMS Next was a system known as NIIMS ( N ational I nteragency I ncident ( N ational I nteragency I ncident M anagement S ystem) M anagement S ystem) Developed by the National Wildfire Developed by the National Wildfire Coordination Group (NWCG) Coordination Group (NWCG) System used by most of the country other System used by most of the country other than California than California

NIMS NIMS Today we have NIMS Today we have NIMS ( N ational I ncident M anagement S ystem) ( N ational I ncident M anagement S ystem) Created post 9-11 by newly formed DOHS Created post 9-11 by newly formed DOHS Homeland Security Presidential Directive Homeland Security Presidential Directive HSPD-5 (Management of Domestic HSPD-5 (Management of Domestic Incidents) Incidents)

Focus of NIMS Focus of NIMS “…to ensure that all levels of government “…to ensure that all levels of government across the Nation have the capability to across the Nation have the capability to work efficiently and effectively together…” work efficiently and effectively together…”

NIMS NIMS Six Major Components of System Six Major Components of System 1. Command and Management 1. Command and Management 2. Preparedness 2. Preparedness 3. Resource Management 3. Resource Management 4. Communications and Information 4. Communications and Information Management Management 5. Supporting Technologies 5. Supporting Technologies 6. Ongoing Management and Maintenance 6. Ongoing Management and Maintenance

Incident Management System Incident Management System

Unified Command Unified Command In a nut shell…Unified Command is a In a nut shell…Unified Command is a process of bringing key personnel from process of bringing key personnel from each organization together to jointly make each organization together to jointly make decisions and manage an incident. decisions and manage an incident.

Three Common Applications Three Common Applications Incidents that affect more than one Incidents that affect more than one political jurisdiction. political jurisdiction.

Three Common Applications Three Common Applications Incidents involving multiple agencies Incidents involving multiple agencies within a jurisdiction within a jurisdiction

Three Common Applications Three Common Applications Incidents that impact multiple geographic Incidents that impact multiple geographic and functional agencies and functional agencies

Advantages Advantages One set of objectives. One set of objectives. Collective approach to strategies. Collective approach to strategies. Improved information flow and Improved information flow and coordination. coordination. Better understanding of objectives, Better understanding of objectives, priorities, limitations and restrictions. priorities, limitations and restrictions. No compromise of authority. No compromise of authority.

Advantages cont. Advantages cont. Each agency’s plans, actions, and Each agency’s plans, actions, and constraints are known. constraints are known. Optimizes combined efforts of all Optimizes combined efforts of all agencies. agencies. Cost effective. Cost effective.

Priorities Priorities Each organization has it’s own inherent Each organization has it’s own inherent priorities: priorities: Fire-Rescue – to safely and expeditiously Fire-Rescue – to safely and expeditiously treat and transport the injured, suppress any treat and transport the injured, suppress any fires and contain any released hazardous fires and contain any released hazardous materials. materials. Law Enforcement – Law Enforcement – FDOT – FDOT – Others - Others -

Who are the Players? Who are the Players? Determined by two factors: Determined by two factors: The location of the incident, which often The location of the incident, which often determines the jurisdictions that must be determines the jurisdictions that must be involved. involved. The kind of incident, which dictates the The kind of incident, which dictates the functional agencies of the involved functional agencies of the involved jurisdiction(s), as well as other agencies that jurisdiction(s), as well as other agencies that may be involved. may be involved.

Guidelines for Using Unified Guidelines for Using Unified Command Command Understand ICS Unified Command Understand ICS Unified Command Collocate essential functions Collocate essential functions Start early to use U.C. Start early to use U.C. Agree on Operations Section Chief Agree on Operations Section Chief Designate a spokesperson if necessary Designate a spokesperson if necessary Train often as a team. Train often as a team.

In closing In closing We all have different priorities and We all have different priorities and objectives. objectives. By working together as a team (Unified By working together as a team (Unified Command) we can more efficiently Command) we can more efficiently manage an incident with regard for each manage an incident with regard for each others areas of responsibility. others areas of responsibility. This looks good on paper, putting it to This looks good on paper, putting it to application requires practice and application requires practice and commitment. commitment.

Thank You! Thank You! Kevin Easton, Captain Sarasota County Fire Department 915-2919 keaston@scgov.net