(ERPT) Incident Command Systems and CERT Lesson

Incident Command Systems and CERT Lesson 

Incident Command Systems or ICS allows multiple agencies over multiple jurisdictions to work together and actually accomplish something useful.

Notice that the word "Command" is part of the name of the system. You have to take command early. How the first five minutes go can determine how the next five hours will go, and how those five hours go can determine how the next five days go.

ICS scales up and down as the situation develops. You always have a measurable objective or goal in a specific time period. You put that goal in writing. That way you can track what's happened, and what's happening. Goals can change as the situation develops.

Smallest incident, at a minimum, there's always an Incident Commander. There's always an Incident Command Post, and there's always a Staging Area. Largest incident: There's still one Incident Commander, in one command post. His or her identity is known to everyone, and that person is only getting reports from, and giving orders to, a bare handful of subordinates. Each of those subordinates is getting information from, and giving orders to, three to seven subordinates. Everyone reports to just one person (and knows explicitly who that person is) and commands just a few subordinates. And so on, down the line.

Who's the incident commander? The first responder on scene. As other responders arrive, the Incident Commander may change, but everyone still knows who it is.

The IC has a command staff and a general staff.

The priorities are, in order:

1. Life safety
2. Mitigating the situation
3. Securing property

 

Watch the presentation below to learn more about ICS and CERT.

 

 

What did you learn?  Let's check that out.  Complete the activity below:

 

 

[CC BY 4.0] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION