Incident Command System

1. Incident Command System How it can apply to schools?

2. School District Coordination

3. Who Benefits from Standardization ? School Security Officers Principals Teachers Substitute Teachers Support Personnel Emergency Responders STUDENTS!!!!

4. What’s Out There ToBe Prepared For • Terrorism * Transportation • Earthquakes Accidents • Dam Failure * Volcanic • Fire Eruptions • Ice/Windstorms * Nearby Crime • Power Outages Incident • Hazardous Materials

5. School Options for Events • Fire Drill/Evacuations - On site – short/long term - shelter -Off site - building secured – route • Lockdowns • School Closure

6. Types of DisastersAffecting Schools • Community wide events = Limited Support • System wide events = Moderate Support • Single School events = All the Help you need.

7. School Incident ManagementTeam • Designated Teams for – Planning Response Recovery • Federal mandate for NIMS • Must organize using ICS • Fire, police, uses the same system daily.

8. Team Tasks & Priorities • Safety & Security of the Students & Staff • Launch immediate response • Coordinate with responding agencies • Understand the risk • Understand the impact on the school • Communications with all involved • Work to minimize the impact of the event • Plan for resumption of normal school activities

9. Incident Command System • Based on function • Expandable & contractible • Activate only what you need of the system • Utilizes a chain of command • Span of control: 5 positions • Standardizes response with other agencies

10. ICS Chart

11. Operations

12. Logistics

13. Planning

14. Finance & Administration

15. Command Staff • Public Information Officer • Accountability • Safety • Liaison All the above functions report directly to Command

16. Unified Command • Fire & EMS agencies all use the same organizational system • Police agencies now using ICS more often • Link through the Liaison • Who’s in charge? – Dependant upon the nature of the event. • Could become event that requires an Emergency Operations Center

17. Incident Commander • Coordinates the proper response effort • Divides response by needed function • Delegates resources to fill those needs • Maintains - Big Picture vantage point • Continually checking on Status, Progress, & needs of other functions. • May (should) be in a separate area from other functions.

18. Command Staff - PIO • Handles the media • May (should) be spokesperson or arrange interviews • Establishes Media contact point/area: - protects command from distractions - reduces freelancing by media as it provides one point for information • Information source for: public & staff

19. Command Staff - Liaison • Vital link with other agencies on scene • Remains in contact with command at all times, either at primary CP or at secondary command post. (Radio Communications) • Must have strong knowledge of the big picture & the strategic direction of command

20. Command Staff - Safety • The eyes and ears for command • The safety net for the incident • Responsible for the physical & emotional needs of staff • Watches for unsafe actions or inactions • Authority to stop an unsafe action • Reports directly to command • Must be identified (vest) and roam freely • Does not become involved in directing operations or tactics

21. Command Staff - Accountability • Person must have strong background of who is on site under normal operations • Provides as accurately as possible who is on campus at the time of the incident. (to include volunteers, vendors, support staff, and visitors.) • Provide vital information for: Command, Administration/Finance, & Parent/Student pick station

22. ICS - Sections • Operations = Doers • Logistics = Getters • Planning/Intelligence = Thinkers • Administration/Finance = Recovery and Trackers

23. Partnerships in School Safety Planning • Safe schools plans emphasize collaboration between schools and : • Law Enforcement • Fire Departments • Emergency Medical Services • Social services/ mental health agencies • Parents and families

24. Use ICS in Safety Planning • The use of ICS in the planning process reinforces your team’s ability to use the methods in an actual incident. • The use of the ICS approach allows for cross-training of a number of personnel so that the functions can continue despite absences.

25. The Incident Command System • Is used 1000’s of times a day in the fire service across the United States. • Police agencies are training to ICS and using the system when the situation calls for a larger than normal operation. • School Districts are using the ICS training in greater numbers. • The NFPA reports – U.S. annual average of 1 fire incident per 20 schools.

26. Summary • ICS is a management tool that can be used: • In large or small incidents • With one or more agencies • In: * Emergencies * Planned events (concerts, school fairs) * Unplanned events ( earthquakes)

27. Summary • ICS should be used when forming and operating school safety teams. • Collaboration with emergency response agencies is enhanced when everyone uses a similar approach. • Emergency plans for schools should encourage training and drills using ICS.