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Incident Command System. How it can apply to schools?. School District Coordination. Who Benefits from Standardization ?. School Security Officers Principals Teachers Substitute Teachers Support Personnel Emergency Responders STUDENTS!!!!. What’s Out There To Be Prepared For.
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Incident Command System How it can apply to schools?
Who Benefits from Standardization ? School Security Officers Principals Teachers Substitute Teachers Support Personnel Emergency Responders STUDENTS!!!!
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
School Options for Events • Fire Drill/Evacuations - On site – short/long term - shelter -Off site - building secured – route • Lockdowns • School Closure
Types of DisastersAffecting Schools • Community wide events = Limited Support • System wide events = Moderate Support • Single School events = All the Help you need.
School Incident ManagementTeam • Designated Teams for – Planning Response Recovery • Federal mandate for NIMS • Must organize using ICS • Fire, police, uses the same system daily.
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
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
Command Staff • Public Information Officer • Accountability • Safety • Liaison All the above functions report directly to Command
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
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.
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
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
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
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
ICS - Sections • Operations = Doers • Logistics = Getters • Planning/Intelligence = Thinkers • Administration/Finance = Recovery and Trackers
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
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.
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.
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)
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.