AAR Assessment

The Queensland Police Service (QPS) Incident Command System (ICS) was raised as a project in 2001 with the aim of establishing a Command system which could be used for any type of incident or event. Extensive research was conducted into ICS models throughout Australia and overseas. The QPS ICS was finally adapted from the North American ICS model which allows a flexible approach to incident response with effectiveness and efficiency. The QPS ICS was then adopted into Section 1.12 of the QPS Operational Procedures Manual (OPM 2014). The QPS ICS takes a formal approach by gathering intelligence, planning a response and deploying the available resources to achieve a specific result (QPS2013a).

The strong State and Federal Government presence in Oklahoma City helped the response-and-rescue effort. For example, immediately following the explosion, the Oklahoma City Fire Department set up an Incident Command System (ICS) to manage the

One of the main goals of the incident command system (ICS) is to manage resources on the fire grounds. The Incident Command System has a built-in accountability system. Proper management of fire ground operations is necessary to achieve and maintain accountability. Accountability through incident command is possible only if it is established from the very beginning of the incident with the arrival of the first unit, officer, or member who establishes command and begins to assign and track incoming resources. Resources that self-deploy on the fire ground without the establishment and direction of an overall IC are not operating within incident command, a single incident action plan (IAP), or an accountability system. Any organization that waits for a later arriving officer to show up, establish command, and then attempt to locate and track multiple self-deployed resources from scratch is setting that officer and the organization up for failure and, ultimately, a tragic disaster. Accountability through

It is prepared beforehand to handle any hazardous situation, by tracking resources, and collecting information on historical patterns while anticipating future events. It protects the populace by providing the necessary resources in such a situation. It mitigates the damage of the situation by being prepared and responding quickly with the necessary resources and critical attention. It responds immediately to any and every such situation with the appropriate personnel with necessary resources and effective skills. It is also ready to recover from any anticipated hazardous situation through rebuilding and reestablishing infrastructures, communications, services and general governmental

The National Incident Management System is a systematic approach to a national template when dealing with incident management. This is how incidents are managed across all agencies to ensure protection, response time, mitigation of duties, and recovery (Walsh, 2012, p.4). In order to use the National Incident management System effectively, you must use the five major components. These components are used throughout government organizations, non-government organizations, and private sectors. The five major components consist of: (1) preparedness; (2) communications and information management; (3) command and management; (4) ongoing management and maintenance; and (5) resource management (Walsh, 2012, p. 6).

According to Emergency Management Services, International, Inc.’s article entitled A Working History of the Incident Command System, ICS is a “standardized approach to the command, control and coordination of emergency response providing a common hierarchy within which responders from multiple agencies can be

Numerous appendices were created to aid in planning, training, and response to high-risk incidents. Contact lists, maps, 3D tours, equipment lists, triage and treatment guidelines, and a transport log are included in the appendices. These appendices are key to ensuring that incident/unified command have access to necessary and accurate information regarding personnel, apparatus, building layouts, and equipment in a timely

(NIMS Core 2008). The ICS is a management system designed to help enable a more effective and efficient incident management system by combining personnel, equipment, procedures, facilities, and communications operating within a common organizational structure. FEMA lists the five major function areas: command, operations, planning, logistics, intelligence and investigations, finance and administration. “It is a fundamental form of management, with the purpose of enabling incident managers to identify the key concerns associated with the incident—often under urgent conditions—without sacrificing attention to any component of the command system”. (FEMA 2015). The command structure could either be single or unified, depending on jurisdiction. It would seem that the discussion on the command structure prescribed by the NIMS cannot be expounded upon without the ICS which is the combination of personnel, procedures, equipment, facilities, and communications that operate within a common organizational structure, designed to aid in domestic incident management activities. (NIMS – ICS

The FEMA IS-100b was developed during catastrophic fires in California, this fire resulted in millions in damages and several loss of lives. As a result, the Incident command system (ICS) was created and the purpose of the system was to develop a structure that is used to plan for terrorism or a disaster be it natural or man-man. Using the ICS to respond to all-hazards give the responder an organized structure to follow when responding to an incident. When apply the ICS to all-hazards it will be utilized by each level of government and follows the five major functional areas: command, operations, planning, logistics, and finance and administration.

As the aerial would be setup in the front of the structure, the engineer would setup the aerial for defensive operations while the rest of the crew does forcible entry or in accordance with command, and the attack group would provide ventilation. The 2nd engine looks for a water supply, hopefully the zone was preplanned and or the hydrant would be marked in their map book. Then laying the supplies, for best results 4 or 5 inch LDH supply for more water and less afford on the apparatuses. Listening to radio traffic, command knowing the units that were coming would assign water supply. In the Sofa Super Store fire, command was at one point roaming command and his incident management procedures were not met. From the incident management stand point, they should always be aware of the unit’s locations and tasks. When an incident commander knows the location of the crew, he has a better control of the scene and is able to assign tasks accordingly and effectively. In the event that a mayday is called, he would know placement and assignments of the

Arnold H. Glascow once said, “One trial of leadership is being able to recognize a problem situation before it becomes an emergency.” In today’s society, governments come equipped for every emergency situation. This includes, being ready for the possibility of an intrusion of terrorist. However, the question remains, how does one go about setting up a plan that will explain how the chain of command works? Applying an Incident Action Plan that defines how a unified chain of command system works and what is expected of each department, will provide the proper instructions on how to react to emergencies.

Incident Management Systems (IMS) are structures used to manage and co-ordinate a response that is outside business as usual parameters. These critical incidents usually involve threat to life and property and can threaten important infrastructure, making it a priority to deal with the situation in an efficient and expedient manner (Dwyer & Owen, 2009). The response to these incidents may be by a single agency, though usually will require the input from several other agencies such as the police, fire service, ambulance service, civil defence, health service, defence force, or private organisations. All of these organisations bring their own

RLS is when the ERC is less than OLS but greater than CLS. Sufficient capability is provided for an initial response, scene assessment and implementation of mitigation tactics. This level of service represents increased risk/loss potential due to lack of ERC to perform rescue and sufficient mitigation tactics simultaneously. FES objectives may not be successful during situations where simultaneous rescue and firefighting activities are required. While in RLS, the IFC allocates resources according to local risk factors with the goal to provide the highest feasible level of service during higher risk periods, while reducing capabilities when the risk is lower. At the high end of the RLS range, most FES objectives can be achieved at emergency incidents. As ERC decreases, cross-staffing and multi-tasking of emergency responders will be necessary to accomplish critical emergency response tasks. As ERC further decreases, the probability of accomplishing required FES objectives diminishes.

The Incident Command system refers to a management system which contains various system features or attributes. Due to these functions, ICS holds the adaptability and flexibility to be applied to an array of incidents both large and small. Therefore, these features can be used to strengthen the Emergency Management Plan (EMP). Features like management by objective and unity and chain of command ensure that EMP develops clear and attainable objective for disaster management.

The Incident Command System provides a tentative framework for the management of disasters across the country. The system is flexible to adapt to the particular needs of the situation at hand. The ICS provides guidelines on how various assets can be utilized in times of an emergency. These assets are supplied by the federal, state, and local authorities as well as NGOs and private organizations. The assets include human capital as well as machinery, and strategies that can help control the incident from getting out of hand. The assets also ensure the number of casualties remains minimal in the event of a disaster (FEMA, 2010).