Multiagency Coordination System Analysis

Unified command is created when the events expand and more individuals are involved. The emergency manager's’ interpersonal skills are tested versus their technical skills. In smaller districts, individuals may hold more than one position while in larger areas the position are designated to each individual. While, the emergency managers transition into the facilitator and the coordinator, and in the large districts the emergency management director becomes the chief. The Federal position is to save lives and support individual and community efforts to prepare and reduce risks when responding to disasters. Accreditation creates an unpredictable the path for collaboration and cooperation, and at times demands a change in the law at the state or local level. The limits to participation, especially when time is of the essences, however it is also affected by convention and culture. The key ultimately, is the relationships that are established among partners within the community. Fire, emergency medical, law enforcement, and other emergency management service, local officials, and private sectors improves communities, thus making them safer, stronger, and prepared to handle

Establishment of a chain of command in a situation such as a severe storm or other disaster is essential. Because there may be a disruption to commonly used manners of communication, such as television, telephones, and the internet, it is important to have a clear outline of where and to whom to report, how to find answers, and who will perform necessary tasks. In the simulation, the Public Health Department is both a link in the larger, county-wide chain of command and has its own hierarchy structure. Within the scope of the county, the Public Health Department reports to the Medical/Health Branch Director who is directly under the Operations Chief. The Operations Chief, who is in charge of managing and monitoring the actions of each department, reports to the Emergency Operations Commander. The Emergency Operations commander is the highest link in the chain, not only overseeing the operations of the various governmental departments, but also the officers in charge of Safety, Public Information, and Legal.

Directly receiving directions from the Incident Commander as well as reporting to the Command Staff are sections that oversee, plan, and assemble the necessary resources to carry out the Incident Action Plan passed down from the Command Staff. The Operations Section is managed by the Operations Section Chief who oversees all tactical operations at the incident. Deputies can then be appointed underneath the Operations Section Chief to control different Branches of operations in order to keep the span of control in scale. Ideally one individual should only control five other individuals on scene. As resources grow, the span of control can be reduced through the implementation of Divisions and Groups. Divisions can be used if the need arises to slit operations into geographical locations. This allows for the Operations Section Chief to pass on vital information to crews in a specific location. These divisions may simply be a quadrant of a structure, as well as a large area. It enables for all Divisions to communicate and work together, even through the use of different methods. Groups can then be implemented to further break down Divisions into smaller more manageable resources. In each geographical location, the ability to control law

The National Incident Management System is a systematic guideline on how to effectively plan, mitigate, respond and recover, from significant incidences especially those that encompass diverse interest and involves all levels of governments. It works hand in hand with the National Response Framework, which provides structure for incident management while NIMS provide the guide for all departments and agencies at all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to work flawlessly during incident management to reduce loss of life and property (U. S. Department of Homeland Security, 2008). The core aspect of the National Incident Management System during incident response is the Incident Command System (ICS),

To better understand the effectiveness of the EOC during and after the response to 9/11 one must first understand the intended purpose of an EOC. EOC’s have been found to have six identifiable duties during a major incident. These duties or functions include coordination,

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

This report article titled, “Implications of an Improvised Nuclear Device Detonation on Command and Control for Surround Regions at the Local, State and Federal Levels” by David Pasquele and Richard Hansen talks about the different types of issues that surrounds the area of the Improvised Nuclear Device and other units. These types of issues are mainly related and connected to the Incident Command Posts (ICP) and Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs). Command and control is part of the issue because they cause a lot of problems for the operations on these jurisdictions. In this essay we will discuss more on the key issues and to agree if the Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS) would be sufficient or use different procedures. Also, I will talk about the federal agencies mentioned in this report to see which is important to use for a response and recovery of an IND event.

Many times the local framework for support and response breaks down after major incidences (Caruson, MacManus, September 2008). The loss of electricity to some, if not all the area, for extended amount of time should be expected. This can also mean loss of communication in the form of cell phone connection, internet and land lines. Hence, MACS establishing an Emergency Operation Center (EOC) is the lynchpin in maintaining the command and control that would otherwise be lost (Walsh, Christen, Callsen, Miller, Maniscalco, Lord, & Dolan,

The incident commander when arriving on the scene shall first notify dispatch that he or she is taking command of the situation. Second, the incident commander will establish a field command post and staging area in a safe location. The incident commander will also find a way to contain and isolate the situation by setting up a perimeter around the situation. The incident commander is also responsible for providing other key functions including:

Analysis: Ineffectual utilization of the Incident Command System (ICS) created gaps in tracking resource requests. Assignments of roles and responsibilities within the ICS structure would have allowed the on-scene commander to have more people helping him to make and track decisions. Establishment of a liaison between the on-scene operations and the operations section of the EOC would have facilitated more control of the scene.

Incident Command System is a standardized on-scene incident management concept designed specifically to allow responders to provide a span of control through an integrated organizational structure equal to the complexity and demands of any single incident or multiple incidents without being

It is also designed as a standard, cooperate tool used for managing incidents. “The concepts contained herein provide for a flexible but standardized set of incident management practices with emphasis on common principles, a consistent approach to operational structures and supporting mechanisms, and an integrated approach to resource management” (Department of Homeland Security, 2015). The NIMS has several functions that work in collaboration to provide the necessary tools for response efforts. These functions include: NIMS Doctrine Supporting Guides and Tools; Training; Resource Management and Mutual Aid; Implementation Guidance and Reporting; NIMS Alerts; FEMA NIMS Regional Contacts; and Incident Command System Resources. These functions work together to produce the Department of Homeland Security’s effective emergency response strategy.

Incident Command System (ICS), a standard, on-scene, all-hazards incident management system. The ICS has been established by the NIMS as the standardized incident organizational structure for the management of all incidents. An operational plan and organization go hand in hand and should include but are not limited to:

Today, the Incident Command System (ICS) is a major component of NIMS and is widely used in emergency management response. However, this was not always the case. According to David A. McEntire and Gregg Dawson, authors of the article, “The intergovernmental Context,” ICS was originally developed by the fire service in 1970. Its purpose was to assist in the command of wildfire events. It was unique because it standardized operations, yet offered flexibility so that it could be used on any number of events, regardless of size or type (McEntire & Dawson, 2007, p. 63).

The Incident Commander is in charge of the ICS but their staff each have a critical job to ensure the smooth operation of an ICS. Underneath the Incident Commander is the Public Information Officer, Safety Operations Officer, Operations Chief, Planning Sections Chief, Logistics Chief, and Assistants and additional staff. The Logistics Chief has one of the most critical jobs as they are in charge of all the supplies needed such as facilities, transportation, communications, equipment maintenance, and food services (Incident Command video). They provide incident support to all in need and without them the job would not get