Incident Management

Principles and Practices

Incident Management

Overview of Incident Command System

Definitions Applicability Real life experiences

Introduction

William “Bill” Rifenburgh• Deputy Chief – Fire Services Bureau

– Management of NYS Outreach Fire Training Program

– Member of NYS Incident Management Team

• Chief – Hoosick Fire Department• 19 Years experience in Emergency

Services– 14 years experience as a command level

officer

Incident Management System

Developed to incorporate business management principles to emergency incident.

Dates back to the 1940’s following the “Man Gulch Fire”

US Forest Service first developed

Incident Management System

1996 Governor’s Executive Order 26• Mandates NYS Agencies adopt and use

National Interagency Incident Management System (NIIMS)

2001 Benchmark for USA following 9/11• Formation of US Department of Homeland

Security• Development of National Incident Management

System (NIMS)

Incident Management System

2001 – Present• Integration of National Response

Framework for NIMS• Standardized Training for Incident

Management• Incorporates Government, Non-

Governmental Organizations and Private Sector

Incident Management System

Provides for continuity and accountability• Span of Control• Establishing sound objectives• Restore order• Restoration of normalcy

Definitions

Incident Command Post (ICP)• A physical location where incident

objectives are developed• Location where primary incident

command functional areas coordinate operations

• Most incidents utilize an on-site ICP

Definitions

Incident Commander• Individual responsible to organize and

direct resources to respond to an incident

• May be single command or unified command

Definitions

Command Staff• Liaison Officer• Information Officer• Safety Officer• Staging Officer

Definitions

Section Chief Positions• Operations

– Directs tactics to achieve objectives

• Planning– Develops Incident Action Plan

• Logistics– Service/Supply for incident operations

• Finance/Admin– Manages incident finances, costs, comp,

claims

Definitions

Single Command• One jurisdiction has primary

responsibility for managing an incident– Example – Fire Chief would be the IC for a

fire.

Unified Command• Multiple Jurisdictions have responsibility

– Example – a natural disaster that requires Law Enforcement, Emergency Medical Services, Human Needs, Fire, etc.

Definitions

Emergency Operations Center• Typically a fixed facility• Establishes incident priorities• Coordinates critical resources• Determines resource allocation• Negotiates policy decisions

Applicability

Many business operate similar models in day to day operations• Continuity• Span of control• Accountability• Effective management

Examples

2001 – 9/11• Resources world-wide are coordinated

through the NYS EOC in response to the Terrorist Attacks

• Business and Emergency Personnel work together to respond

• Restoration of NYSE• Restoration of “Normal” to the Nation

Examples

2005 – Hurricane Katrina• NYS IMT deployed to Jackson Co.

Mississippi• Coordinate local, state and national

resources• Manage influx of aid• Restoration of services• Restoration of business

Examples

2006 – June Floods Central and Eastern NYS• Numerous NY Counties impacted by

flood• Coordinate critical resources• Restoration of transportation• Restoration of normalcy

Discussion

Questions?? Comments Discussion

Thank You