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Incident
Commander- Fire Chief |
Safety -
Assistant to: Fire Chief |
Information- Communications Assistant to:
Fire Chief |
Liaison -
Assistant to Fire Chief |
Operations
Chief - Sheriff or Assistant to Fire
Chief |
Planning
Chief Director of Emergency Government |
Logistics
Chief Director of: Village
or City or Township or County
Planners |
Finance
Chief - Tax Assessor or Treasurer or Building
Inspector for municipalities involved |
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Staging Area |
Fire & EMTs
Fire Chiefs:
cities, villages, townships, private sector: |
Medical Evac: Rescue
Squads, HAZMAT teams, Ambulance & Special
Transports, Triage, Hospital ERs, First Aide &
Elderly care facilities, etc. |
Funeral Homes: Coroner,
Transport, Morticians. |
Law
Enforcement Sheriff:
SWAT, Patrols, Investigators,
Constables, Reserves |
City Police:
SWAT, Patrols,
Investigators, Constables, Reserves |
Town/Village Constable:
SWAT, Patrols, Investigators,
Constables, Reserves |
FBI:
Negotiators, SWAT, Investigators, |
Secret Service:
Investigations |
AFT:
Investigations |
Military:
Coast Guard, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines |
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Evacuation & Transportation |
Public
Transport Ambulance, Elderly
Transports, Buses, cars, Trucks, Trains, Airplanes,
boats, ships, etc. |
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Communications |
Law
Enforcement, Fire, EMTs, Hospitals, Private Sector
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Private Sector |
Hospitals:
Doctors (D), Nurses (N), Retired D&Ns Volunteer D&Ns |
EMTs:
Retired, Volunteers, & off-duty |
Senior Citizen Centers:
Doctors RN's & Specialty care
personnel. |
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PrivateTransport
Ambulance, Elderly Transports, Buses,
cars, Trucks, Trains, Airplanes, boats, ships, etc. |
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Incident Command
Organization - Checklist and Assumption of command! |
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Incident Command
Responsibilities and Tasks - Briefings |
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Incident Command
Responsibilities and Tasks - Planning |
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Incident Command
Responsibilities and Tasks - Operations |
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Incident Command
Responsibilities and Tasks - Staffing |
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The Risk Management Learning Center
Presents
The
Virtual Incident Command System ICS
Remember
GREEN
lights identify:
IC Posts, Emergency
Operations Centers (EOC), Staging Areas, etc.
The "virtual" ICS is
staffed by RMLC faculty who've experienced the ICS
during the Oklahoma City Bombing, The '95 and 9-11-01
attack on the World Trade Center, Hurricanes Charley,
Ophelia, Dennis, Emily, Ivan, Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, Tornados
in Stoughton, Town of Dunn, Egg Harbor, and less
dramatic yet life threatening incidents including
robberies, burglaries, extortions, home invasions, and
drug busts. White papers dealing with the latest ICS
theories and practices are often published for your
review and comments.
Click here to
receive or comment on white papers,
here to consider presentations and
workshops, and here to meet RMLC faculty.
Over 500 professional first responders
around the world are monitoring the V-ICS, recommending
response protocols and ICS process improvements. Our
goal is to "keep it simple" and "user friendly."
Therefore, by design the V-ICS focuses on IC
fundamentals, the seven key job functions, and proven
response protocols that have been tested under fire.
The V-ICS is NOTa
substitute for the ICS adopted by professional first
responders who serve your city, county, state, and
country. Rather, the V-ICS provides them with a teaching
tool they might use to support and refresh the "Training
Based" programs delivered by professional fire fighters,
law enforcement, emergency government, and homeland
security personnel in your area. The V-ICS is
specifically designed as a "Performance Based" teaching
tool for the private sector (companies, business
associations, schools, churches, veteran organizations,
groups, clubs and societies) who might be called on to
support and assist professional first responders during
a large-scale disaster or terrorist attack.
The Virtual Incident
Command System - Teaching Templates
The following
template uses job or position titles typically found
within a county, parish, city, village, or township in
the United States, Canada, Europe, South America, the
Caribbean, South Korea, and Australia.
Note to Reader: The staffing of the
V-ICS only indicates an RMLC faculty person most likely
to perform the duties and responsibilities of an ICS
position based on career and life experiences. The "My
Village ICS" recommends staffing based on Village
government and job responsibilities. We recommend two
people be selected for each position and everyone be
cross trained. You'll never know who will be available
when disaster strikes!
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Incident
Commander:
There is one “Incident Commander (IC) for each incident
so all coordination flows to one person authorized to
act. The IC should be the one most familiar with the
incident. If needed, the IC designates three Command
Staff. “Safety” monitors the scene to ensure its safe
and all responders are qualified, equipped and ready to
roll, “Information” handles the media and makes sure
everyone is informed of facts as they unfold. “Liaison”
coordinates responding agencies when the IC moves from a
“Single Command” to a “Unified Command.” |
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Operations:
Sets up staging areas to assemble response assets
and coordinate personnel when the IC requests a “strike”
or “mission” operation. For example, a SWAT team might
have to strike first to stop a sniper, followed by
firemen, EMTs, and transporters on a mission to rescue
the injured, followed by engineers and contractors to
rebuild the area.The
operations section carries out the tactics necessary to
achieve the strategic objectives given by the incident
command or unified command. |
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Staging Area(s):
Staging areas
are used to inventory response assets and assemble
personnel at a safe and secure distance from the “Hot
Site.” Staging areas are used to equip, coordinate,
brief, and deploy response personnel. |
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Planning:
“Strategic” and “Contingency” planners write “incident
action plan(s)” for the duration of the incident based
on the incident goals and strategic objectives
determined by the incident commander or the unified
command. Based on damage assessments and reports from
Operations, plans are written for the next operational
period which may be 8, 12, or 24 48 hours. During
major disasters such as the Oklahoma City bombing, 9-11,
and Hurricane Katrina, long range recovery plans for the
next 6 to 12 months might be proposed. |
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Logistics:
First determines where the Emergency Operation Center
(EOC) and Staging Areas should be located and than makes
sure they are properly equipped and ready to occupy.
This included providing appropriate table space for
Operations, Planning, Logistics, Finance, and other EOC
personnel, a separate media briefing room and secured
communication links. In addition to monitoring victims,
Logistics is responsible to provide housing, food,
training and incident supplies for all responders |
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INCIDENT
COMMANDER CHECKLIST -
ORGANIZATION |
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The Incident Commander is responsible
for the overall management of all incident activities,
including the development and implementation of strategy,
and for approving the ordering and release of resources. In
multi-jurisdictional incidents, the duties of the Incident
Commander may be carried out by a unified command
established jointly by the agencies that have direct
jurisdictional or functional responsibility for the
incident. In those single-jurisdiction incidents where
assisting agencies have significant resources committed, the
responsible agency may establish a unified command at the
incident command level, or place assisting agency personnel
in key positions within the organizational structure. The
Incident Commander may have a deputy. The deputy’s
responsibilities will be as delegated by the Incident
Commander.
ASSUMPTION
OF COMMAND
Taking over the command of the
incident requires that the Incident Commander obtain a
complete and up-to-date incident briefing. This can only be
accomplished if the individual who is relinquishing command
can bring the new commander up to date on what the situation
is at the time of the briefing. Therefore, it is important
that the commander being relieved prepares the Incident
Briefing (ICS Form 201 or local form) as completely as
possible for the new commander.
The
Incident Commander will assume command of an incident after
the overall situation is reviewed. Prior to the briefing,
the outgoing Incident Commander must ensure that sufficient
resources have been ordered. He or she must also ensure
that a designated individual is left in charge while he or
she is briefing the incoming Incident Commander.
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INCIDENT COMMANDER CHECKLIST
Instructions: The
checklist below presents the minimum requirements for all
Incident Commanders. Note that some activities are one-time
actions, while others are ongoing or repetitive for the
duration of an incident.
COMPLETED/NOT
APPLICABLE |
TASKS
|
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Obtain an incident
briefing and Incident Briefing Form (ICS Form 201)
from the prior Incident Commander. |
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Assess the incident
situation. |
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Determine incident
goals and strategic objectives. |
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Establish the immediate
priorities. |
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Establish an Incident
Command Post. |
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Conduct the initial
briefing. |
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Activate elements of
the Incident Command System, as required. |
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Brief the command staff
and section chiefs. |
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Ensure that planning
meetings are conducted. |
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Approve and authorize
the implementation of the incident action plan. |
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Ensure that adequate
safety measures are in place. |
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Determine information
needs and inform command personnel. |
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Coordinate staff
activity. |
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Coordinate with key
people and officials. |
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Manage incident
operations. |
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Approve requests for
additional resources and requests for release of
resources. |
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Approve the use of
trainees at the incident. |
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Authorize release of
information to the news media. |
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Ensure that the
Incident Status Summary (ICS Form 209 or local form)
is completed and forwarded to the dispatch
center(s). |
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Approve a plan for
demobilization. |
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Release resources and
supplies. |
INCIDENT COMMANDER
Briefings -
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
AND TASKS
The major responsibilities of the
Incident Commander are listed below. Following each are
tasks for implementing the responsibility.
RESPONSIBILITY
|
TASKS |
Conduct Initial
Briefing |
Obtain and review the Incident
Briefing Form (ICS Form 201 or local form) with the
Incident Commander.
Meet
with the prior Incident Commander (as appropriate)
and selected staff available at that time.
Review
and/or prepare plans for the use of on-scene and
allocated resources scheduled to arrive before the
next planning meeting. |
Set Up Required
Organization Elements |
Confirm the dispatch and/or arrival of
requested organizational elements.
Hold a
briefing and assign work tasks to general and
command staffs. This briefing should include:
¨
The contents of the Incident Briefing
Form.
¨
A summary of the incident
organization.
¨
A review of current incident
activities.
¨
A summary of resources already
dispatched.
¨
The time and location of the first
planning meeting.
¨
Special instructions, including
specific delegation of authority to carry out
particular functions.
Reassign the prior Incident Commander to a position
within the incident organization (as appropriate).
Request required additional resources through normal
dispatch channels.
Notify
the Resources Unit of the command and general staff
organizational elements activated, including the
name of the person assigned to each position. |
INCIDENT COMMANDER
- PlanningMAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
AND TASKS
RESPONSIBILITY
|
TASKS |
Ensure Planning
Meetings are Conducted
|
Schedule a meeting time and location.
Notify
the attendees, including:
¨
Prior Incident Commander (required at
first general planning meeting).
¨
Command and general staffs.
¨
Others as desired (e.g.,
communications, resources, and Situation Unit and
Operations Branch Directors).
Develop the general objectives for the incident
action plan.
Participate in the development of the incident
action plan for the next operational period.
Participate in the preparation of logistics services
and support requirements associated with the
incident action plan (e.g., the communications
plan).
Review
safety considerations with the Safety Officer.
Summarize the decisions made about the:
¨
General strategy selected.
¨
Control objectives selected for the
next operational period.
¨
Resources required.
¨
Service and support requirements. |
Approve and
Authorize Implementation of the Incident action plan |
Note: In some instances, there tasks may be done
orally.
Review
the incident action plan for completeness and
accuracy.
Make
any required changes and authorize the release of
the plan. |
Determine
Information Needs from Staff |
Identify any special information desired from each
section chief.
Prepare information item lists for each section and
command staff element (as appropriate).
Provide lists to appropriate personnel or facility.
(Note: This may be done orally in some situations.) |
INCIDENT COMMANDER -
Operations
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
AND TASKS
RESPONSIBILITY
|
TASKS |
Manage Incident
Operations |
Review
information concerning significant changes in the
status of the situation, predicted incident
behavior, weather, or status of resources.
Review
modification to the current incident action plan
received from the Operations Section Chief.
Identify any major changes to incident operations
which are required immediately. |
Approve Requests for
Additional Resources |
Review
requests for additional resources.
Determine the condition and advisability of
activating out-of-service resources.
Have
the Planning Section Chief provide a list of
resources for reassignment if out-of-service
resources are to be activated. Include the time
needed, reporting location, and to whom to report.
To
obtain additional resources from off the incident,
direct the Logistics Section Chief to forward the
request through normal channels. |
Authorize Information Release
|
Review
materials submitted by the Information Officer for
release to the news media.
Check
information release policies and constraints with
involved jurisdiction officials.
Authorize the release of the final copy. |
Report Incident Status
|
Have
the Incident Status Summary Report (ICS Form 209 or
local form) prepared.
Ensure
that the incident status summary is submitted to
local agency dispatch centers, as required. |
Approve
Demobilization Planning |
Review
recommendations for the release of resources and
supplies from the Demobilization Unit.
Schedule a demobilization planning meeting.
Ensure
that current and future resource and supply
requirements have been closely estimated.
Establish general service and support requirements.
Modify
specific work assignments for general and command
staff, as required.
Summarize the actions to be taken.
Have
the Planning Section Chief document the
demobilization plan. |
INCIDENT COMMANDER
- Staffing
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
AND TASKS
RESPONSIBILITY
|
TASKS |
Coordinate Staff
Activity |
Periodically check the progress on assigned tasks of
Logistics, Planning, Operations, and
Finance/Administration Sections, as well as command
staff personnel.
Ensure
that the general welfare and safety of personnel is
adequate.
Notify
the Resources Unit of changes to the command or
general staff organization, including the name of
the person assigned to each position. |
Release Resources
and Supplies |
Review
recommendations for any release of resources and
supplies from the general staff.
Approve release recommendations.
Ensure
that local agency dispatch centers are notified of
the intended release.
Direct
the Planning Section Chief to prepare an assignment
list for the release of resources.
Direct
the Logistics Section Chief to release supplies. |
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SAFETY OFFICER CHECKLIST
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Safety Officer, a member of the
command staff, is responsible for monitoring and assessing
hazardous and unsafe situations and developing measures for
assuring personnel safety. The Safety Officer will correct
unsafe acts or conditions through the regular line of
authority, although he or she may exercise emergency
authority to stop or prevent unsafe acts when immediate
action is required. The Safety Officer maintains an
awareness of active and developing situations, approves the
medical plan, and includes safety messages in each incident
action plan. The Safety Officer reports to the Incident
Commander.
Instructions:
The checklist below
presents the minimum requirements for Safety Officers. Note
that some items are one-time actions, while others are
ongoing or repetitive throughout the incident.
COMPLETED/NOT APPLICABLE
|
TASKS
|
|
Obtain an incoming
briefing from the Incident Commander. |
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Identify hazardous
situations associated with the incident. |
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Participate in planning
meetings. |
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Review the incident
action plan. |
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Identify potentially
unsafe situations. |
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Exercise emergency
authority to stop and prevent unsafe acts. |
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Investigate accidents
that have occurred within the incident area. |
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Assign assistants as
needed. |
|
Review and approve the
medical plan (ICS Form 206 or local form). |
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Maintain the unit log
(ICS Form 214 or local form). |
SAFETY OFFICER
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS
The major responsibilities of the
Safety Officer are listed below. Following each are tasks
for implementing the responsibility.
RESPONSIBILITY
|
TASKS |
Obtain a Briefing
from the Incident Commander |
Receive a briefing from the Incident Commander to
obtain:
¨
Relieved Incident Commander’s Incident
Briefing (ICS Form 201 or local form).
¨
Summary of the incident organization.
¨
Special instructions.
Obtain
a copy of the incident action plan from the Incident
Commander. |
Identify Hazardous
Situations Associated with the Incident Environment
Prior to First Planning Meeting |
Identify and resolve unsafe situations in the
incident area (e.g., unsafe sleeping areas, absence
of protective clothing etc.).
Compile and record hazardous and potentially
hazardous situations for presentation at the
planning meeting. |
Attend the Planning
Meeting to Advise on Safety Matters |
Review
the suggested strategy and control operations as
presented at the planning meeting.
Identify potentially hazardous situations associated
with the proposed plans and/or strategies.
Advise
the general staff of such situations. |
Identify Potentially
Unsafe Situations |
Review
the incident action plan.
Receive reports from incident personnel concerning
safety matters.
Review
reports to identify hazardous environmental and
operational situations.
Personally survey the incident environment and
operations, as appropriate.
Obtain
and review Situation Unit information to identify
unsafe situations. |
SAFETY
OFFICER MAJOR
RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS
RESPONSIBILITY
|
TASKS |
Advise Incident
Personnel in Matters Affecting Personnel Safety |
Identify
potentially hazardous situations. (See previous tasks.)
Determine
the appropriate actions to ensure personnel safety.
Coordinate
with incident supervisory personnel, as required.
Advise
incident personnel as to the appropriate action. |
Exercise Emergency
Authority to Prevent or Stop Unsafe Acts |
Identify
potentially hazardous situations. (See previous tasks.)
Determine
the severity of the situation.
Determine
if the situation requires the use of emergency
authority, and, if so, exercise that authority to
prevent or stop the act.
Coordinate
with the appropriate supervisory personnel. |
Investigate (or
Coordinate Investigation of) Accidents that Occur within
the Incident Area |
Receive
notification of the accident.
Obtain
information concerning the accident by:
¨
Interviewing personnel.
¨
Visiting
the scene of the accident.
¨
Photographing the scene (if appropriate).
¨
Collecting
evidence (if appropriate).
¨
Collecting
reports prepared by involved personnel. |
|
Reconstruct the accident events.
Identify
the cause of the accident (if possible).
Recommend
corrective action.
Prepare
the accident report and submit it to the Incident
Commander. |
SAFETY OFFICER
MAJOR
RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS
RESPONSIBILITY
|
TASKS |
Review the Medical Plan
|
Coordinate
with the Medical Unit Leader on the preparation of the
medical plan (ICS Form 206 or local form).
Review the
plan for completeness.
Discuss
areas of concern with the Medical Unit Leader and
provide instructions for correction. |
Maintain the Unit Log
|
Record the
Safety Officer’s actions on the unit log (ICS Form 214
or local form).
Collect
and transmit required records and logs to the
Documentation Unit at the end of each operational
period. |
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INFORMATION OFFICER
CHECKLIST
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Information Officer, a member of
the command staff, is responsible for the collection and
release of information about the incident to the news media
and other appropriate agencies and organizations. The
Information Officer reports to the Incident Commander.
Instructions:
The checklist below presents the minimum requirements for
Information Officers. Note that some items are one-time
actions, while others are ongoing or repetitive throughout
the incident.
COMPLETED/NOT APPLICABLE |
TASKS |
|
Contact the jurisdictional agency to coordinate public information
activities. |
|
Establish a Joint Information Center (JIC), whenever possible. |
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Determine from the Incident Commander if there are any limits on
information release. |
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Arrange for necessary work space, materials, telephones, and staffing. |
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Obtain copies of the Incident Commander’s Situation Status Summary
Report (ICS Form 209 or local form). |
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Prepare an initial information summary as soon as possible after
arrival. |
|
Observe constraints on the release of information imposed by the
Incident Commander. |
|
Obtain approval for information release from the Incident Commander. |
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Release news to the media and post information at the Incident Command
Post and other appropriate location(s). |
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Attend meetings between the media and incident personnel. |
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Arrange for meetings between the media and incident personnel. |
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Provide escort service to the media and VIPs. |
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Provide protective clothing for the media and VIPs (as appropriate). |
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Respond to special requests for information. |
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Maintain the unit log (ICS Form 214 or local form). |
INFORMATION OFFICER MAJOR
RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS
The major responsibilities of the Information Officer are listed below.
Following each are tasks for implementing the
responsibility.
RESPONSIBILITY
|
TASKS
|
Identify Information
Officer Activities |
Contact the jurisdiction’s responsible agency to
determine what other external public information
activities are being performed for this incident.
Establish the coordination of information
acquisition and dissemination.
Compile the information, and maintain records. |
Establish an Information
Center as Required |
Establish an information center adjacent to the
Incident Command Post area where it will not
interfere with Incident Command Post activities.
Contact the Facilities Unit for any support required
to set up the information center. |
Prepare a Press Briefing |
Obtain from the Incident Commander any constraints
on the release of information.
Select the information to be released (e.g., the
size of the incident, the agencies involved, etc.).
Prepare the material for release (obtained from the
Incident Briefing [ICS Form 201 or local form],
Situation Unit status reports, etc.).
Obtain the Incident Commander’s approval for
release. (Note: The Incident Commander may give
blanket release authority.)
Release the information for distribution to the news
media.
Release the information to press representatives at
the joint information center (JIC).
Post
a copy of all information summaries in the Incident
Command Post area and at other appropriate incident
locations (e.g., base, camps, etc.). |
INFORMATION
OFFICER MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS:
RESPONSIBILITY
|
TASKS
|
Collect and Assemble
Incident Information |
Obtain
the latest situation status and fire behavior prediction
information from the appropriate Situation Unit Leader.
Observe
incident operations.
Hold
discussions with incident personnel.
Identify
special event information (e.g., evacuations, injuries,
etc.).
Contact
external agencies for additional information.
Review
the current incident action plan (ICS Form 202 or local
form).
Repeat
the above procedures as necessary to satisfy media
needs. |
Provide Liaison between
Media and Incident Personnel |
Receive
requests from the media to meet with incident personnel
and vice versa.
Identify
the parties involved in the request (e.g., the Incident
Commander for TV interviewers, etc.).
Determine
if policies have been established to handle requests,
and, if so, proceed accordingly.
Obtain
any required permission to satisfy a request (i.e., the
Incident Commander’s).
Fulfill
the request or advise the requesting party of the
inability to do so, as the case may be.
Coordinate as necessary with the Incident Commander for
news media flights into the incident area. |
Respond to Special
Requests for Information |
Receive
request for information.
Determine
if the requested information is currently available,
and, if so, provide it to the requesting party.
Determine
if currently unavailable information can be reasonably
obtained by contacting incident personnel.
Assemble
the desired and/or available information, and provide it
to the requesting party. |
Maintain the Unit Log |
Record
the Information Officer’s actions on the unit log (ICS
Form 214 or local form).
Collect
and transmit information summaries and unit logs to the
Documentation Unit at the end of each operational
period. |
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©2005 All
Rights Reserved
This
web site is published by Rich Woldt. For more information
and the latest and greatest Risk Management support email
Rich at:
Rich@RMLearningCenter.com or call 608-712-7880. |
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