The Key Features Of An Incident Command System
An incident command system is a model that is used in the command and control of emergencies. It is a system used to respond to incidents that involves disasters and provides a framework for responding to the occurrence of emergencies by coordinating and controlling relief efforts in an emergency. The common goal of an incident command system is to stabilize incidents leading to the preservation of life, the environment, and property.
A study by Rubin (1997) shows that the incident command system is used to ensure efficient and effective utilization of resources in responding to disasters.
Studies by different researchers have shown that the incident command systems have proved to be successful models widely used in responding to different types of emergencies, which include incidents that involve multiple casualties, handling of hazardous materials, sea accidents, and the widespread rescue missions (Cole, 2000).
One of the areas in which the model was applied successfully was when I was assigned the duty to command an incident command system in response to an incident that involved earthquake victims. The disaster involved earthquake victims in one of the local areas in the USA, southern California where I worked as an incident commander.
The incident command system involved the commander cooperating with group members working in the relief efforts (Cole, 2000). The commander was also required to be open minded to new ideas by the team members, participating actively in the incident response system, and ensuring that effective communication characterized the entire system (Cole, 2000).
The main components around which the system was build included a command structure that included entire resources and persons working in the relief efforts, the planning component, operations element, logistical elements, and finance and administration.
In context, each of the elements mentioned above contributed significantly to the success of the incident command system that I was to implement in the designate area. While the entire system elements have been mentioned, my part as an incident commander was to take on the responsibility of the command function of the incident command system (Cole, 2000).
In response to the disaster that occurred, the framework involved executing the activities that fell under the responsibilities of the incident commander, one of them being to establish the incident response program.
The incident response program involved putting in place measures to preserve the life of the people adversely impacted by the earthquake. In this case, the emergency program required an emergency movement of the people from the disaster zone by identifying and creating new areas that were safe from the effects of the earthquake.
In addition, the program under the commander included coordinating the relief efforts with the people involved in the disaster relief organizations who were working on the ground to provide emergency relief efforts for the people (Cole, 2000).
In addition, the program included making an inventory of the people and the property discovered during the search and rescue operation, which had not been destroyed by the earthquake. The standard procedures for responding to the disaster included coordinating security personnel to ensure the safety and protection of property and personnel actively involved in the rescue program (Rubin, 1997).
The core responsibilities under the commander included establishing a command structure with an effective coordination of the relief efforts. In addition, the use of resources that included provision of shelter, food, clothing, communication, fire, medicine, and other necessities were effectively administered on the victims of the earthquake.
In addition, the commander ensured that the safety of the earthquake responder was guaranteed in the disaster prone area. The commander had the responsibility of ensuring that the response to the incidents occurred according to priority (Cole, 2000).
Objectives That An Incident Commander
Based on the article, What Is the Incident Command System (ICS)? (n.d), it was important to determine and prioritize operational objectives in responding to the earthquake incident. The operational objectives included warning the people who had been affected in the earthquake prone area, which were caused by the secondary hazards due to the earthquake.
That was in addition to providing the people with the capability to provide themselves and the relief agencies with public safety information which included information on boiled water, shelter, and the provision of sheltering areas. Information is constantly made available of the threats to public safety and health, status incident responses, damages, injury, and status of critical incidents.
The commander creates an incident response team to make the incident response plan effective and successful.
The commander used the team to assess and establish the nature and scope of the earthquake, to send information to each member of the team members, identify the roles and responsibilities of each team members, establish a framework for monitoring and progressing team activities, and to prove the chain of custody of the incident response activities.
Shelter management, search and rescue, public information, logistics management, and long term recovery were critical in creating the plan.
References
Cole, D., (2000). The Incident Command System: A 25-Year Evaluation By California Practitioners. Web.
Rubin, D.L., (1997). The Incident Command System: Myths, rumors and unnatural acts. Fire Chief, 41, 63-68.
What Is the Incident Command System (ICS) ?. (n.d). Web.