Incident Command System: Overview Essay

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Managing emergencies differs considerably from managing any other service or event, as the matter requires adequate responses in a timely manner. Unsuccessful responses to disasters often lead to victims and property losses, therefore, in order to decrease negative consequences from natural disasters, Incident Command System (ICS) has emerged. A core idea I learned as an emergency manager in the FEMA department is that using ICS for incidents or planned helps to maintain and improve the skills needed to coordinate more significant or more elaborate efforts.

ICS as a Management Tool

ICS Structure and Benefits

As emergencies differ considerably from one another, it is only natural that a universal, flexible, and self-sufficient organization of management is to be applied. Besides that, coordinating efforts by upper-level governments should not be underestimated, as they have tremendous steering capacity and fundraising power (Jung & Song, 2014). ICS is a standardized management tool that allows better coordination and use of resources (Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA], 2018). While being a part of the National Incident Management System, ICS ensures the safety of responders, goal achievement, and efficient resource use (FEMA, 2018).

While being somewhat complicated, ICS structure is easy to comprehend as it is based upon the modular organization and the principle of adequacy. ICS can expand or contract according to the situation’s needs (FEMA, 2018). On the one hand, in the case of a minor flood in rural areas, there might be no need for a numerous and complex unified command staff. Hence, the incident commander may decide to carry the functions of a public information officer, a safety officer, or a liaison officer or all of the above. On the other hand, ICS structure can expand to include intelligence and investigation section to react to terrorists attacks (FEMA. 2018).

Incident Command System has a positive impact on incident management by introducing three core benefits. First, ICS clarifies the chain of command, so that everyone knows his or her span of control. Second, ICS facilitates interoperable communication systems, for example, by introducing common terminology. Third, it provides systematic planning and distribution of resources. In short, the main benefit of the Incident Command System lies inside its structure, which makes it a universal and flexible management tool.

How ICS Works

The work process of ICS is consistent and coherent and includes four primary sections: operations, planning, logistics, and finance/administration (FEMA, 2018). As an example for a typical day-to-day operation of a public works department, the staff in charge of field activities, such as street repairs, maintaining buildings, and jetting sewers would be in the listed in the operations section. The people involved in designing projects and managing right-of-way belong to the planning section. The staff in charge of managing supplies, maintaining equipment, and coordination of other resources may cover logistics. Finance/administration are the employees dealing with money rationalizing and cost efficiency of everyday tasks. In short, ICS applies to managing both large incidents and small routine tasks.

Conclusion

As can be seen from the examples examined in the paper, the Incident Command System can be used to manage the response for all incidents and planned events. On the one hand, ICS is relevant in addressing large incidents, such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, or tsunamis. On the other hand, the command system can be equally adequate for managing everyday activities, such as street repairs. In conclusion, I greatly value the information I learned from the FEMA department as it offers relevant examples of management decision making.

References

Jung, K., & Song, M. (2014). Linking emergency management networks to disaster resilience: bonding and bridging strategy in hierarchical or horizontal collaboration networks. Quality & Quantity, 49(4), 1465-1483.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (2018). IS-0100.c: An Introduction to the Incident Command System, ICS 100. Web.

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