Disaster Management 14 NIMS Characteristics

14 NIMS characteristics Common Terminology - Communications should use common terms.  Organizational Functions: Major functions and functional units with incident management responsibilities are named and defined. They remain standard and consistent.  Resource Descriptions: Major resources – including personnel, equipment, teams, and facilities – are given common names and are “typed” with respect to their capabilities.  Incident Facilities: Common terminology is used to designate the facilities in the vicinity of the incident area. Modular Organization - organizational structure develops in a modular fashion based on the incident’s size and complexity. Management by Objectives - establishes incident objectives that drive incident operations.  Establishing specific, measurable incident objectives.  Identifying strategies, tactics, tasks and activities to achieve the objectives.  Developing and issuing assignments, plans, procedures, and protocols to accomplish identified tasks.  Documenting results for the incident objectives. Incident Action Planning - The IAP should focus on addressing the needs of future timeframes  Cover a specified timeframe  Be proactive  Specify the incident objectives  State the activities to be completed  Assign responsibilities  Identify needed resources  Specify communication protocols Manageable Span of Control - refers to the number of individuals or resources that one supervisor can manage effectively during an incident.  one supervisor to five subordinates (1:5) Incident Facilities and Locations - designated facilities  Incident Command Post (ICP)  Incident base, staging areas, and camps  Mass casualty triage areas  Point-of-distribution  Emergency shelters Comprehensive Resource Management - standard mechanisms to identify requirements, order and acquire, mobilize, track and report, demobilize, and reimburse and restock resources such as personnel, teams, facilities, equipment and supplies.  Resource Identification and Typing  Qualification, Certification and Credentialing Personnel  Planning for Resources  Acquiring, Storing and Inventorying Resources Integrated Communications  Maintain connectivity  Achieve situational awareness  Facilitate information sharing Establishment and Transfer of Command - clearly established at the beginning of an incident. Jurisdiction or organization with primary responsibility for the incident designates the Incident Commander and the process for transferring command.When command is transferred, the process should include a briefing that captures all essential information for continuing safe and effective operations. Unified Command - manages the incident through jointly approved objectives. Unified Command allows agencies with different legal, geographic, and functional responsibilities to work together effectively without affecting individual agency authority, responsibility, or accountability. established when no single jurisdiction, agency or organization has the authority and/or resources to manage the incident on its own. Chain of Command and Unity of Command - orderly line that details how authority flows through the hierarchy of the incident management organization. Chain of command:  Allows an Incident Commander to direct and control the actions of all personnel on the incident.  Avoids confusion by requiring that orders flow from supervisors.  Report to only one Incident Command System (ICS) supervisor.  Receive work assignments only from your ICS supervisor. Accountability - abide by agency policies and guidelines and any applicable local, tribal, state, or Federal rules and regulations.  Check-In/Check-Out. All responders must report in to receive an assignment. Checking out is just as critical as checking in.  Incident Action Planning. Response operations must be coordinated as outlined in the Incident Action Plan.  Unity of Command. Each individual will be assigned to only one supervisor.  Personal Responsibility. ICS relies on each individual taking personal accountability for their own actions.  Span of Control. Supervisors must be able to adequately supervise and control their subordinates, as well as communicate with and manage all resources under their supervision.  Resource Tracking. Supervisors must record and report resource status changes as they occur. Accountability starts as soon as a resource is requested through the time that the resource returns to their home base safely. Dispatch/Deployment - deployed only when requested or when dispatched by an appropriate authority through established resource management systems. Resources not requested should refrain from self-dispatching to avoid overburdening the incident command. Information and Intelligence Management - must establish a process for gathering, analyzing, assessing, sharing, and managing incident-related information and intelligence. Information and intelligence may be gathered from a variety of sources, including:            911 calls Radio, video and data communications among responders Situation Reports (SITREPS) Technical specialists from organizations such as the National Weather Service Reports from field observers Geospatial products, such as GIS, etc. Print, online, broadcast, and social media Risk assessments Terroristic or violent threats Surveillance of disease outbreaks Structural plans and vulnerabilities Incident Command: Sets the incident objectives, strategies, and priorities, and has overall responsibility for the incident. Operations: Conducts operations to reach the incident objectives. Establishes tactics and directs all operational resources. Planning: Supports the incident action planning process by tracking resources, collecting/analyzing information, and maintaining documentation. Logistics: Arranges for resources and needed services to support achievement of the incident objectives (resources can include personnel, equipment, teams, supplies, and facilities). Finance/Administration: Monitors costs related to the incident. Provides accounting, procurement, time recording, and cost analyses.