Command System (ICS)
Acceptance and Utilization of the Incident Command System in first response and allied disciplines: An Ohio Study

United States integrated common and uniform command structures for the application by the nation's first responder organizations and generally accepted disciplines in assisting first responders in the case of major disasters or incident. This was in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. This led to the issuance of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) applied by the United States Department of Homeland Security in 2004. The main objective of this research article was to examine a single component of the NIMS (Incident Command System) with the aim of measuring its acceptance and utilization by the first responder organizations and selected allied disciplines in the case of Ohio (Decker, 2011). The research was significant because of the tendency by the federal government to reduce budgets in relation to laudable…...

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Reference

Decker, R.J. (2011). Acceptance and utilization of the Incident Command System in first

response and allied disciplines: An Ohio study. Journal of Business Continuity & Emergency Planning, 5(3), 224-230.

Command System and Emergency Crisis: Handling Unanticipated Situations
How can crisis managers and those in the roles of general staff within the incident command handle the situation with the news media that may be presenting conflicting information?

Media coverage of natural disasters or emergency crisis situations is expected to give the audience a constant flow of information to facilitate their preparedness, and also to give an accurate account of what is happening. However, when the mainstream media does cover these events, more often than not they provide conflicting information that may frustrate response and rescue operations. For instance, hurricane Floyd in Florida received a lot of criticism due to what was termed as unnecessary evacuation procedures. The Division of Emergency Management had thought their plan to carry out large scale evacuation in all areas that were perceived to be in extreme danger was practical (Husock and Howitt, 1). Public shelters had…...

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Works cited

Husock, Howard and Howitt, Arnold. "Safe But Annoyed: The Hurricane Floyd Evacuation in Florida." John. F. Kennedy School of Government case program. 2002. Web. 2 February 2015

Varley, Pamela and Howitt Arnold. "Command Performance: County Firefighters Take Charge of the 9/11 Pentagon Emergency." John. F. Kennedy School of Government case program. 2003. Web.2 February 2015

Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS) The Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized organization model or method for incident response and management during disasters. The system is made up of standard management and leadership hierarchy procedures, including processes meant to support various types of incidents. It does not just respect jurisdictional and agency authority, but also supports synchronized efforts among different disaster response and management teams and agencies. ICS supports fast, effective and efficient development of universal planning processes and management of facilities, personnel, communication, and equipment within a common structure of organization and operations. Based on pre-determined standards that involved authorities agree upon, personnel are trained in a common language and processes, and tasks assigned to each. The ICS system ensures that disaster response teams experience increased organization from the initial phases of a disaster all the way to its conclusion (Lutz and Lindell, 2008).
The ICS system was…...

ICS
Any incident command system (ICS) must be created and executed for the specific problem that is at hand. In the scenario of the violent storms, that reach and destroy so many people and resources throughout Australia every year, an ICS for this example must also be designed to this very specific problems and the key features of this system should reflect this adaptation and implement general principles to the unique circumstances of this situation.

Any ICS will have several key features. The most primary and important of these key principles is establishing some form of command and control. The first arriving authority that is at the place of the storm disaster, should immediately begin the ICS. An command post, with communications and in a centrally located designation would be beneficial in this case. The command post should be located as close to ground zero as logistically possible.

Another key feature of an…...

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References

Born, C., Briggs, S., Ciraulo, D., Frykberg, E., Hammond, J., Hirshberg, A., and O'Neill, P. (2007). Disasters and mass casualties: I. General principles of response and management. The Journal of The American Academy Of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 15(7), 388-396. Retrieved November 16, 2012, from:  http://biomed.brown.edu/orthopaedics/documents/Christopher%20T.%20Born%20article.pdf 

Elledge, B.L., Boatright, D.T., Woodson, P., Clinkenbeard, R.E., and Brand, M.W. (2007). Learning from Katrina: Environmental health observations from the SWCPHP Response Team in Houston. Journal of Environmental Health, 70(2), 22-6. Retrieved November 16, 2012, from ProQuest. (Document ID: 1337203971).

Wise, C. (2006). Organizing for homeland security after Katrina: Is adaptive management what's missing? Public Administration Review, 66(3). Retrieved November 16, 2012, from ProQuest.

command system (ICS) as defined by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is 'a standardized, on-scene, all-hazards incident management approach' used by all governmental levels in any type of incident however complex.
Features of an Incident command system

ICS integrates a number of management features that add up to the efficiency and strength of the system as a whole. The incident commander creates needed sections and delegates operations to other personnel. Features of an ICS include:

Standardization- since communication is absolutely critical, use of a common terminology will assist in defining organizational functions, position titles, resource description and incident facilities would be quite relevant. Plain English is the standard way to communicate; codes and jargon should not be allowed. It would be extremely hard for one to relate to someone from Japan who does not understand English to convey information that is relevant in helping curb a particular incident; this mission will end…...

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References:

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (2010). ICS Features and Principles. Retrieved March 9, 2012 from  http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/IS100b/SM/03ICS100b_SM_Aug2010.pdf 

National Environment Training Center (NETC). Incident Command System: Introduction and Overview. Retrieved March 09, 2012 from water.epa.gov/infrastructure/watersecurity/upload/ICS.ppt

They must never become complacent and assume that they have considered all factors and can now relax, or they can slip into the "boiling frog" phenomenon: circumstances may turn so gradually negative that they do not notice the changes until they have large problems instead of small ones to solve (Beckford, 2002).
Conclusion

Just as the example of the soldiers at the bridge faced with a battle situation for which they had no previous experience, business leaders must expect the unexpected. If they create a culture of lifelong learning within their businesses, their staff and employees will always be open to looking at old facts in new ways, ready to find forward-thinking solutions. uch a company philosophy and structure can keep even the oldest company packed with fresh ideas and innovative solutions to the new problems they face.

Annotated Bibliography

Barker, Randolph T., and Camarata, Martin R. 1998. "The Role of Communication in…...

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Swanson and Torrco discuss how the Human Resources Department must not only support but play an active part in a company's overall business strategy. Because of this they must be an integral part in any kind of systems thinking. The authors give multiple examples, such as the type of traning given to employees as well as their efforts to maintain the quality of employees' work. How such HR goals are achieved will have a profound effect on company culture and must be part of the company's overall plan.

Vogelsang-Coombs, Vera. 1997. "Governance Education: Helping City Councils Learn." Public Administration Review, Vol. 57.

This article tightly focuses on how one group can become dysfunctional -- city councils. The authors suggest ways city councils can learn to function more effectively. While it remains to be seen if city councils, as a group, would put in the time and effort to use systems thinking to improve their functioning, and whether dynamics within the group would or would not thwart such attempts, the article has a good discussion on "groupthink," a group phenomenon that blinds the group to lurking risks and dangers.

GEOINT Role in Responding to Hurricane Katrina
The American federal government's response operation in the aftermath of the 2005 disaster, Hurricane Katrina, establishes a crucial military necessity of improving the nation's evaluation, decision-making, and response processes. Operational art, design and other similar concepts apparently offer a means for framing the operational issue. However, both the aforementioned elements are unable to effectively improve commanders' capacity of grasping the condition. Processes like those mentioned above prove inadequate when it comes to solving key questions and conveniently translating into missions for troops to execute. The process of situation evaluation commences with the examination of a map by military staff members and commands. This is where GEOINT (Geospatial Intelligence) comes in. GEOINT refers to an emergent subfield in the intelligence domain responsible for offering comprehensive information analyses, an operational environment evaluation, and a way to examine potential issues which might surface. GEOINT represents the utilization…...

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Bibliography

David J. Macguire, Michael Batty, and Michael F. Goodchild. GIS, Spatial Analysis and Modelling. Redlands, CA: ESRI Press, 2005.

Department of Defense. Joint Publication 2-03 Geospatial Intelligence Support to Joint Operations. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, March 2007

Department of the Army. Field Manual 6-0: Mission Command. Washington, D.C.: Department of the Army, 2003.

ESRI. "Homeland Security: GIS for Preparing and Protecting a Nation." www.esri.com/industries/federal/homelandsecurity. March 20, 2007.   (accessed April 10, 2017).http://www.esri.com/industries/public_safety/homeland_security/homeland_security.html 

disaster centric phases: This is a way of looking at a disaster from the perspective of the disaster as opposed to looking at how it affects mankind. The nine disaster centric phases are: Pre-existing conditions (prior to any forces or change on existing conditions), evolving conditions (nature gradually increases hazard), prodrome (signs of disaster onset), initial event (first clear sign of a disaster), contributing forces (natural or man made additional force), impact (point where disaster affects life), associated disaster (impact after main impact), residual impacts (secondary impact) and restoration of equilibrium (disaster moves out).
Describe the Command and Control Process: The command and control process is an exercising of authority by designating an individual or a team as commander over specific forces to accomplish a stated mission or goal. Command and control functions are executed by properly designation the use of people, assets and resources, communications and facilities though planning,…...

ICS and WMD
ICS Procedures during a Chemical Attack

The Incident Command System (ICS) is a an approach to all-hazards incident management that is standardized and on-scene, and can be used for incidents of any scope, type, or complexity. This system allows for the integration of personnel, equipment, facilities, communications, and procedures that operate within a common organizational structure. When established, the ICS will coordinate responses from among various public and private jurisdictions and agencies, establishing a common system for planning and managing resources. ("Incident Command System") ICS is usually structured into five areas: Command, Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Administration, with a sixth area: Intelligence/Investigation being an option that can be used when appropriate. ("Incident Command System")

The system makes use of what are known as Incident Management Teams (IMTs) which are described as a "comprehensive resource to either augment ongoing operations,… or to include all components/functions of a Command and General Staff."…...

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References

"Chemical Threats." FEMA. Retrieved from  http://www.fema.gov/hazard/terrorism/chem/index.shtm 

"Emergency Operations Center." FEMA. Retrieved from  http://www.fema.gov/hazard/terrorism/index.shtm 

Gum, Robert, et al. (2011). "CBRNE-Chemical Warfare Mass Casualty Management." WebMD. Retrieved from  http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/831375-overview 

"Incident Command System." FEMA. Retrieved from  http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/Incident CommandSystem.shtm

Evolution of the Incident Command System (ICS)
Out of concern for the lack of a uniform protocol for emergency management, the concept of the Incident Command System (ICS) was developed in combined effort by Federal, State, and local governments during the 1970s (Dudfield, 2008, p. 31). This system was developed in response to the catastrophic wildfires that occurred during 1970 in South California by fire agencies at the federal, state, and local levels (Cardwell, 2000, p. 10). The intent of ICS is to provide an organizational structure to use to coordinate response efforts to incidents of any scope ranging from minor to large-scale incidents such as natural disasters, fires, accidents, or attacks. The original ICS system has evolved into what is known today as the National Incident Management System (NIMS) that still utilizes the tenets of ICS.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),

ICS is a standardized, on-scene, all-hazards incident…...

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Works Cited

Beckering, D. (2005). National Incident Management System (NIMS) Update. Minnesota Fire Chief, 41(3), 20.   uid&db=f5h&AN=16261367&site=ehost-livehttp://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip ,

Cardwell, M.D. (2000). Nationwide Application of the Incident Command System. (cover story). FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, 69(10), 10.

Asset Protection
When an emergency situation arises, quick action is imperative in order to protect assets and minimize losses. A security supervisor bears the burden of ensuring that a disaster management plan is effectively carried out, but he or she cannot act alone. The supervisor must coordinate with state and federal agencies that become involved in larger disasters. Special events may also necessitate coordination and collaboration with other groups that are involved in the organization and administration of the event (Innace, 2008). Security directors can effectively manage emergencies by developing a plan ahead of time in conjunction with others that may be involved in the case of such an emergency. They should also implement the incident command system and media relations.

In preparation for an emergency, the security supervisor should identify priorities including minimizing the number of victims and extent of harm that comes to them and protection of the business assets…...

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References

FEMA. Incident Command System (ICS).  http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/Incident 

CommandSystem.shtm

Hill, D.W. (2008). Security and Medical Response. In S.J. Davies & C.A. Hertig (Eds), Security Supervision and Management (3rd ed.) (303-307). Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.

Innace, C. (2008). Supervising During Special Events. In S.J. Davies & C.A. Hertig (Eds), Security Supervision and Management (3rd ed.) (293-302). Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.

Disaster Preparedness Plan:
Georgia has been an area threatened by some of form of natural disaster that has a huge negative impact on the well-being of its residents and the personnel and financial resources of the emergency response agencies. The most common natural disaster that occurs in this area is tornadoes that have terrorized both the rural and urban areas while making everyone in danger of their perils. In the recent years, Georgia experienced deadly tornadoes that caused harm, damages, and deaths in approximately 15 counties within the state. Give the nature of these tragedies, residents of this state need to be prepared and planned on how to respond to such emergencies.

Tornadoes in Georgia:

Tornadoes are regarded as nature's most violent storms since they can generate wind speeds of over 250 mph and appear from nowhere with little warning ("March Marks Start of Active Tornado," n.d.). These natural disasters are the most…...

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References:

"Defining the Need." (2002). Georgia Amateur Radio Emergency Service. Retrieved January 31,

2012, from  http://www.gaares.org/ARESPlan/potential_disasters_in_georgia.html#tornadoes 

"Georgia Emergency Operations Plan." (2010, August). GEMA / Homeland Security.

Retrieved from Georgia Emergency Management Agency / Homeland Security website:  http://www.gema.ga.gov/content/atts/prepare/Plans%20and%20Maps/Plan%20Library/GEOP2010.pdf

The Aurora theater shooting incident is the largest shooting incident in the history of the U.S. in terms of the number of casualties. Perpetrated by one James Eagan Holmes, the 20th July 2017 incident left 12 people dead and 58 people critically injured. Overall, response to the incident was commendable, with the police and fire personnel arriving within five minutes after the shooting. The Aurora Police Department, the Aurora Fire Department, hospital-based emergency departments, and Emergency Management Services (EMS) worked together to manage the crisis. The agencies collaborated in evacuating victims, apprehending the suspect, searching the theater building, providing emergency medical care, transporting victims to hospitals, and assisting families of victims. Nonetheless, similar to other previous incidents, inter-agency coordination and communication difficulties were experienced. These difficulties provide crucial lessons for leadership within the field of emergency management.
Background/Summary of the Incident

The 20th of July 2017 was a sad day for the…...

Local, State and Federal Partnership: Terrorism
National Response Framework (NRF)

National Response Framework is a document that guides and presents an integrated national rejoinder to emergencies and disasters stipulating how all hazardous responses are conducted by nations (Alperen 2011). It deals with the large catastrophes and the smaller incidences. A comprehensive approach is established to respond to domestic incidences with the framework spelling out key responses that are principle, as well as the structures and roles that organize national response. Clear description on how States, private sector, Federal Government, nongovernmental organizations or partners and communities use these principles for an effective and coordinated national response are included. Moreover, the NRF shows specific circumstances whereby the Federal Government exercises a larger role involving federal interests and catastrophes where significant support is required by the state. Therefore, the NRF provides mechanism and structure for the National-level policies in regards to incidents management (www.fema.gov/NRF).

National Incident…...

Homeland Security
Two years prior to the devastating and tragic landfall of Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast, President George W. Bush

Issued Presidential Directive 5 (HSPD-5) directing the Secretary of Homeland

Security to: create a comprehensive National Incident Management System (NIMS) to provide a consistent nationwide approach for Federal, State, and local governments to work effectively together to prepare for, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size, or complexity (George W. Bush White House.gov. N.D.P.1).

Later adopted in 2004, the NIMS provided a dedicated strategic initiative to prevent the very chaos and confusion which erupted out of Katrina's fury. Yet, the system proved desultory, unwieldy, and ineffective in its response to the disaster; the vivid portraits of New Orleans citizens trapped in the Superdome "amid a frightening scene of filth, violence and despair" (MSNBC.com. September 3, 2005). Since 2005, efforts have focused on ensuring that NIMS is operational, effective,…...