visual 4.1 incident commander and command staff functions unit 4: general staff functions

Visual 4.1Incident Commander and Command Staff Functions

Unit 4:General Staff Functions


General Staff Overview – Expanding Incidents

IncidentCommandIncident

Command

OperationsSection

OperationsSection

PlanningSection

PlanningSection

LogisticsSection

LogisticsSection

Finance/AdminSection


Directs all response/tactical actions to achieve the incident objectives.

Activated, as needed, to support the incident response directed by the Operations Section.


Expanding IncidentsExpanding incidents may add supervisory layers to the organizational structure as needed.

Divisions Groups

UnitsBranches

Single Resources

Sections

Incident Commander

Operations Section Chief

AA BBAA BB

Command


ICS Supervisory Position Titles

Organizational Level Supervisor Title Support Position Title

Incident Command Incident Commander Deputy

Command Staff Officer Assistant

General Staff (Section) Chief Deputy

Branch Director Deputy

Division/Group Supervisor N/A

Unit Leader Manager

Strike Team/Task Force Leader Single Resource Boss


ICS Section Chiefs and Deputies Section Chiefs may

have one or more deputies.

Deputies must be as proficient and qualified as the Section Chief.

ChiefChief

DeputyDeputy DeputyDeputy


Increasing Interagency CoordinationWhen an incident involves multiple organizations, assigning Deputies from other organizations can increase interagency coordination.

OperationsSection ChiefOperations

Section Chief

IncidentCommander

IncidentCommander

Deputy OperationsSection Chief

Deputy OperationsSection Chief


Operations Section: Major Activities Directs and coordinates all

incident tactical operations. Is typically one of the first

organizations to be assigned to the incident.

Expands from the bottom up. Has the most incident

resources. May have Staging Areas and

special organizations.

RescueGroup

RescueGroup

InvestigationGroup

InvestigationGroup

OperationsSection

OperationsSection

Staging Area

Staging Area


Command


Operations: Single ResourcesOn a smaller incident, the Operations Section may be comprised of an Operations Section Chief and single resources.

IndustrialHygienistIndustrialHygienist


Section Chief

ITSpecialist

ITSpecialist

FacilityEngineerFacility

Engineer


Operations: TeamsSingle resources may be organized into teams. Using standard ICS terminology, the two types of team configurations are: Task Forces, which are a combination of

mixed resources with common communications supervised by a Leader.

Strike Teams, which include all similar resources with common communications supervised by a Leader.


Sample Strike Teams and Task Forces

Search & RescueStrike Team

Search & RescueStrike Team

Medical AidStrike TeamMedical AidStrike Team

Perimeter SecurityStrike Team

Perimeter SecurityStrike Team


Section Chief

Damage AssessmentTask Force


Shelter and FeedingTask Force


Public WorksTask Force



Operations: Too Many Teams!Additional levels of supervision must be added as the number of teams expands.





Medical AidStrike Team 1Medical Aid

Strike Team 1

Perimeter SecurityStrike Team 2




Damage Assessment Task Force 1

Damage Assessment Task Force 1


Strike Team 2Search & Rescue




Strike Team 1

Damage AssessmentTask Force 2

Damage AssessmentTask Force 2


Section Chief


The Solution: Add Functional GroupsGroups, led by a Supervisor, are used to perform functional areas of operation.

Response & RecoveryGroup Supervisor

Response & RecoveryGroup Supervisor

Search & RescueStrike Team 1






Restoration/RecoveryTask Force

Restoration/RecoveryTask Force

Perimeter Security Group SupervisorPerimeter Security Group Supervisor








Strike Team 1


Section Chief

Emergency ServicesGroup Supervisor

Emergency ServicesGroup Supervisor


Strike Team 2


Geographic Divisions & GroupsDivisions, led by a Supervisor, are used to divide an incident geographically.

East DivisionSupervisor

East DivisionSupervisor






Strike Team 1

Shelter and FeedingTask Force 1


Recovery Group Supervisor

Recovery Group Supervisor



Restoration/Recovery Task Force

Restoration/Recovery Task Force

West DivisionSupervisor

West DivisionSupervisor






Strike Team 2




Section Chief


Adding Branches helps to: Supervise

Groups and Divisions.

Further reduce span of control.

Complex Incidents

Search & RescueGroup SupervisorSearch & RescueGroup Supervisor

Medical AidGroup Supervisor

Medical AidGroup Supervisor

Perimeter Security Group SupervisorPerimeter Security Group Supervisor

Evacuation Group Supervisor

Evacuation Group Supervisor

Shelter & FeedingGroup SupervisorShelter & FeedingGroup Supervisor

Emergency ResponseBranch Director

Emergency ResponseBranch Director


Section Chief

Crisis InterventionGroup Supervisor

Crisis InterventionGroup Supervisor

ServicesBranch Director

ServicesBranch Director


Planning Section: Major Activities Collecting, evaluating, and displaying incident

intelligence and information. Preparing and documenting Incident Action Plans. Tracking resources assigned to the incident. Maintaining incident documentation. Developing plans for demobilization.


Command

OperationsSection

OperationsSection

PlanningSection

PlanningSection

LogisticsSection

LogisticsSection




Planning Section: Units

Planning SectionPlanning Section

ResourcesUnit

ResourcesUnit

SituationUnit

SituationUnit

DemobilizationUnit

DemobilizationUnit

DocumentationUnit

DocumentationUnit

TechnicalSpecialistsTechnical

Specialists


Logistics Section: Major Activities Ordering, obtaining, maintaining, and accounting for

essential personnel, equipment, and supplies. Providing communication planning and resources. Setting up food services for responders. Setting up and maintaining incident facilities. Providing support transportation. Providing medical services for injured personnel.


Command

OperationsSection

OperationsSection

PlanningSection

PlanningSection

LogisticsSection

LogisticsSection




Logistics Section: Branches and Units The Logistics Section

can be further staffed by two Branches and six Units.

The titles of the Units are descriptive of their responsibilities.

CommunicationsUnit

CommunicationsUnit

MedicalUnit

MedicalUnit

SupplyUnit

SupplyUnit

FacilitiesUnit

FacilitiesUnit

Logistics SectionLogistics Section

Service BranchService Branch

FoodUnit

FoodUnit

Ground SupportUnit

Ground SupportUnit

Support BranchSupport Branch


Finance/Administration Section: Major Activities

The Finance/Administration Section is responsible for: Contract negotiation and monitoring. Timekeeping. Cost analysis. Compensation for injury or damage to property. Documentation for reimbursement (e.g., under

MOUs).Incident

CommandIncident

Command

OperationsSection

OperationsSection

PlanningSection

PlanningSection

LogisticsSection

LogisticsSection




Finance/Administration Section: Units

Finance/AdministrationSection

Finance/AdministrationSection

ProcurementUnit

ProcurementUnit

TimeUnit

TimeUnit

CostUnit

CostUnit

Compensation/Claims Unit

Compensation/Claims Unit


SummaryAre you able to describe the roles and functions of the: Operations Section? Planning Section? Logistics Section? Finance/Administration

Section?

visual 4.1 incident commander and command staff functions unit 4: general staff functions

Documents

incident resources

incident tactical operations

incident response

command staff functions

smaller incident

incident objectives

command staff functions

deputies section chiefs