Hurricane Response Guide for Environmental Public Health Professionals
Appendix 1-A: Disaster Management Overview National Incident Management System (NIMS) NIMS provides stakeholders across the country with the shared vocabulary, systems, and processes that guide
personnel’s collaboration during incidents. Incident Command System (ICS)
The Incident Command System (ICS) is a key component of NIMS. It is a standard, on-scene, all-hazards incident management system. ICS is a versatile and widely adopted framework for managing incidents effectively. It is employed by organizations of all types and sizes and government entities at every level to handle both small- and large-scale incidents, including emergencies and planned events. ICS facilitates coordination among multiple jurisdictions and agencies, ensuring a cohesive response. It establishes standardized planning and resource management processes at the incident level, seamlessly integrating various resources, such as facilities, equipment, and personnel, within a unified organizational structure. This is a depiction of a basic ICS structure. The incident commander or incident command is at the top of the chart. They are supported by Command staff, which includes the Public Information Officer (PIO), Safety Officer, and Liaison Officer. Command is supported by General Staff sections: Operations, Planning, Logistics, Finance/Administration, and Information/Intelligence. Each section has a Chief. National Response Framework (NRF) The National Response Framework (NRF) guides the nation’s response to all types of disasters and emergencies. It is built on scalable, flexible, and adaptable concepts identified in NIMS to align key roles and responsibilities. The NRF includes the following: Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) that describe federal coordinating structures that group resources and capabilities into functional areas most frequently needed in a national response. Support Annexes that describe how support is organized among the private sector, non-government organizations (NGOs), and federal partners. Facilities and Co-ordination Description Incident Command Post (ICP) Field location at which the primary tactical level, on-scene incident command functions are performed. Staging Area Temporary locations established during an event or incident. Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Typically fixed physical locations found at all levels of government (federal and state, tribal, local, and territorial (STLT)). Joint Information Center (JIC) A physical or virtual location that serves as the focal point for the release of incident-related information to the public. Joint Field Office (JFO) The unified command center of the disaster at the federal level. Joint Operations Center (JOC) A specialized facility established by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to coordinate law enforcement activities during a threat or incident. Location
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