Download NIMS: Unified Command, Multiagency Coordination and more Schemes and Mind Maps Public Health in PDF only on Docsity! Lesson 3: Command and Management Under NIMS—Part 2 Summary of Lesson Content NIMS Page 1 Lesson Overview While ICS has proven itself to be effective for all types of incidents, other levels of coordination may be required to facilitate management of: Multiple concurrent incidents. Incidents that are nonsite specific, such as biological terrorist incidents. Incidents that are geographically dispersed. Incidents that evolve over time. Single Incident Command When an incident occurs within a single jurisdiction and there is no jurisdictional or functional agency overlap, the incident should be managed by a single Incident Commander who has overall incident management responsibility. NIMS calls this Single Incident Command. For example, The Public Works Department has responded to a water line break. While other agencies may be involved, the incident is mainly a public works responsibility. The Incident Commander would be from the Public Works Department. Unified and Area Command In some situations, NIMS recommends variations in incident management. The two most common variations involve the use of Unified Command and Area Command. What Is Unified Command? Unified Command is an application of ICS used when: There is more than one responding agency with responsibility for the incident. Incidents cross political jurisdictions. For example, a Unified Command may be used for: A hazardous materials spill that contaminates a nearby reservoir. In this incident, the fire department, the water authority, and the local environmental authority may each participate in a Unified Command. A flood that devastates multiple communities. In this incident, incident management personnel from key response agencies from each community may participate in a Unified Command. Lesson 3: Command and Management Under NIMS—Part 2 Summary of Lesson Content NIMS Page 2 How Does Unified Command Work? Under a Unified Command, agencies work together through the designated members of the Unified Command to: Analyze intelligence information. Establish a common set of objectives and strategies for a single Incident Action Plan. Unified Command does not change any of the other features of ICS. It merely allows all agencies with responsibility for the incident to participate in the decisionmaking process. What Is an Area Command? An Area Command is an organization established to: Oversee the management of multiple incidents that are each being managed by an ICS organization. Oversee the management of large incidents that cross jurisdictional boundaries. Area Commands are particularly relevant to public health emergencies because these incidents are typically: Not site specific. Not immediately identifiable. Geographically dispersed and evolve over time. These types of incidents call for a coordinated response, with large-scale coordination typically found at a higher jurisdictional level. What Does an Area Command Do? The Area Command has the responsibility for: Setting overall strategy and priorities. Allocating critical resources according to the priorities. Ensuring that incidents are properly managed. Ensuring that objectives are met. Ensuring that strategies are followed. An Area Command may become a Unified Area Command when incidents are multijurisdictional or involve multiple agencies.
