Special Topics

Terrorist and domestic violent extremist (DVE) events as well as the "active harmer" threats are on the rise across the country.  They are also an inherently emotional and complex response by many disciplines...and have a time crunch to add further pressure.  It's important to work through the 5 W's of a response with a thorough training and exercise program to ensure you're ready if one of these becomes a "home game" incident.

Sometimes disasters strike in an agricultural setting and it's critical to have your IMT personnel be familiar with some best practices.  These can include being up to speed on complexities, transportation, zoonotic (and other) diseases, and experts in the field.  Take some time to get acquainted with experts like USDA-APHIS, public health veterninarians, and care providers ahead of time.  

Sometimes we "go big" in disasters...bigger than a traditional ICS structure and resources are able to handle.  When that's the case and we need to "resource referree" at a more strategic level, it's important to be able to switch to an Area Command structure in order to most effectively respond when multiple "things" (think jurisdictions, disciplines, incidents, etc) are majorly impacted.

Cyber security is a cross cutting threat/hazard to all disasters these days.  With the ability for a bad actor to strike from far away, our ability as Incident Managers must take into account what our cyber vulnerabilities are, what a response in a degraded tech environment looks like, and how we may be called to support an incident recovery from a cyber situation.

Many states have correctional inmate crews that can augment disaster forces - think firefighting, sand-bagging, storm clean-up, and other activities.  You need to have a plan to effectively and safely integrate these crews into your workforce within the guidelines (e.g. typically different sleeping and eating quarters, etc).  You may need to work with public information in the community as well.  

Occasionally, our "protective measure" for our homes, families, and communities is to call for an evacuation, where we relocate swaths of people from the hazards that are facing the area.  These are dynamic and challenging events that we have to prepare for and be ready to rapidly implement an evacuation in the event of a fast-moving disaster situation.  It requires close coordination with the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

HAZMAT is often involved in most disasters, it's important to understand the do's and don'ts to keep everyone safe.  Consider pulling in Technical Specialists if you have questions or think you might need specific resources.

Disaster response is a dangerous sport...we can and must do whatever is possible to reduce the risk and be ready to respond to one of our own in crisis.  Below are some resources to get you thinking about how to respond should a situation go sideways.  

ICS has been around the fire service...sort of from the beginning.  That said, for municipal departments, it's important to remember that we need to learn and utilize the principles and tools within the Incident Command System to ensure that we're all still doing the right things...the right way.  We've heard the, "I'll be Branch Two" at a structure fire...unless you've got three-to-seven-with-optimal-being-five engines...then strike teams, then divisions...and so forth...we probably don't need branches.  Practice the way you play...so that you can integrate everyone else when the big show comes as a home game.

Law enforcement officers are new-ish to the party when it comes to the ICS system.  That said, many LE departments have many of the principles of ICS baked into their day-to-day structure and procedures...they may just call them something different.  As you're working on training around ICS, be sure to integrate LE into scenarios and structures...because...we're all on the same team...even the cops.

Sometimes an incident overwhelms our capability to respond to it.  In a medical situation, we call this an MCI.  It is important to have a sense of "whose on first" so to speak since seconds matter in getting all of the patients triaged, treated, and transported appropriately and quickly.

Sometimes, National Guard, Reserve, or Active Duty military forces are utilized to help with disaster response.  These forces can augment your traditional resources and first responders.  You may also have disaster situations that occur or spill onto military installations.  You should consider having a plan for integrating with military forces or onto military spaces.  

Everyone is new to command at some point.  Practice makes perfect...or at least makes "better."  The Incident Command System is inherently designed to help prepare you, as you go up the proverbial stairsteps, for increasing levels of chaos and complexity.  That said, when you're new to command...remember the basics.  

Public Works can bring a ton of resources to the party.  They can bring technical expertise, crowd control, debris management, engineering, disaster assessment, and other local capabilities.  You should work with your public works professionals ahead of time so that they can more seamlessly integrate with your incident organization.  

Throughout the incident as additional teams/resources arrive, as complexity changes, or as teams time-out, an orderly transfer of command...or passing of the proverbial baton is required.  Whend one properly, the incident and associated resources should see a seemless passing from one leadership or organizational structure to the next.  

Often an incident will be on or near a transportation roadway.  These incidents come with additional complexity, stakeholders, and risk.  It is important that IMT members familiarize themselves with the partners and resources...as well as safety considerations ahead of time for a more effective response.

Drones - Unmanned Aerial Vehicles/Systems (UAV/UAS) are emerging technology that is disrupting the disaster response.  Whether used for operational tactics or for reconnaissance in the during/after stages of a crisis, they are wonderful resources that should be carefully considered for employment.  That said, as they are emerging into the space, it is well worth your while to invest some time into their capabilities, limitations and deployment.   

When we talk Unified Command...it's just that.  A set of Incident Commanders are working together, across disciplines, to ensure that the objectives address the problems and include the major stakeholders.  The Unified Commanders must ensure that they have a collective and shared set of objectives...and jointly agree upon an Operations Section Chief who will direct the tactical actions of all discipline responding personnel to ensure the principles of ICS are followed while "solving the problems." 

Having visitors, particularly the VIP and policy group types are an important part of any disaster.  That said, special considerations are necessary for a "good visit" and if/when an incident goes catastrophic with national interest, having thought through the next steps will be important.