The Incident Command System (ICS) is a proven planning method that improves communications between teams and leads to a better-organized response. Originally developed for the public sector, ICS is now becoming a standard way for companies to respond to incidents. In this webinar, you'll discover how ICS works, why it benefits companies, and how it can be adapted for business use.

1. Faster, Stronger Crisis
Response with ICS for Business
Presenter:
Kathleen Gleaves, CBCI, MEP
Certified ICS instructor
Gleaves Consulting
Sponsored By
Notification • Incident Management
Host:
Wayne Blankenbeckler, MissionMode

2. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
Faster, Stronger Crisis Response
Incident
Command
System

3. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
ICS – What is it?
• ICS is an organized, flexible, team-
based system for handling critical
incidents and other challenging events
• Developed by the fire service in the
70’s
– Mandatory for federal and state
agencies to obtain federal funding of
any kind
– Federally required for all HazMat events

4. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
ICS and NIMS
• ICS is the Command and Control part of the
NIMS plan
National Incident Management (NIMS)
Devised as the ultimate
ideal for how our
country would respond
to emergencies

5. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
ICS – Who uses it?
Private Sector
• Hospitals and the healthcare system
• Financial institutions
• Universities and many school systems
• Retail/wholesale suppliers
• Airports, Utilities, Government
contractors
Public Sector
Public Safety First Responders
Federal, State, County and City
emergency teams

6. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
How ICS
Applies to
Business

7. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
Ever had any of these issues in
dealing with a critical incident?
• Too many people reporting to one person?
• Too many bosses, resulting in power struggles?
• Daily organization structure unable to adapt
quickly to emergency response needs?
• Little or no TIMELY information?
• Not sure what your short-term goals were?
• No coordination with other departments or
agencies?

8. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
Key features of ICS
• Manageable Span of Control
• Modular/scalable organization
• Integrated communication
• Unified command structure

9. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
Key features of ICS
• Action Plan with specific objectives
• Pre-designated and outfitted
Command Centers
• Resource Management

10. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
ICS Best Practice
Outline these processes before an
incident and you are way ahead of
the game
1. Defined triggers and
assessment process

11. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
ICS Best Practice
2. Clearly defined roles
and responsibilities
of first responders

12. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
ICS Best Practice
3. Ability to write an Action Plan
with clear objectives
SMART = Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Result-oriented and Time-based

13. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
What can ICS
Do for Your
Business?

14. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
Where do you use ICS?
• Some businesses are
adopting the ICS structure
to meet the Command and
Control requirements in
OSHA’s PSM (Process Safety
Management) program and
EPA’s RMP (Risk
Management Program)
• Critical incidents or disruptive events
within your organization

15. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
Why use ICS?
• Develop strong relationships with
your local response agencies and
participate in local exercises
• Become part of the larger team in
a big event if you know how to fit
into the structure
• PS-PREP accreditation

16. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
Business opportunities
You are in a good position to sell your product or
services, if you know who to talk to and how to
make yourself known.
“Safeway Seattle Division is using the ICS structure for its
Incident Management Team. What Safeway Seattle has
done is to plug current Safeway job titles into the various
components of ICS… Using ICS as a private sector
organization also helps us to better interact and
communicate with county, state and federal emergency
management organizations. ICS is a proven concept.”
Jason Moulton, Loss Prevention, Safeway

17. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
What is the ICS Structure?
Incident
Commander
Public
Information Liaison
Safety/
Security
Finance Logistics Operations Planning

18. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
What is the ICS Structure?

19. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
The ICS team
• Command (manages)
• Operations (does)
– Actually in the field doing the work
• Planning (plan)
– Tracking progress, planning for the next operational
period, ordering resources, writing the AP
• Logistics (get stuff)
– Resource ordering
• Finance (pays)
– Pays for stuff, tracks hours

20. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
Incident Commander
In charge – oversees all the teams;
first one in, last one out
• Manages all other team members
• May have several “Command Staff”
positions – people who help him
perform the management job

21. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
Incident Commander
Who is a good Incident Commander?
• Trusted by Exec. Management
• Decisive
• Understands the business
• Strong leader, but a team player

22. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
Operations
Does stuff – Tactical team – Field
operations
• Key infrastructure of the Business
– Facilities
– Security
– IT
– Safety
– (Government world: it’s fire, police,
medical)

23. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
Planning
Looks to the future to see what
needs to be done next
• Business Continuity staff
• Key business unit operations person
– Resources
– Demobilization

24. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
Logistics
Gets stuff – Orders resources
• Hotels/shelter
• Food
• Human needs of responders
– Personnel
– Staging
– Supplies

25. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
Finance
Pays for stuff – tracks expenses
and time
• Risk/Insurance/Compensation claims
• Accounting/Payroll
• Procurement/Contract staff
• Documentation staff
• Insurance claims

26. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
Why not executives?
• They are responsible for long-term
strategies and policy decisions
• Approve large expenditures quickly
• Media spokesperson
• “The Face” of the company
to outside stakeholders

27. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
How Can You
Implement ICS in
Your Environment?

28. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
How to implement ICS
• First step is the hardest – ACCEPTANCE
• Must have upper management buy-in;
without it, the system won’t work
• It’s tough for executives to turn over
decision-making to someone else
• Once approved: Pick your team, Train
your team, Exercise your team, Repeat

29. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
Integrating or implementing?
Do you have a solid Business
Continuity Plan and/or a Disaster
Response Plan in place?
–If so, integrating ICS into that
plan is not difficult

30. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
Integrating or implementing?
If you do not have a Business
Continuity Plan, or a Recovery Plan,
you will need to build your program
and write your plan using the ICS
structure and process model as your
Command and Control function.

31. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
Faster, Stronger, Smarter
• Faster – because your team is ready to go
• Stronger – because you practice
• Smarter – because you have a plan (with
SMART objectives)

32. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
More training
FEMA has several online training courses that
introduce ICS to a first responder audience.
Links are clickable in the PDF version of the slides.
• IS-700 – NIMS overview
training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is700a.asp
• IS-100 – Introduction to ICS
training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/IS100b.asp
• IS-200 – ICS for single resources/initial response
training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/IS200b.asp
• IS-300 and 400 are instructor led, classroom
courses for more complex, multi-agency responses
• G 402 – ICS for executives (great starter course)

33. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
Event Sponsored By
Emergency Notification • Incident Management
This presentation is part of a recorded webinar.
To listen to the presenter, visit:
www.missionmode.com/webinars
info@missionmode.com
www.missionmode.com

34. © Copyright 2011, Kathleen Gleaves and MissionMode Solutions
Thanks for tuning in today!
Kathleen Gleaves
Gleaves Consulting
www.GleavesConsulting.com
KGleaves1@msn.com
Drop me a note if you have
questions or need some help.