Lesson 3: System Components

Lesson Overview

Whether dealing with a natural disaster of the magnitude experienced in the 2010 Haiti earthquake or the concern for cyber terrorism, disaster or incident management is becoming more complex. Those involved in emergency management must rely on improved plans and new technologies for unified prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery actions.

This lesson provides an overview of the components of the federal and local response system and network. Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:

Identify the annexes available at the National Preparedness Resource Library.
Explain the role of public works with regard to the Emergency Support Functions (ESFs).
Explain how public works uses the NIMS and ICS.

The National Response Framework

As you’ve learned, the National Response Framework (NRF) core document is our nation’s response doctrine that defines an all-hazards unified approach for all levels of government, including local, state and federal. As part of the emergency management team, the public works professional must be familiar with the NRF.

Provides guidance for practitioners and policy makers to perform incident management with best practices and the benefit of lessons learned
Identifies preparedness as a key component, to include emergency management planning, training tested with regular exercises, resource management, and best practices from previous incidents
Focuses on saving lives and property
Provides for an inclusive and unified all-hazard response effort to serve our nation’s communities
Includes the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as a key component

National Preparedness Resource Library

In addition to the core document, the following annexes can be found at the National Preparedness Resource Library:

Public works professionals should take the necessary time to familiarize themselves with information found in the Resource Center. Whether serving in a support role or taking the lead, you will find valuable material there that supports the planning, training, and response activity taken by all responders, including public works professionals.

Select the link to learn more about the annexes found at the National Preparedness Resource Library.

ESF #3 - Public Works and Engineering

ESF #3 assists the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by coordinating and organizing the capabilities and resources of the federal government to facilitate the delivery of services, technical assistance, engineering expertise, construction management, and other support to prepare for, respond to, and/or recover from a disaster or an incident requiring a coordinated federal response.

ESF #3 is structured to provide support from public works and engineering for the changing requirements of domestic incident management to include preparedness, response, and recovery actions. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is the ESF coordinator and primary agency for response for ESF #3.

The National Incident Management System

As you’ve learned, the National Incident Management System (NIMS) is our nation’s incident management doctrine and supports the National Response Framework. State and local governments are required to adopt this system in order to receive federal preparedness assistance in the form of grants and contracts.

Public works departments and their employees are key players in emergency management and should use the guidance and resources offered through NIMS. These resources will supplement the training that public works professionals participate in and will significantly contribute to a successful emergency management program.

NIMS includes five components designed to work together, as shown on the graphic.

Ongoing Managment and Maintenance Cycle, Counter clockwise arrows to Preparedness and then back. Center circle divided equally into 3 parts - COmmunications and Information Management, Command and Management, Resource Management

Communications and Information Management

This NIMS component identifies the need for standardized communications and information management throughout all phases of emergency management and at all levels of government.

Command and Management

This element provides for a standardized incident management structure made up of three components:

Incident Command System
Multiagency Coordination Systems
Public Information

Each of these components will be discussed on the following pages of this lesson.

Resource Management

This element of NIMS provides for a standardized approach to the management of all resources. It includes descriptions or typing, mobilizing, inventories, tracking, and more. The result is the same ability for response across the nation without confusion of resource needs.

Public Works and NIMS

The public works professional should be involved in the following activities to ensure that NIMS is incorporated at the local level:

Confirm the adoption of NIMS.
Integrate NIMS in all local emergency management plans.
Complete the required NIMS training.
Document and report all NIMS accomplishments to your state emergency management department and the federal government.
Make the review of NIMS updates a regularly performed activity.

The Incident Command System

One of the key features of NIMS is the Incident Command System (ICS). ICS provides a structure for on-scene all-hazards incident management so that all agencies can manage an incident with the same organizational structure, nationwide.

The Incident Command System incorporates common terminology, management by objectives, incident action planning, span of control, resource management, unified communications, and management of information. Within the ICS structure, an Incident Management Team (IMT) may be initiated.

In order to ensure that all agencies involved with emergency management understand the structure, ICS must be incorporated into planning and preparedness activities, and these personnel must participate in ICS training activities such as those offered by FEMA. Additional training opportunities may be available through your state emergency management office.

The Incident Command System Organizational Structure

Incident Command - Organization Chart. Full Description on Page

The Incident Commander is at the highest level of the organizational structure, with overall responsibility for managing the incident. The command staff includes the Public Information Officer, Safety Officer, and Liaison Officer.

General staff includes the Operations Section Chief, the Planning Section Chief, the Logistics Section Chief, and the Finance/Administration Section Chief.

Under the Operations Section Chief are the Branch Director and the Air Operations Branch Director. The Division/Group Supervisor reports to the Branch Director, the Strike Team/Task Force Leader reports to the Division/Group Supervisor, and Single Resources report to the Strike Team/Task Force Leader. Reporting to the Air Operations Branch Director are the Air Support Group Supervisor and Air Tactical Group Supervisor.

The Planning Section Chief is in charge of the Resources Unit Leader, the Situation Unit Leader, the Documentation Unit Leader, the Demobilization Unit Leader, and Technical Specialists.

The Logistics Section Chief has two directors reporting to him/her: The Service Branch Director (who is in charge of the Communication, Medical, and Food Unit Leaders) and the Support Branch Director (who is in charge of the Supply, Facilities, and Ground Support Unit Leaders).

Finally, the Finance/Administration Section Chief is in charge of the Unit Leaders for Time, Procurement, Compensation/Claims, and Cost.

Multiagency Coordination System (MACS)

The second component of Command and Management in NIMS is Multiagency Coordination Systems (MACS). Multiagency coordination is a process that allows all levels of government and all disciplines to work together more efficiently and effectively. A MACS is often initiated when there are multiple jurisdictions, multiple agencies and possibly multiple events. Examples of MACS are state, local, or tribal Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs).

FEMA’s IS-701a NIMS MACS independent study course presents more detailed training on Multiagency Coordination Systems. In addition, your state emergency management office may offer the G-400 Advanced ICS course.

Select the link provided to learn about Emergency Operations Centers.

Public Information

The final element in the NIMS component for command and management is Public Information. Public information includes the process of collecting and disseminating information to all stakeholders including the media and the public. Well-managed public information supports all emergency management activity.

More information about public information can be found in FEMA’s IS-702 course, NIMS Public Information Systems. Your state’s emergency management office may also offer the G290 Basic Public Information Officers course.

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, you’ve learned how the public works professional uses the National Response Framework (NRF), the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and the Incident Command System (ICS).

The National Preparedness Resource Library is a tremendous tool for all local emergency and agency managers, including public works. It is continually updated and evaluated for the needs of local managers.

The Emergency Support Function Annexes, included in the National Preparedness Resource Library, are organized groups of government and private-sector entities that provide personnel, supplies, facilities, and equipment. The role of public works is included as ESF #3 – Public Works and Engineering. Further training on this topic can be accessed through FEMA’s IS-803 independent study program, available from http://training.fema.gov.