CRITICAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:

There is no time when a public safety executive is more severely tested or when their actions come under closer scrutiny than immediately after their community has experienced a critical incident. Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5 (HSPD-5) mandates the creation of a National Response Plan (NRP). Under the NRP, a National Incident Management System (NIMS) will be developed. The system will ensure a consistent nationwide framework for local, state, and federal agencies to work effectively. An integral part of the framework will be the use of the Incident Command System (ICS). Failure to meet this standard will soon have serious consequences.

This program represents a combination of classroom instruction and practical hands-on scenarios utilizing simulation exercises, which offer the participant the opportunity to manage several types of critical incidents utilizing an "All Hazards Approach". Our emphasis has always been on the ability to use Incident Command principles and function in a multi-disciplinary Unified Command Post, rather than to memorize position titles and pass a test.

The course utilizes the National Incident Management System (NIMS/ICS) to build an effective "Decision Making Team" to bring about a successful resolution to the event. Interaction through Unified Command with fire, emergency medical services, as well as units of government, provide key decision makers with a framework in which to evaluate their community's readiness for a major incident. This is the perfect opportunity to bring all segments of the community, i.e. schools, hospitals, elected and appointed officials, police and fire command, together in a realistic environment.

SUPPORT ACTIVITIES:

The exercises will be conducted on a 96-square foot Model City™ Simulator. This elaborate simulation system will be provided by BowMac Educational Services and transported to the training site. Use of the simulator provides a realistic environment required to provide participants with firsthand experience in managing a major incident. As previously mentioned, the course by its very design is highly interactive and instructor intensive. The program will require that a command post/emergency operations center be established and operationalized by specific Incident Command System functions to manage a critical incident utilizing the concept of Unified Command. On-camera press interviews will be conducted, press releases prepared and briefings with command staff to government officials conducted. The command post exercise usually lasts about 3-4 hours.

There will be a comprehensive evaluation/critique of the incident. Participants will assess their individual and team performance during the simulation, as well as the readiness of their agency to handle a major critical incident in the future and will outline the strengths and weaknesses of the community in response to a major incident.

Planning response strategies utilizing the ICS model will also be developed and practiced. One of the keys to compliance under HSPD-5 is demonstrating routine and regular use of NIMS concepts. Using ICS as part of the organizational strategy for response and event planning demonstrates a commitment to the concept.

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