Emergency Incident Management Systems. Louis N. Molino, Sr.
that Jesus died on the cross for my sins, and he cleansed me of my sins, even though I am still a sinner.
About the Book
This book will likely be different from any book that you have read before. It intentionally goes outside of the norms, so that you can learn, and hopefully retain the information that is provided. Probably, the first thing you will notice is the acronym or shortened version of a title is not used just one time, and then the acronym is used throughout the rest of the book. These were left together throughout the book to help you remember both the title and the acronym. The only exceptions are the Incident Commands System (ICS), Incident Management Systems (IMS), Hospital Emergency Incident Systems (HEICS), and Hospital Incident Command Systems (HICS).
As you read through this book, the first two chapters are there to give a historical perspective and to show that the Incident Command System does work. The third chapter shows what incident management is used in various places around the world. Chapters 4–16 are in place to describe the methods and systems used throughout the United States, and in many instances, to some degree, around the world. Special consideration was given to the Incident Command System (ICS) and the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS).
As you go through this book, you will read about real‐life scenarios, and you will see analogies. You will see quizzes at the end of each chapter, and you will see resources that will guide you to more information on the topic of that chapter. More than anything, I hope that this book is presented in such a way that you can learn and retain this information. I am sure that I have made a mistake or two in this book, but the vast majority of it is correct. If you find mistakes, PLEASE let me know so they can be corrected in the next edition.
About the Companion Website
This book is accompanied by a companion website:
www.wiley.com/go/Warnick/EIMS_2e
Scan this QR code to visit the companion website.
The website includes:
Solution manual
1 Introduction
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
George Santayana
It has been said that necessity is the mother of all invention, and this holds especially true with incident management. Out of necessity, the creation of what we now call Incident Management System or IMS was born so that first responders could be more effective in responding to every kind of incident that may occur. IMS methods have been modified to help manage nearly every type of emergency situation that can occur. Whether it is a disaster in a hospital, a traffic collision, an armed hostage situation, or a disaster that utilizes the military and various other federal government entities, IMS is a method that helps ensure everyone is on the same page and working together.
Unlike most creations, IMS is not a physical thing that can be concretely viewed, picked up, or even handled. These IMS systems are concepts. More accurately described, IMS methods are a set of philosophies, policies, and procedures that help the users (of the system) to control and manage chaotic emergencies. These IMS methods are also used to provide structure and safety measures during a planned event. When it is employed properly, it allows those managing an incident or an event to divide larger tasks into much smaller tasks and to assign individuals who will manage specific functions within the response or event. In essence, IMS methods are divide and conquer structures that help to ensure that no details are overlooked.
In the United States, there is an overarching IMS method that is known as the National Incident Management System (NIMS). The NIMS method will be explained more comprehensively in later chapters, but this system was essentially designed to prepare for, prevent, and manage the response and recovery to disaster (and emergency) situations. Utilizing NIMS increases the coordination among individuals who respond to disasters on the local, state, and federal levels. While an oversimplification, NIMS was designed to integrate every stakeholder into an organized system that is ready to respond. When resources are ordered by an Incident Commander (IC) utilizing NIMS, it ensures that they will more than likely get the exact resource they need, and that resource (including personnel) will be on the same page as the local government.
Beyond the use of the overarching NIMS method, there is also what can essentially be called the command and control system of managing an incident in the United States. This is known as the Incident Command System (ICS). ICS allows local governments and local first responders to control an incident while having the insurance policy of being able to integrate outside resources if the local agency is overwhelmed. This IMS method allows the Incident Commander to divide the responsibility of managing the incident into as many as five different tasks, each being managed by someone else, while the Incident Commander manages those supervisors and the overall incident. It is important to note that ICS is a component of NIMS, meaning that NIMS is the all‐encompassing IMS method and ICS supports NIMS. While it may sound confusing, especially this early in the book, it is not difficult to learn.
It should also be noted that there are other IMS methods used in the United States including Hospital Incident Command System (HICS). HICS was designed much like ICS so that it integrates with NIMS. HICS also integrates with ICS as well, and there is usually a seamless, or near seamless integration of the three IMS methods. Much like ICS, HICS facilitates command and control of an emergency or a disaster while enabling the seamless integration of outside resources, should they be needed.
While one could get the impression that IMS methods are useful in overwhelming and large‐scale disasters, they would be wrong. IMS methods can, and should, be utilized in daily emergencies. Local first responders and local nongovernmental agencies (e.g. American Red Cross and Salvation Army) should become proficient in the day‐to‐day use of IMS methods. By doing so, they will more effectively manage small incidents and become more proficient in the use of NIMS and ICS for when the “Big One” hits.
IMS methods can also be useful in nonphysical or catastrophic emergencies. Public safety agencies and other entities that are familiar with IMS can also utilize these same concepts to manage other types of nontraditional emergencies. These might include issues such as managing their day‐to‐day operations and nonphysical or nonemergent situations. IMS systems are extremely useful in organizing what may seem overwhelming.
IMS methods are also practical when an agency is facing a negative media blitz over a negative interaction. Most IMS methods can assist in making sure that all angles of public relations are covered. Consider the amount of crisis management that would be needed in an officer‐involved shooting, a negative story about an ambulance (or fire truck)‐involved collision, or even personnel caught in a scandal. Using an IMS method can and will help manage the crisis in the media, and if structured and utilized correctly, the IMS method can help initiate and provide ongoing damage control.
IMS can also be used to manage planned events such as sporting events, festivals, concerts, and similar events. Properly employed, IMS can be used to manage and control a multitude of incidents, including most nonemergency situations. We only need to look at past historical (major) sporting events to see how an IMS method can be used. It will also help to identify how resources can be organized so that they are highly effective and available.
If we look at Super Bowl LII that took place on 4 February 2018, we can see how managing a large planned event is possible when utilizing an IMS method. As you might imagine, the use of the Incident Command System (ICS) component, integrated with