Emergency Incident Management Systems. Louis N. Molino, Sr.
Intelligence
Planning
Operations
Logistics
Public Information Management
Welfare (CIMS, 2014)
The Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS, 2014) is also different in providing an Incident Management Team (IMT) who assists the Controller. While an Incident Management Team (IMT) is often used in the United States, they are typically used to fill key position in ICS. New Zealand Incident Management Teams (IMT) are typically technical experts who provide advice based on special knowledge and handling of comprehensive work. The Incident Management Team (IMT), when activated, could contain a Response Manager, a Technical Expert, or other individuals who have specific information for that specific type of incident. The Incident Management Team (IMT) can also include risk advisors. All of the Incident Management Team (IMT) in the Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS) report directly to control (CIMS, 2014).
Another interesting concept in the Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS, 2014) method is the integration of the community into any response. While most IMS methods suggest connecting with the community, Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS) method goes one step further. In the Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS) manual, it states
Communities, organisations and businesses self‐respond to emergencies, either as part of official pre‐existing arrangements or on their own in a spontaneous or emergent manner. Response agencies need to accommodate, link with, support and coordinate community participation in response.
Wherever possible, communities and the business sector should be appropriately incorporated in response coordination planning before incidents occur. Although CIMS is designed to apply to official response agencies, its principles can be applied at the community level where they form part of such pre‐planned structures.
CIMS 2014, p. 13
The Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS, 2014) method also provides a color scheme for each general staff function being performed. This method has assigned pink for planning, dark blue for investigations, and purple for public information. This color coding would seem to be more helpful when trying to identify the functional‐based individual you may need to interact with, or ask a question of, in an incident. The Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS) method also provides a structure to identify the lines of authority between varying governmental agencies (CIMS, 2014), and while slightly different, it uses a planning process more like the German version of DV 100.
In looking at Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS) using a holistic review, it more resembles the NIMS method of IMS, but it appears to be less complicated. While it may resemble NIMS, several stark differences have been revealed. Even with those differences, integration from Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS) method to the NIMS method, or vice versa, would not be hard when an international incident occurs.
3.21 Palestine
The Palestinian government was in the process of creating an IMS method that fits their needs in 2017. According to information found in research, the IMS method they will eventually use will be similar to that of the ICS method used by the United States. While it will be similar to the ICS method used in the United States, some adjustments will be made to make it more relevant to Palestine and more effective for the style of government that this nation operates with. In a 2017 United Nations report, it stated
All field actors need to be trained towards a Palestinian ICS, that has yet to be developed. Specific procedures need to be developed for how the Incident Commander will provide information up the chain to report on the situation on the ground and on how to request for assistance. During a major disaster, such as a significant earthquake, it is likely that resources will be scarce, and those dispatching resources to different areas will have to prioritize, based on the information coming from the ground. Any requests for international assistance will be based on information from the field and their ability to handle the situation.
UNDP 2017, p. 46
Interestingly enough, it appears as if the use of the ICS method was introduced into the Palestinian Prison System in September of 2013 (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [UNODC], 2013). What makes this noteworthy is first responders (e.g. fire, Emergency Medical Services [EMS], law enforcement) are just now beginning to develop an IMS or ICS method, but the prison system has been utilizing an ICS method for over five years. While extensive research was done, there was no mention of a Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) method being in place in Palestine.
3.22 Philippine Islands
In 2010, a law was passed in the Philippines that required the Office of Civil Defense to create standard operating procedures for managing incidents. In Rule No. 7 of Republic Act 10121 (2010), the law mandated that the Office of Civil Defense was to establish ICS as part of the Philippines' on‐scene disaster response system. In September 2012, the president of the Philippines signed Executive Order No. 82, which stated the activation of the ICS method during all human‐induced crisis (National Disaster Response Plan [NDRP], 2016).
As part of setting the guidelines for the use of the ICS method, the Office of Civil Defense created the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), formerly known as the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), is a working group of various government, nongovernment, civil sector, and private sector organizations of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines established by Republic Act 10121 of 2009. It is administered by the Office of Civil Defense under the Department of National Defense. The council is responsible for ensuring the protection and welfare of the people during disasters or emergencies (NDRP, 2016).
Additionally, it was found that the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) is used in the Philippines. While the Hospital Emergency Incident Command System (HEICS) method was being tested in 2009, the University of East Ramon Magsaysay (UERM) Medical Center in Manilla was severely damaged by Typhoon Ketsana. The typhoon devastated the hospital, including wiping out generators and filling the first floor of the facility with water. Patients had to be hurriedly taken to higher floors to prevent drowning. During the recovery process from the typhoon, they began to earnestly train on the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) method, which they still implement today. While no legislation was found that mandated the use of the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) method in the Philippines, it does appear that a majority, if not all, healthcare facilities are now trained and active in the use of this method (ADPC, 2014b).
3.23 Russia
Russia is a country that rarely shares all of the information about how they operate. It should be no surprise that only a small amount of information is known about how they manage incidents such as natural disasters and terrorist attacks. From research, it was found that the Russian government utilizes the military for the vast majority of emergency services. A military type of Command and Control system and also a Unified Emergency Prevention and Response State System (RSChS) as well as the Emergency Control Ministry (EMERCOM) are used in Russia.
After the 1988 Armenian earthquake and the Chernobyl disaster, a directive decision was made by the Presidium of the Supreme Council of Russian Socialist Soviet Republic. This directive essentially led to the formation of the Russian Rescue Corps, the predecessor of the current system: The Ministry for the Affairs of Civil Defence, Emergency Situations and Disaster Relief, Russian President Boris Yeltsin established the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Affairs for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters. After the formation, this became known as the Ministry of Emergency Situations. It was also called the Emergency Control Ministry or EMERCOM. In 2002, the Russian State Fire Service, which was originally the National Fire service, also became part of the Emergency Control Ministry (State Committee for Civil Defence, 2009). While local police, fire, and EMS handled daily problems, EMERCOM essentially