Emergency Incident Management Systems. Louis N. Molino, Sr.
(epub)
Subjects: LCSH: Emergency management--United States. | Crisis
management--United States. | Disaster relief‐‐United States. | Risk
management‐‐United States.
Classification: LCC HV551.3 .M65 2020 (print) | LCC HV551.3 (ebook) | DDC
363.34/80973‐‐dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019036716
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019036717
Cover Design: Wiley
Cover Images: Courtesy of Mark S. Warnick; Background © Brisbane/Shutterstock
This book is dedicated to those that individuals who have or are responding to emergencies every day. This includes past and present first responders. This book is also dedicated to my dear friend who wrote the original version of this book, but is no longer with us, Lou Molino Sr. You are sorely missed my brother!
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
Foreword
Since the first days, when the wonderful men and women firefighters in Southern California (Firefighting Resources of Southern California [FIRECSCOPE]) decided that it was in the best interest of the community to jettison their egos and any stovepiping outside of firefighting and embraced the “Incident Management System” (IMS) and later “Incident Command System” (ICS), there has never been such a strong piece of literature on ICS. This change introduced the most effective formalization of interoperable response for collaboration, cooperation, and communication in the US national preparedness system. I am Dr. Michael A. Brown, and it is my pleasure to introduce you to the most comprehensive and thorough piece of emergency management literature ever written on the topic of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and its component ICS. Through my career, I have read and experienced the debates from both supporters and naysayers regarding the need for and use of the ICS model. This debate is often partisan with academics sometimes noting disparaging literature about the ICS and practitioners heralding the wonderful attributes of the hierarchical operational system. I think this most comprehensive work by Dr. Mark S. Warnick will dispel any misunderstandings or doubts about what the ICS is, and is not. Further, this textbook will increase the knowledge of even the most seasoned practitioner with facts and historical relevance that left me speechless. For example, the reference to “Buffalo Soldiers” and the thorough examination of ICS around the world.
The fact that I was asked by Dr. Warnick to write the forward is noteworthy as well and somewhat ironic. When we first met, Mark was a doctoral candidate with a reputation for thorough and “out of the box” inclinations that sometimes rattled his peers, but his foresight always proved invaluable with hints of Edgar Cayce futuristic predictability. Little did we know that he and I had served together in the unit in the military, and the same barracks some 40 years prior, and of course “fast FORWARD,” (play on words) we continue to serve. I ask you to read this masterful emergency management literature and marvel at the precision, depth of research and evaluative beauty within each chapter. Learn about Australia, Canada, and even the Maldives' ICS. The information provided on social media is cathartic, and his insight on ICS for houses of worship a must read. Understand that the proliferation, intensity, and size of focusing events will continue, which means the need for ICS and its closely tethered interoperability is needed more than ever. Is ICS a panacea for disasters? No! But it is a most effectual operational tool for coping with and helping to respond to all manner of hazards. In closing, I wish to thank Dr. Mark S. Warnick for providing the disaster preparedness and emergency management community with a jewel of literature that will change the courseroom and emergency operations centers for the better in the future.
Michael A. Brown Core Faculty Emergency Management Capella University School of Public Service
Preface
A dear friend of mine, Louis N. Molino Sr. wrote the first edition of this book. As his health began to fail, he asked if I would help co‐author the second edition with him. I am sad to say that at the time, I was finishing up my dissertation for my doctoral degree, and I put him off for six months so that I could focus on my degree first. During those six months Lou, who took care of others instead of himself, passed away.
After the passing of Lou Sr., and the completion of my degree, I called Louis N. Molino Jr., and told him about our plans. Lou Jr. was gracious and put me in contact with Bob Esposito from Wiley Press, and after negotiating the contract, the second edition of this book was borne. This book was not only created to help public safety personnel but to honor Louis N. Molino Sr., and to give back to his children in some way.
July 4, 2019
Mark S. Warnick
Acknowledgments
There are so many people to acknowledge. First and foremost, I need to acknowledge my wife, Cleo, who has been a beacon of light when I felt as if I would never complete this book. When my head became bogged down with technical aspects, she was there to help me clear my head and get me back on track. She is the love of my life, and she helped me to actually finish this book through her gentle and kind encouragement and her gentle nudges when I no longer felt like writing.
I also need to acknowledge my content editors Angie Bowen, Jim O'Neil, and Joe Campbell. These individuals were chosen because they have worked in the field for many years, and they were there for me to ensure that I did not miss anything. While I am sure there is something we missed (or that I got wrong), these individuals were gentle, honest, and encouraging!
Angela (Angie) Bowen has devoted 31 years to public safety and 28 years to emergency nursing. Angie is a nurse/paramedic with a background in rescue, EMS, and pediatric emergency/trauma/transport nursing. Angie currently utilizes her skills with the Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS) and Jefferson County (TN) EMS. Her dedication to helping others is only surpassed by her hunger for more knowledge so that she can help more people. She was once a student of mine, but now I am proud to call her my friend!
Jim O'Neill and I have been thick as thieves for somewhere around 30 years. Jim has over 40 years, starting out as an E.M.T in Boston, MA, and then he eventually went into real work, firefighting (love ya Jim!). For 11 years, Jim served as a Fire Chief in Suwannee County, FL, and he was a darn good one! When Hurricane Katrina struck, he was one of the individuals who responded. He found that he loved it so much; he has spent 14 years with the US Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Presently, he is a Disaster Recovery Center manager with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. His dedication to helping others is amazing!
Joe Campbell currently works as a Boating Investigator for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Joe has 28 years in public safety and has worked in law enforcement, firefighting, emergency management and is a Paramedic, most of them simultaneously. Essentially, he has worked in almost every major field that uses the Incident Command System (ICS) method. Joe has become a good friend, a confidant, and someone I can vent to, even if he does answer my phone calls with “What's up peckerhead?”. He too is a brother in arms, and I am thankful for him and for his help with this book.
I want to acknowledge my pastor, Thomas Black, and my church family at Fame Evangelical Church, whose prayers and encouragement helped me along the way. Their prayers of intercession were regularly felt, and they were answered.
Finally, I want to acknowledge my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If not for his love and guidance, I have no doubt that I would not be the person I am. Anyone who knows me will know that I am not perfect, but I am a work in progress, and I am forgiven.