School Crisis Communications and ICS
School Crisis Communications and ICS
School Crisis Communications and ICS
Introduction to the
Incident Command System
for Schools
IS-100.SCa
Presented by
SchoolSAFE Communications
www.schoolsafecom.org
in association with
School Safety Partners
www.SchoolSafetyPartners.org
Activity
Instructions: Working as a team, develop a brief
description after reading the statement below.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Knowledge Review
Instructions: Decide if the statement is TRUE or
FALSE.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Activity: Management Challenges (1 of 2)
Instructions:
1. Working as a team, review the scenario
presented on the next visual.
2. Identify the top three challenges for school
personnel to manage this incident. Write these
challenges on chart paper.
3. Using what you have learned so far, describe
how ICS could be used to address these
challenges.
4. Select a spokesperson. Be prepared to
present in 5 minutes.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Activity: Management Challenges (2 of 2)
Scenario: A second-grade class is on a science field trip to a
State park. Although the day started out bright and sunny,
severe weather is now threatening. The lead teacher decides
to end the trip a little early to avoid getting caught in a storm.
Students are organized and loaded onto the bus. The final
count reveals that one student is missing. Other students and
teachers report that they last saw the missing student at a spot
near where the river and dense wooded area meet. While the
students wait on the bus, a few teachers and park personnel
search the area but fail to find the missing child.
Questions:
What are the priorities?
What are the incident management challenges?
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Summary (1 of 2)
Instructions: Answer the questions below.
What are three purposes of ICS?
What are the requirements to use ICS?
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Summary (2 of 2)
ICS . . .
Is a standardized management tool for meeting
the demands of small or large emergency or
nonemergency situations.
Represents "best practices," and has become
the standard for emergency management
across the country.
May be used for planned events, natural
disasters, and acts of terrorism.
Is a key feature of NIMS.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Use of Plain English
Communications should be in plain English or
clear text.
Do not use codes, agency-specific codes, or
jargon.
Even if you use codes
on a daily basis, why
should you use plain
English during an
incident response?
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Scenario
Several minutes ago, a tornado
struck the school without
warning. You were not injured
but are isolated in a damaged
part of the building with students
and no other school personnel.
You have taken command of the
response.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Incident Objectives
Incident objectives are established based on the
following priorities:
#1: Life Safety
#2: Incident Stabilization
#3: Property Preservation
What additional
priorities are
critical for
managing school
incidents?
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Elements of an Incident Action Plan
Every IAP must have four elements:
What do we want to do?
Who is responsible for doing it?
How do we communicate with each
other?
What is the procedure if someone
is injured?
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Activity: Incident Action Plan
Instructions:
Working as a team, identify four items you
would include in an IAP.
Write these items on chart paper.
Select a spokesperson. Be prepared to present
in 5 minutes.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
ICS Management: Span of Control
ICS span of control for any supervisor:
Is between 3 and 7 subordinates.
Optimally does not exceed 5 subordinates.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Knowledge Review
Instructions: Determine if the span of control is
consistent with ICS guidelines.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Incident Facility Map Symbols
Incident Staging Base Camp,
Command Area Helibase,
Post and Helispot
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
ICS Facilities and Schools: Summary
A single Incident Command
Post should be established
on all incidents—even small
ones!
School incidents may
require additional facilities
(e.g., Student-Parent
Reunification Area).
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Knowledge Review (1 of 3)
Instructions: Review the following scenario and answer the
question that follows.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Knowledge Review (2 of 3)
Instructions: Review the following scenario and select the
optimal strategy.
Scenario: Initially in the gymnasium collapse incident, school
personnel took command and established an Incident Command
Post in the Assistant Principal’s office. When the local
responders arrived, they established an Incident Command Post
in a mobile command van near the operation.
Select the optimal strategy.
A. Both Incident Command Posts should continue to operate
because the personnel in each are managing different aspects of
the incident.
B. The Incident Command Posts should be combined to ensure that
school personnel and first responders are coordinating their
management of the incident.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Knowledge Review (3 of 3)
Instructions: Review the following scenario and select the correct
statement.
Situation: Severe weather has created a need to shelter students
at the school. You have set up an area with cots and blankets to
allow the students to rest.
Which statement is correct?
A. Because there is no standard ICS facility defined for sheltering
students, ICS prohibits one from being established.
B. This area is part of the response operation but is not considered
an ICS facility because it houses students rather than
responders.
C. The standard ICS facility, referred to as a camp, should be used
to shelter the students during this incident.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Integrated Communications
Incident communications are facilitated through:
The development and use of a common
communications plan.
The interoperability of communications
equipment, procedures, and systems.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Information & Intelligence Management
Information and intelligence are critical to incident
response.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Activity: Incident Management
Instructions: Read the scenario below and identify lessons
learned from the scenario that you would apply to managing
incident information and intelligence.
Scenario: At the Columbine school shooting incident,
police and emergency response crews arrived within
minutes of 911 calls. One of the first functions of a SWAT
incident is to acquire intelligence. The SWAT team
commander found some students, who quickly sketched a
layout of the school. As the situation evolved, officers
received a lot of false information including: there were as
many as eight gunmen; snipers were on the roof; killers
were hiding in ceilings or in heating ducts or trying to
mingle with escaping students. The lack of reliable
information hampered the operation.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
When Command Is Transferred
A thorough briefing occurs when command is
transferred. Command is transferred when:
A jurisdiction or agency is legally required to take
command.
A more qualified Incident Commander arrives.
Incident complexity changes.
The current Incident Commander needs to rest.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Summary (2 of 4)
Instructions: Answer the questions below.
What is unity of command?
What is the recommended ratio of supervisors
to reporting elements?
Why are incident facilities
predesignated?
What must happen in a
transfer of command?
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Summary (3 of 4)
ICS:
Utilizes management features including the use
of common terminology and a modular
organizational structure.
Emphasizes effective planning through the use
of management by objectives and Incident
Action Plans.
Supports responders by providing data they
need through effective information and
intelligence management.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Summary (4 of 4)
ICS:
Utilizes the principles of chain of command,
unity of command, and transfer of command.
Ensures full utilization of incident resources by
maintaining a manageable span of control,
establishing predesignated incident facilities,
implementing resource management practices,
and ensuring integrated communications.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Management Function Descriptions (1 of 2)
Sets the incident objectives,
Incident Command strategies, and priorities and has
overall responsibility for the incident.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Management Function Descriptions (2 of 2)
Provides resources and needed
Logistics services to support the achievement
of the incident objectives.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Establishing Command
Why is it critical to
establish command from
the beginning of an
incident in a school?
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Knowledge Review (1 of 2)
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Knowledge Review (2 of 2)
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Expanding the Organization
Public Information
Officer Command Staff:
The Command Staff
Incident Safety provide information,
Command Officer safety, and liaison
services for the entire
Liaison organization.
Officer
General Staff:
The General Staff are
assigned functional
Operations Planning Logistics Finance/Admin authority for Operations,
Section Section Section Section Planning, Logistics, and
Finance/Administration.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Command Staff Qualifications
Provide information, liaison,
and safety services for the Incident
Commander
entire organization. Public Information
Officer
Liaison
Officer
In a school Safety
Officer
incident, what are
the unique
Command Staff
qualifications?
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Activity: Command Staff Roles (1 of 2)
Instructions:
2. Working as a team, review the scenario presented
on the next visual.
3. Identify which Command Staff positions would be
assigned.
4. Next, if you were the Incident Commander, what
specific activities would you delegate to each
Command Staff member?
5. Select a spokesperson. Be prepared to present in
10 minutes.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Activity: Command Staff Roles (2 of 2)
Scenario: An unexpected flash flood has struck a small
community. As a result:
Homes, schools, and the business district are being
evacuated.
Critical infrastructure has been damaged including
contamination of the water supply, downed power lines,
and damaged roads.
Perimeter control and security in the business district
are needed.
Mutual aid is arriving from several surrounding
communities.
Media representatives are arriving at the scene.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Summary
Are you now able to:
Identify the five major ICS management functions?
Identify the position titles associated with the
Command Staff?
Describe the role and function of the Incident
Commander?
Describe the selection and transfer of Incident
Commanders?
Describe the role and function of the Command
Staff?
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Sample “Strike” Teams
Operations
Section Chief
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Activity
Scenario: Heavy rains have caused flash flooding.
East High School is isolated and students cannot
leave. Help may not arrive for several hours.
Assignment: In your table groups:
Develop an organizational chart depicting how
the Operations Section could be organized into
teams.
List the responsibilities of each team.
Be prepared to present in 15 minutes.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Activity: What Is the Correct Title? (1 of 3)
Instructions: Read each scenario and question. Mark
the answer in your Student Manual.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Activity: What Is the Correct Title? (2 of 3)
Scenario: The incident has isolated part of the school
campus. Given this isolation, the Operations Section
Chief has decided to organize resources by
geographical areas. What title is the correct addition
to the organizational chart?
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Activity: What Is the Correct Title? (3 of 3)
Scenario: As the incident expands even further, the
Operations Section Chief determines that there is a
need to add another level of supervisor to manage the
Groups. What title is the correct addition to the
organizational chart?
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Knowledge Review (1 of 3)
Planning Section
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Knowledge Review (2 of 3)
Planning Section
If you needed a
Resources Demobilization
Unit Unit map of the incident area,
which Unit
Situation
Unit
Documentation
Unit would you go to?
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Knowledge Review (3 of 3)
Planning Section
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Activity: Which Section?
Instructions: Read the following statements and identify the
correct Section Chief. Write your answers in your Student
Manual.
My Section is working on getting 50 buses for an
immediate evacuation of the school in advance of
floodwaters.
When SWAT responders appeared on the scene of a hostile
intruder incident, we provided school floor plans and
attendance counts for the day.
Teams within my Section are providing triage, treatment,
and psychological first aid services to injured students.
We oversee the documenting and processing of claims for
accidents and injuries occurring at the incident.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Training and Qualifying General Staff
Who is
qualified to
assume
General Staff
positions?
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Activity: ICS Assignments: Considerations
Instructions: Read the following scenario and
answer the questions that follow.
Scenario: An explosion and fire have just occurred
in a middle school science lab. First responders
have not yet arrived.
Which ICS positions would be activated? In your
school, who is likely to assume these positions?
What procedures would you use to account for
students during the evacuation?
When first responders arrive, what needs to
happen?
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
General Staff Functions: Case Study (1 of 7)
Instructions: Read the scenario below and then answer the
question.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
General Staff Functions: Case Study (2 of 7)
The Scenario Continues:
The Assistant Principal tells the school secretary to call
911 for assistance and to notify the school district of the
incident. Shortly afterwards, a Police Chief arrives at the
scene along with an Emergency Medical Technician and
other resources.
What must happen before the Police Chief
assumes the Incident Commander role?
Who is the Emergency Medical
Technician in the ICS organization?
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
General Staff Functions: Case Study (3 of 7)
The Scenario Continues:
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
General Staff Functions: Case Study (4 of 7)
The Scenario Continues:
Operations Section?
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
General Staff Functions: Case Study (5 of 7)
The Scenario Continues: Incident
Commander
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
General Staff Functions: Case Study (6 of 7)
The Scenario Continues:
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
General Staff Functions: Case Study (7 of 7)
The Scenario Continues:
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Summary
Are you able to describe the roles and functions of the:
Operations Section?
Planning Section?
Logistics Section?
Finance/Administration Section?
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Activity: Optimal Strategy
Instructions: Read the scenario below and select the
optimal strategy in your Student Manual.
Scenario: A high school football team is returning
home from a State tournament in two buses. The first
bus is involved in an accident on State Highway 1 right
at the county line. Most of the bus is in Franklin
County. However, the front part of the bus is in Revere
County (the team’s home county). First responders
from both counties and the State have arrived on the
scene. The Athletic Director was on the second bus
and assumed command until first responders arrived.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Overcoming Barriers to Unified Command
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Applied Exercise:
School Bus Accident
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Applied Exercise (1 of 2)
Instructions:
2. Working as a team, review the scenario and
scenario map located in your Student Manual.
3. Answer the following questions:
Which agencies/organization should be
included in the Unified Command structure?
Which ICS positions/Sections will be
activated?
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Applied Exercise (2 of 2)
Continue answering the following questions:
How many Operations Section Chiefs will be
assigned representing each of the
agencies?
What is one example of an incident
objective that the Unified Command group
might establish?
2. Select a spokesperson and be prepared to
present your work in 20 minutes.
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Summary
Are you now able to:
Define Unified Command?
List the advantages of Unified Command?
Identify the primary features of Unified
Command?
Describe the roles
and reporting relationships
between school personnel
and emergency responders
under a Unified Command?
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Discussion Question
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Knowledge Review
Situation: Rosa is in the teacher’s lounge when
she hears that the gymnasium roof has collapsed.
Rosa has her advanced first aid certification.
What should
Rosa do?
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Check Plans, Policies, and Regulations
Do your school’s
preparedness plans, policies,
and regulations:
Comply with NIMS,
including ICS?
Cover all hazards?
Include delegations of
authority (as appropriate)?
Include up-to-date
information?
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review
Training, Credentialing, and Exercising
Do you have sufficient qualified personnel to
assume ICS Command and key General Staff
positions?
Can you verify that personnel meet established
professional standards for:
Training?
Experience?
Performance?
IS-100.SCa
Communications Review