If we're going to be ready for the next major disaster or terrorist attack we're going to have to get everyone at least familiar with the Incident Command System and NIMS (The National Incident Management System. The common threads in most publications, seminars and summits on Homeland Security are... "We need to form a working partnership between the public and private sector at the local level and regional levels" and "There is no THEY when it come to responding to a life threatening event." You, your family members or your neighbors will most likely be the first responder to the next crisis in your community.
Our goal is to familiarize everyone with the basic Incident Command (IC) structure taught to professional first responders (fire fighters, law enforcement, homeland security and emergency government personnel). It's important to remember incident command diagrams will vary depending on who's responding, available recovery assets, and the type and scope of the incident. However, IC principles and protocols seldom change. For example, while a professional first responder might be able to handle many direct reports, our IC limits direct reports to seven (7). While a professional first responder might be able to redesign the command post and staging areas on the fly, we encourage you to follow established Emergency Operation Center (EOC) and Staging Area design and operational protocols.
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