Unit Terminal Objective
Apply the appropriate structural option to manage a complex incident.
Unit Enabling Objectives
1. Identify the characteristics of a complex incident.
2. Explain the expansion options for complex incident organization and the conditions under which each would be applied.
A major portion of Liberty County has been affected by sudden severe weather. During the severe weather incident, a passenger train derailed. Four incidents are currently reported within a 10-square mile area of the county that includes portions of Central City.
During the initial response these are being managed as individual incidents. The incidents are being reported on national-level news networks. The city and county possess limited resources for:
Incident 1: Damage to a private hospital requiring evacuation, search and rescue, and relocation of 50 patients.
Incident 2: Severe damage to a 50-unit mobile home park located outside the Central City limits, within Liberty County. Six residents are reported trapped inside two overturned mobile homes; other residents are unaccounted.
Incident 3: Partial collapse of a roof in an open school within the city limits. An unknown number of people are trapped inside. Injuries are expected and fatalities are possible. Numerous volunteers are on scene and more are rushing to the scene to help.
Incident 4: AMTRAK Passenger train derailment within the city limits. Forty people on board with multiple injuries and fatalities that are expected to exceed local hospital emergency room capacity. The derailed trail is impeding traffic on a major road. The cause of the derailment is unknown and must be investigated
Objective: Create an Incident Complex structure for a simulated incident.
Instructions: Working in groups, review the scenario. As a group, answer the following questions:
How will the organization be structured? (Draw the ICS structure used down to Division/Group level.)
What organizational option was selected and what aspects of the incident led to this selection?
Will an Incident Commander or a Unified Command be used and why?
Would splitting the Operations Function be an advantage? Explain why or why not.
Would splitting the Logistics Function be an advantage? Explain why or why not.
Would splitting the Planning Function be done? If so, how? If not, why?
Would establishing an Intelligence and Investigations function be effective in this incident? If yes, why and where would it be placed? If no explain why it is not needed?
What are the top three management challenges you would face and how would you address them?
Choose a spokesperson. Be prepared to present your recommendations and justifications to the class in 60 minutes.