Running Head: FEMA Training 1
Course
FEMA Training
Student Name
Course
Name of University
Due Date
, FEMA Training Course 2
In crisis management operations, there are many different moving parts and it can be
easy to get distracted or to overlook key events. In order to standardize the way that
organizations conduct incident management, FEMA uses the Incident Command System
(ICS). According to IS-0100.c: An Introduction to the Incident Command System, ICS 100,
the system can be used by all types of organizations for incidents of any size or complexity
because it enables a coordinated response, established common processes and allows for the
integration of resources (FEMA: Emergency Management Institute, 2018, pg.10).
Various forms of the ICS have been used for decades but when the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) opened in 2003, one of the goals of the newly formed agency was
to develop a consistent nationwide approach for federal, state, tribal and local governments to
work together to prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from domestic incidents
(FEMA, n.d.). This goal led to the adoption of the National Incident Management System
(NIMS) with ICS integrating into the command and coordination component. The other two
components of NIMS are resource management and communications and information
management ((FEMA: Emergency Management Institute, 2018, pg.13).
According to the training, 14 key characteristics contribute to the strength and efficiency
of the ICS overall (FEMA: Emergency Management Institute, 2018, pg.21); all are important
but two that I would like to focus on are Incident Action Planning and Integrated
Communications.
Effective communication and proper planning may both seem pretty common-sense but in a
high-stress situation such as disaster response, ill-rehearsed plans can be easily forgotten and
communication can break down. One example that illustrates how increased focus on both
these characters can aid in incident response is the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing. “On April
Course
FEMA Training
Student Name
Course
Name of University
Due Date
, FEMA Training Course 2
In crisis management operations, there are many different moving parts and it can be
easy to get distracted or to overlook key events. In order to standardize the way that
organizations conduct incident management, FEMA uses the Incident Command System
(ICS). According to IS-0100.c: An Introduction to the Incident Command System, ICS 100,
the system can be used by all types of organizations for incidents of any size or complexity
because it enables a coordinated response, established common processes and allows for the
integration of resources (FEMA: Emergency Management Institute, 2018, pg.10).
Various forms of the ICS have been used for decades but when the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) opened in 2003, one of the goals of the newly formed agency was
to develop a consistent nationwide approach for federal, state, tribal and local governments to
work together to prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from domestic incidents
(FEMA, n.d.). This goal led to the adoption of the National Incident Management System
(NIMS) with ICS integrating into the command and coordination component. The other two
components of NIMS are resource management and communications and information
management ((FEMA: Emergency Management Institute, 2018, pg.13).
According to the training, 14 key characteristics contribute to the strength and efficiency
of the ICS overall (FEMA: Emergency Management Institute, 2018, pg.21); all are important
but two that I would like to focus on are Incident Action Planning and Integrated
Communications.
Effective communication and proper planning may both seem pretty common-sense but in a
high-stress situation such as disaster response, ill-rehearsed plans can be easily forgotten and
communication can break down. One example that illustrates how increased focus on both
these characters can aid in incident response is the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing. “On April
