Chap 10: Command and control/emergency management Flashcards
Scope and Functions of Control and Command
The terms ‘control’ and ‘command’ are used within the following context.
‘Control’ refers to the responsibility for coordinating and directing the response to an incident. Control sets priorities and objectives and determines how best to implement them.
‘Command’ operates vertically within an organisation. It describes the internal ownership, administrative responsibility, and detailed direction of an agency’s personnel and resources.
Command and Control consists of three essential elements
- Leadership
- Decision making
- Control
Principles of commands and control
Unity of command and control
Span of command and control
Continuity of command and control
Delegation of command and control to implement their delegated part of the operational plan.
Obligation of command and control
Span of command and control
The internationally recommended span of control is between 2 to 7 direct reports.
Action Plan process
Overview
An Action Plan details the desired outcome and key tasks for the management of an incident, and the measures that will be taken to achieve the outcome. An effective Action Plan:
* integrates all of the agencies into a cohesive response
* increases situational awareness between agencies
* coordinates activities towards a common goal, and
* reduces risk, duplication, and conflicting actions
Each response element may develop its own Action Plan, ensuring it is consistent with the Action Plan from the lead agency. The Action Plan provides detail of the Controllers intentions and sets the objectives for the response.
Roles of the planning function
In larger events, the Planning function supports the Controller by managing the planning process and ensuring that the Action Plan meets the Controller’s intentions and objectives.
Each response element plans for different tasks, resources, and local conditions. Higher-level Action Plans focus on assigning tasks, allocating resources, and confirming coordination arrangements.
Operation Orders
Format
Operation Orders and the briefing of police personnel will be issued in the ‘GSMEAC’ format.
GSMEAC consists of the key headings of:
* Ground
* Situation
* Mission
* Execution
* Administration and Logistics
* Command and Signals
Outline plan
- An outline plan will cover the Situation, Mission and Execution.
- Upon approval the outline plan will be developed into an operational Action plan
Operation Orders
What is it
- An Operation Order (referred to in CIMS as an Action Plan) is the written format for a Controller or Commander to document a plan to convey to staff how the operation will be executed. It is also a directive on how set tasks may be carried out.
- Operation Orders can be provided to commanders of roles within an operation (e.g. an AOS commander or a logistics manager) to further prepare their own more detailed plan.
Debriefs
- Ideally the debrief is chaired by a senior member who was not involved in the operation and this will take place as soon as possible after the operation.
Lessons Learnt
- Lessons learnt however should not only be addressed at the conclusion of the operation. These lessons should form a daily part of the operation so that any lessons or mistakes are identified and addressed immediately, and any necessary changes made as soon as possible.
CIMS - A common yet modular framework
Purpose
The purpose of CIMS is to achieve effective coordinated incident management across responding agencies by:
- establishing common structures, functions and terminology used by agencies in incident management, yet within a framework that is flexible, modular, and scalable so that it can be tailored to circumstances specific to any level or type of incident; and
- enabling agencies to develop their own processes, procedures, and training for the execution of CIMS.
- CIMS describes the fundamental elements of response structures, functions, processes, and common terminology. Individual agencies will use CIMS to develop their own standard operating procedures (SOPs) for response that are suited to their unique responsibilities, resources, and legislative authority.
CIMS Principles
- The principles of CIMS are the fundamental tenets on which incident management is based. All responses should apply the following principles
Responding to community needs Communities must be able to actively participate in a response rather than wait passively for assistance. To allow this to occur, response personnel need to effectively communicate with communities to understand, integrate and/or align the community response
Flexibility / Ngāwaritanga
* Flexibility allows CIMS to be modular and scalable, and therefore applicable to incidents that vary widely in terms of scale, hazard, or situational characteristics. CIMS is scalable and adaptable to any situation.
Unity of effort / Mahi ngātahi
* Unity of effort ensures common objectives are met by coordinating response and recovery activities among the functions and organisations involved. Unity of effort allows organisations with specific mandates to support each other while maintaining their own authorities.
Managing changeovers
- Increase personnel safety and reduce risk
- Do not disturb response operations and
- Are staggered to ensure continuity of response operations.
Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002
Definition of emergency
Emergency means a situation that—
a) is the result of any happening, whether natural or otherwise, including, without limitation, any explosion, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, land movement, flood, storm, tornado, cyclone, serious fire, leakage or spillage of any dangerous gas or substance, technological failure, infestation, plague, epidemic, failure of or disruption to an emergency service or a lifeline utility, or actual or imminent attack or warlike act; and
b) causes or may cause loss of life or injury or illness or distress or in any way endangers the safety of the public or property in New Zealand or any part of New Zealand; and
c) cannot be dealt with by emergency services, or otherwise requires a significant and co-ordinated response under this Act.
