Incident Command System

Good evening Professor and Class. For this week’s forum we were tasked to review the attached excel incident command system forms and explain why having access to this tool and knowing how to use it will enhance our incident command system knowledge. First, let’s break down what was included within the Excel incident command system forms. The first form, the ICS-202 (Incident Objectives) is completed during the initial incident brief when the initial incident commander provides the ICS-201 (Incident Briefing). This is where the initial incident objectives are developed and the true start of the planning “P” (U.S. Coast Guard, 3-4). Next, we have the ICS-203 (Organization Assignment List). This form is completed during the initial incident

command/unified command meeting. Its purpose is to assign all required incident command system positions needed to address the specific incident/objectives (U.S. Coast Guard, 3-6). Moving onto the ICS-204 (Division Assignment List).

This form is used for each division to outline what resources and personnel will be used in each given strike team/task force within each division. These forms are complete by the resource unit leader once the tactics and resources to be used have been agreed upon during the tactics meeting (U.S. Coast Guard, 3-6). During an incident, you will have several ICS-204s depending on the size and response to the incident. The third form within the packet is the ICS-205 (Incident Radio Communications Plan). The ICS-205 purpose is to display what radio frequencies/channel will be used for the incident, their assignment, and purpose. In addition, the form itself is developed by the communications unit leader and may be continually revised depending on agency’s needs/capabilities and agencies involved for interoperability. Essentially, the communication unit leader must be well in tuned with facets for the incident command structure to meet communication needs. Subsequently, we have the ICS-206 (Medical Plan). The ICS-206 is developed by the Medical Unit Leader to address medical aid service station locations, ambulance service locations, and hospital

locations. Its purpose is to identify locations to take the injured so responders are left trying to figure it out on their own. Lastly, we have the incident command system map. The purpose of the map is to identify the locations of everything regarding the incident (incident site, staging areas, facilities, incident command posts, hospitals, medical aid location). Overall, each of the forms provides a piece to the puzzle known as the incident command system. Now, that we know what each form is let’s discuss why having access to this tool and knowing how to use it will enhance our incident command system knowledge.
First, being responder the first thing you do after checking into an incident is review the situation and the incident action plan.

The incident action plan should identify everything you need to know about the incident, who is responding, contact numbers, communications, locations of everything, assignments, tactics, operations, and objectives to meet to name a few. Therefore, having knowledge of these forms will enable an individual to know what to look for when reporting to an incident or to know what must be completed if part of the planning process for the incident. Obviously, the more one plays the incident command system game the more knowledgeable they become with the forms and how the system should work. For me, this is just a refresher of the forms as I am currently in a planning “P” for the 2017 Thunder over Louisville event, servicing as the communications unit leader. Each incident I partake in I learn something new as it pertains to ICS. This go around was learning the new Incident Management System Software which essentially computer software which aids in electronically developing your incident action plan which comes in handy with all the redundancies within the incident command system forms to save time. Lastly, I would encourage all to partake in an incident response/planning to become more familiar with the incident command system. After all, practice makes

perfect.