Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
include division of local, state, federal, and any intermediate interjurisdictional
responsibilities; activation of the EOP; and other elements set forth in State and
Local Guide 101.
Direction and Control
Local government response organizations will respond to the incident scene(s) and
make appropriate and rapid notifications to local and state authorities. Control of
the incident scene(s) most likely will be established by local first responders from
either fire or police.
To ensure continuity of operations, it is important that the Incident Command
Post be established at a safe location and at a distance appropriate for response to
a suspected or known terrorist incident. In addition, in severe terrorist attacks,
response operations may last for very long periods, and there may be more leader-
ship casualties because of secondary or tertiary attacks or events. Therefore, plan-
ning should provide for staffing key leadership positions in depth.
The Incident Command System (ICS) should be used by all responding local
fire, police, and emergency management organizations, and all relevant responder
personnel should be trained in ICS use to prevent security and coordination prob-
lems in a multiorganizational response.
The ICS that was initially established likely will transition into a Unified
Command System as mutual-aid partners and state and federal responders arrive
to augment the local responders. It is recommended that local, state, and federal
regional law enforcement officials develop consensus “rules of engagement” early
in the planning process to smooth the transition from ICS to Unified Command.
The Unified Command structure will facilitate both crisis management and conse-
quence management activities.
The Unified Command Structure used at the scene will expand as support units
and agency representatives arrive to support crisis and consequence management
operations. The site of a terrorist incident is a crime scene as well as a disaster scene,
although the lives, health, and safety remains the top priority. Because of these
considerations, as well as logistical control concerns, it is extremely important that
this incident site and its perimeter be tightly controlled as soon as possible.
State and local planners must realize that the integration of the federal response
into the local response efforts can be a difficult and awkward process. Whenever
possible, each entity should involve the others in its planning process so as to facili-
tate a better understanding by all parties of the anticipated actions and responsibili-
ties of each organization.
Planners should understand that integration of the federal response into an
urban setting would be different from that into a rural setting. In an urban area,
there will be substantial manpower and equipment resources, and the control of the
emergency response. The rapid influx of federal resources can be a sensitive issue
