Blog 2: The role of communication in the ICS

The Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized,  on-scene, all-hazards incident management approach that:

• Allows for the integration of facilities,  equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications operating within a common  organizational structure.
• Enables a coordinated response among various  jurisdictions and functional agencies, both public and private.
• Establishes common processes for planning and  managing resources.

This and more information about the ICS can be found on FEMA’s webiste.

Communication is an important part of the Incident Command System because everyone that is a part of the ICS needs to know how to properly and efficiently communicate with one another to get the job done.  All of the different teams (i.e. firefighters, policemen, and medical workers) need to know what the plan is for all of the different types of disasters.  The scene below depicts different teams collaborating to help victims of a disaster.

 

 

 

 

A general understanding of the plan, what resources are to be used, and where those resources can be found in each different incident is the role of communication in the ICS.  Without a plan, nobody could properly do their job and everything would quickly fall apart.