Disaster Management and CERT - ACGOV.orgICS,DSWPresentation.pdf · ICS Incident Command System a set of personnel, policies, procedures, facilities, and equipment, integrated into

Disaster Management and CERT

Presented by:Demetrious N. Shaffer

Deputy Fire ChiefAlameda County Fire Department

Discussion Topics

SEMS, NIMS and ICS

Key Terminology and Components of SEMS

Basic ICS Functions and Features in SEMS

Five Organizational Response Levels

What Does This All Mean to the Volunteers and Disaster Service Worker protections

SEMS & NIMS

Standardized Emergency Management System (Required by Ca. Gov. Code Div. 2, Ch. 7, §8607)

National Incident Management System

The National Incident Management System (NIMS) provides a systematic, proactive approach to guide departments and agencies at all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to work seamlessly to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity, in order to reduce the loss of life and property and harm to the environment.

ICS

Incident Command Systema set of personnel, policies, procedures, facilities, and equipment, integrated into a common organizational structure designed to improve emergency response operations of all types and complexities.

Key Terminology

Emergency Response Agency

Emergency Response Personnel

Emergency Operations Center (EOC)

Local, Operational, Regional and State

Basic Components of SEMS

Incident Command System

Developed as part FIRESCOPE during the early ‘70s

Inter-agency Coordination

The participation of various agencies and disciplines involved at any level working together in a coordinated effort

Basic Components of SEMS (cont.)

The Master Mutual Aid Agreement

Originally signed in 1950; cities, counties and the State joined together to provide for a comprehensive program of voluntarily providing services, resources and facilities

Operational Areas

Consists of a county and all political subdivisions

Five Primary Functions of ICSCommand/Management

Operations

Planning/Intelligence

Logistics

Finance/Administration

Basic ICS Structure

Basic ICS FeaturesFive essential Management Functions

General Staff

Management by Objectives

Identify measurable and attainable objectives to be achieved

Action Planning

Framework for establishing the necessary organization to make assignments and allocate resources

Basic ICS Features (cont.)

Organizational Flexibility and Modular Organization

Only those elements necessary to achieve the desired objectives are activated

Unity of Command

Individuals report to one supervisor

Basic ICS Features (cont.)

Span of Control

one to seven

Personnel Accountability

Check-in, position logs status tracking

Common Terminology

Radio traffic, resource designation, facilities, etc.

Basic ICS Features (Cont.)

Resource Management

Tactically directed at Field Level; Coordinated and prioritized above

Integrated Communications

Coordinated information flow

Organizational Response LevelsState

Region

Operational Area

Local Government

Field

Local Government and Field Deployment

Emergency Responders

Fire, EMS, Police

Volunteers

Spontaneous and Organized (CERT)

CERT and DSW

Disaster Service Worker (DSW); formerly Civil Defense Worker

California Emergency Council (1900’s); formerly California War Council

Disaster Council (Most accredited in 1943); formerly War Council

CERT and DSW (cont.)A Disaster Service Worker volunteer is “. . . any person registered with an accredited disaster Council. . . for the purpose of engaging in disaster service . . . without pay or other consideration.” - OR-

“. . . any unregistered person impressed into service during a state of war emergency, a state of emergency, or a local emergency . . .” -OR

“. . . public employees performing disaster work that is outside the course and scope of their regular employment without pay. . . .”

CERT and DSW (cont.)

Workers’ Compensation benefits are provided to registered volunteers who contribute their services to protect health and safety and preserve lives and property of the State

State law now protects volunteers from financial loss resulting from injury, as well as providing them limited immunity from liability in the course of their disaster service duties

CERT and DSW (cont.)

To qualify as a DSW, the person must:

be officially registered with the accredited Disaster Council; and

not receive any pay, monetary or otherwise, for the service being provided.

CERT and DSW (cont.)

Pre-disaster registered volunteers (CERT)

Convergent Single Event Registration

Non-registered, convergent volunteers do have some protections under the Good Samaritan Laws but not to the extent of DSW and no Workers’ Compensation

CERT and DSW (cont.)Immunity From Liability

. . . protects the political subdivision or political entity, and the DSW volunteer in any civil litigation resulting from acts of good faith made by the political subdivision or political entity, or the DSW volunteer, while providing disaster . . .

NOT provided in cases of willful intent, unreasonable acts beyond the scope of DSW training, or if criminal act is committed

References

www.oes.ca.gov

http://en.wikipedia.org

California Government Code

www.fema.gov