The Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized approach to incident management that is used by a wide range of organizations, including emergency services, law enforcement, and government agencies. The ICS is a flexible and scalable system that can be adapted to incidents of all types and sizes.
ICS Functions
The ICS is based on a hierarchical structure with five major functions:
- Command: The Incident Commander is responsible for overall incident management.
- Operations: The Operations Section is responsible for carrying out the incident plan.
- Planning: The Planning Section is responsible for developing and maintaining the incident plan.
- Logistics: The Logistics Section is responsible for providing the resources needed to carry out the incident plan.
- Finance/Administration: The Finance/Administration Section is responsible for managing the financial and administrative aspects of the incident.
Documentation of Mutual Aid Agreements
Mutual aid agreements (MAAs) are formal agreements between two or more organizations to provide resources and support to each other in the event of an incident. Documentation of MAAs is important to ensure that all parties involved are aware of their roles and responsibilities.
Which ICS Function is Responsible for Documentation of Mutual Aid Agreements?
The ICS function that is responsible for documentation of mutual aid agreements is Planning. The Planning Section is responsible for developing and maintaining the incident plan, which includes the documentation of MAAs.
Specific Responsibilities of the Planning Section
The specific responsibilities of the Planning Section in relation to MAAs include:
- Identify potential MAA partners: The Planning Section should identify potential MAA partners based on their capabilities and proximity to the incident location.
- Develop MAA templates: The Planning Section should develop MAA templates that can be used to document agreements between different organizations.
- Review and update MAAs: The Planning Section should review and update MAAs on a regular basis to ensure that they are current and accurate.
- Provide training on MAAs: The Planning Section should provide training on MAAs to all personnel involved in incident response.
Conclusion
Documentation of mutual aid agreements is an important part of the incident management process. The ICS function that is responsible for documentation of MAAs is Planning. The Planning Section is responsible for developing and maintaining the incident plan, which includes the documentation of MAAs. The Planning Section should identify potential MAA partners, develop MAA templates, review and update MAAs, and provide training on MAAs to all personnel involved in incident response.