Beyond Initial Response: Using the National Incident Management System Incident Command System

Beyond Initial Response - First Edition was written to fill a significant gap in ICS training. Responders have to be ready to carry out their ICS position-specific responsibilities and to be effective they have to know how to operate as part of an ICS organization. This book provides readers the confidence, knowledge and assurance that are required to successfully play as part of an incident management team. Beyond Initial Response - Second Edition builds upon the original version that was put through its paces by the greatest critics - first responders and students of emergency management. In the second edition you will find three new chapters: The Area Command chapter, written from the perspective of an Area Commander, a chapter on multi-agency coordination that provides an overview of how multi-agency coordination works from various viewpoints, and the third new chapter titled Emerging Communications, which introduces the topic of New Media and its potential challenges and benefits to incident management teams. In addition to the new chapters, the section of the book that covers the Safety Officer has been significantly expanded, concentrating on hazard analysis. You will also find some new "tools" in the appendixes of the book. These include: Managing Risk, Best Briefing Practices, Sample Instructions to the Field Observer, Delegation of Authority, Operations Section Chief Briefing Outline, and a sample Area Command Operating Guide. This book is an invaluable reference tool with numerous job aids, checklists, illustrations, and sample documents that enable the user to seamlessly work within the Incident Command System. In addition, it is an excellent support source for ICS training, contingency planning and response operations. Beyond Initial Response - should be within arms length whether you are training for or deploying to an emergency response.

Michael de Bettencourt is a Health, Safety, and Environment Program Director for a defense services contractor and is a retired US Coast Guard officer.  He has provided emergency management program assessment services and conducts ICS training for industry and public sector clients.  He has worked as a responder and response manager for oil spills, chemical releases, floods, and large-scale law enforcement operations. 

 

Tim Deal is the Federal Preparedness Coordinator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Region VIII. Prior to coming to FEMA he worked as vice President in the emergency management training field. He has extensive emergency response experience serving in several ICS positions, including Planning Section Chief and Operations Section Chief.  

 

Vickie Deal works for the federal government and has a variety of operational experience in emergency response management operations.  She has been an Operations Section Chief and Deputy Incident Commander.  Vickie also served as a response program manager for the Coast Guard in Washington DC and developed the ICS program implementation guidelines for the Coast Guard. 

 

Gary Merrick is an Associate with Booz Allen Hamilton and is a retired US Coast Guard officer.