Basic

INCIDENT
COMMAND
SYSTEM
Training
Course
 MODULE 5:
Incident/Event Assessment
and Management by
Objectives
 Module Objectives
Upon completion of this Module, the participants will
be able to:
1. Explain the process for assessing incident/event
complexity
2. Discuss the process of managing by objectives
3. Develop objectives for managing an incident
 Scope

1. Assessing Incident/Event Complexity

2. Management by Objectives
Assessing Incident/Event
Complexity
 Initial Response Actions
Assessment and Safety
 Size up the situation
 Determine if life is at risk
 Ensure personnel safety
 Identify environmental issues to address

Planning and Resource Management

 Assume command and establish Incident
Command Post
 Establish immediate incident objectives
 Strategies and Tactics
 Determine resource needs
 Establish initial organization that maintains
Span of Control
 Size Up the Situation

The first responder to arrive must assume command

and size up the situation by determining:
1. Nature and magnitude of the incident
2. Hazards and safety concerns:
 Hazards facing responders and the public
 Evacuation and warnings
 Casualties
 Need to secure and isolate the area

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
 Size Up the Situation

3. Initial priorities and immediate resource

requirements
4. Location of Incident Command Post and
Staging Area
5. Entrance and exit routes for responders

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
Initial Management Decisions

A thorough size up provides information needed to

make initial management decisions.

Situation
Awareness

+
Incident
Complexity

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
 Situation Awareness

 Situation awareness is the knowledge of:

– Current status of the incident
– Steps to undertake in relation to the incident
and your objectives

 Situation awareness involves the ability to predict:

– Changes in the status of the incident
– Your future actions

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
How to Attain Situation Awareness
 Identify current and potential problems.
 Recognize the need for action especially for
atypical situations.
 Do NOT ignore information discrepancies.
Instead, analyze discrepancies before
proceeding.

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
How to Attain Situation Awareness
 Seek and provide information before acting.
 Continue collecting information about the incident
and assignments made.
 Assess your own task performance.

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
How to Attain Situation Awareness
• Identify deviations from the expected.
• Communicate your situation awareness to all
team members!

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
 Incident Complexity:
Factors to Consider
• Impact to lives, property and the economy
• Safety of the responders and the communities
• Potential hazards
• Weather and other environmental influences
• Likelihood of cascading events

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
 Incident Complexity:
Factors to Consider
• Potential human- induced threats such as crimes
and terrorism
• Political sensitivity, external influences, and media
relations
• Areas involved and jurisdictional boundaries
• Availability of resources

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
 Authorities, Policies and
External Stakeholders
In addition to the information collected during the
size up, the Incident Commander must take into
account the following:

Authorities

Policies and Guidelines

External Stakeholders

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
 Examples of Policies and
Guidelines to Consider
 DRRM plans
 Pre- incident plans
 Standard operating procedures
 Emergency operations plans
 Disaster preparedness plans
 Agreements
 Recovery plans
 Field operations guides

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
Management by Objectives
 Management by Objectives

 ICS is managed by objectives.

 Objectives are communicated
throughout the entire ICS
organization through the
incident planning process.
Objectives, Strategies and Tactics

Incident State what will be accomplished.

Objectives

Establish the general plan or

Strategies direction for accomplishing the
incident objectives.

Specify how the strategies will be

Tactics executed.

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
Establishing and Implementing
Objectives
Steps for establishing and implementing incident
objectives:
1. Understand agency policy and direction.
2. Assess incident situation.
3. Establish incident objectives.
4. Select appropriate strategies to achieve
objectives.
5. Perform tactical direction.
6. Provide necessary follow- up.

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
Responsibility for Developing
Objectives
Small incidents
The Incident Commander is
solely responsible for
developing incident
objectives.

Large incidents
The Command and General
Staff contribute to the
development of incident
objectives.

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
Information Sources for Developing
Incident Objectives

 Delegation of authority  Declaration establishing

 Responsible Official emergency status
briefing  Size up
 Initial Incident  Pre- incident plan
Commander briefing  Existing agency agreements
 Complexity analysis  Agency policies

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
 Priorities for Developing
Incident Objectives
Incident objectives are established based on the
following priorities:

1
• Life and Safety

2
• Incident Stabilization

3
• Property Preservation

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
Writing “SMART” Objectives
Is the wording precise and
Specific unambiguous?
How will achievements be
Measurable
measured?
Is an action verb used to describe
Action- oriented expected accomplishments?
Is the outcome achievable with
Realistic given available resources?
What is the timeframe?
Time- bound
(if applicable)

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
Other Features of Well- written
Objectives

Is it achievable considering the

Attainable available resources?
Is it broad enough to allow for
Flexible consideration of both strategic and
tactical alternatives?

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
Examples of “SMART” Objectives

 Release all hostages safely with no further

casualties by 1500H.
 Stop any further flow of toxic material to river
bed by 0900H.
 Search all structures for casualties by 1400H.
 Reduce reservoir level to 35 feet by 0800H
tomorrow.

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
Examples of “SMART” Objectives

 Complete rapid assessment of all damaged

residential structures in Barangay C within the
next 24 hours.
 Restore water supply to the business district by
0900H tomorrow.
 Suppress fire within the existing structures in
Barangay A during the current operational
period.

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
 Activity 1:

Instructions:
1. Read the scenarios given.
2. Determine if the objectives are SMART.
3. Paraphrase the objectives to become SMART.
 Activity 1:

Situation: It is midnight. Heavy rains have caused

localized flooding. In one barangay, residents are
trapped in their homes.

Incident Objective: As needed, provide assistance

to those who might have localized flooding
problems.

Is this objective
“SMART”?
 Activity 1:

Situation: Blocked storm drains are causing

standing water on major roadways.

Incident Objective: Notify public works of storm

drain blockages causing standing water, or clear the
drains to prevent traffic accidents.

Is this objective
“SMART”?
 Activity 1:

Situation: A Magnitude 5 earthquake occurred

causing major damage to residential houses in
Barangay A.

Incident Objective: Conduct search, rescue and

retrieval operations in the affected residential area
of Barangay A.

Is this objective
“SMART”?
 Activity 1:

Situation: There are reports of food poisoning in

one of the conferences being attended by the high-
level delegates.

Incident Objective: Ensure that the needs of the

delegates are properly taken care of.

Is this objective
“SMART”?
 Activity 1:

Situation: A bombing incident occurred in the

central park in the downtown area.

Incident Objective: Attend to the immediate needs

of the communities in case there are casualties.

Is this objective
“SMART”?
 Strategy

Strategy describes the general method or methods

that should be used, either singly or in combination,
in order to achieve the incident objective.

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
 Strategy

Criteria for a well- developed Strategy:

 Makes sense (feasible, practical, and suitable)
 Within acceptable safety norms
 Cost- effective
 Consistent with sound environmental practices
 Meets political considerations

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
 Strategy

Objective:
Reduce reservoir level to 35 feet by 0800 tomorrow.

Strategy #1: Reduce/divert inflow

Strategy #2: Open spillways
Strategy #3: Use pumps

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
 Tactical Direction

 Tactical Direction
describes how the
Strategy will be
accomplished to achieve
the Incident Objectives.

 It is the responsibility of
the Incident Commander
or the Operations Section
Chief, if established.

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
 Steps in Developing
Tactical Direction

1. Establish tactics
2. Assign resources
3. Monitor performance
4. Adjust tactics

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
ICS Form 201: Incident Briefing

 Provides Command Staff with information about

the incident situation and the resources allocated
to the incident.
 Serves as a permanent record of the initial
response to the incident.
 Can be used for transfer of command.

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
ICS Form 201: Incident Briefing

 Map sketch of the

incident/event area
 Summary of current actions
 Objectives
 Current organization
 Resource summary

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
 Activity 2:

Duration: 20 minutes

Requirements:
• Activity Packet
• ICS 201 (paper and tarp)
• Writing materials
 Activity 2:

Instructions:
1. Based on the given scenario, enumerate the
incident objectives in page 2 of ICS Form 201
(on paper and tarp).
2. Complete all the remaining sections and pages
of ICS Form 201.
3. Present the objectives enumerated in the
accomplished ICS Form 201 page 1 to the
plenary.
 Activity 2:

Output:
Accomplished ICS Form 201
(all pages, on paper and tarp)

Module 5: Incident/Event Assessment

and Management by Objectives
Questions?
 Module Objectives
Upon completion of this Module, the participants will
be able to:
1. Explain the process for assessing incident/event
complexity
2. Discuss the process of managing by objectives
3. Develop objectives for managing an incident