Social Media - Public Information Officer

FORUM 1:

The definition for incident command (per the FEMA website) is a management system designed to enable effective and efficient domestic incident management by integrating a combination of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications operating within a common organized structure. In the incident command system, a unified command is an authority structure in which the role of incident commander is shared by two or more individuals, each already having authority in a different responding agency. Now, what does this mean? The ICS is a standardized on-scene incident management concept designed specially to allow responders to adopt an organized structure that can handle either singular or multiple incidents without being hindered by jurisdictional boundaries. The UC is necessary when it it?s a multi-jurisdictional incident that will require responses from multiple agencies.

https://www.fema.gov/incident-command-system-resources

https://www.globalsecurity.org/security/systems/ics-uc.htm

For my UC incident I have chosen the Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico:

https://www.govtech.com/em/disaster/Gulf-Oil-Spill-Debate-NIMS-Unified-Response.html

The article starts off by showing the shortcoming or failures of the UC and the National Incident Management System (NIMS). It is not entirely clear at the beginning is this a flaw in the event because of its magnitude or the disregard because of the picture that was trying to be painted to the public. The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 was created after the EXXON oil spill in Alaska, this mandated collaboration between the government and company involved or the ?responsible party?. This Act also mandated that the ICS and the Joint Information Center (JIC) meaning government agencies and private entities involved would work together to provide a unified response. (Govtech.com) Overall the consensus is that at some points the UC worked and at other times saying it was compromised from the very beginning based on ignorance, indifference and of course politics. I think one thing is clear, this ICS will not work effectively as long as politics get involved. I?m not naive, I know that will never be able to happen. Just seems like things get more messed up when people are trying to please a political party vs trying to do what is right for ?the people?.

FORUM 2:

The Incident Command is very versatile in its ability to provide facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications that all work together in an organizational structure and designed to aid in the management of resources during incidents response. The Unified Command is generally initiated when there is a need for unity in a multijurisdictional or multiagency incident that requires management from many agencies such as; FEMA, Law Enforcement, Fire Services or Healthcare. The National Incident Management System points out, “Incident command is responsible for the overall management of the incident. A single Incident Commander or Unified Command conducts the command function on an incident. Command and General Staff support the incident command to meet the incident’s needs” (P.24). For my emergency incident, I chose the Intercontinental Terminals Company (ITC) fire/explosion on 17 March 2019 at a chemical plant in Deer Park, which is about 20 miles away from downtown Houston. The immediate concern was the employees, and the surrounding resident’s safety due to the impact of the explosion and the fire that lasted 3 days. The chemicals released in the air consist of; naphtha a toxic chemical, xylene and pygas, which have concentrations of the cancer-causing chemical benzene. Please view the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpwG0DrycDE

The command structure was effective especially by utilizing the Unified Command to address the situation. The Unified Command includes the City of Dear Park, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Environmental Protection Agency, Law Enforcement, Fire Department, and Healthcare professionals who were all appointed a specific job. Also, the National Guard and hazardous materials teams assisted with continued air monitoring and clean-up. Overall, the Unified Command utilized all its resources and I would like to point out that their communication efforts were excellent and in real-time.