NIMS
ICS 100.HCb
Instructions
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This packet contains the NIMS 100 Study Guide and the Test Questions for the NIMS 100 final exam.
Please review the Study Guide.
Next, take the paper test - record your answers on the paper test so that when you go online, you can transfer your
answers to the online final exam.
Take the online Exam: Click on our Intranet icon: (e Internet Explorer).
Enter the web address http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is100HCb.asp
Click on “Take Final Exam” and follow the directions.
Enter either your private email address or the Edward address: [email protected]
As soon as you complete the test, you will receive a confirmation (if you have passed the test).
Keep this confirmation, along with your paper test until you receive the Certificate of Completion.
The email containing the Certificate will arrive in approximately 2 days.
The heading on the email will say “Independent Study.”
Download the certificate for your files. This is the Certificate that we will need to confirm your NIMS 100
certification.
Forward the email containing your email certificate to the Edward NIMS inbox [email protected] or hand
deliver a copy to Monica Schramm, 2nd floor Education Center, Quality Suite.
If you DO NOT receive your Certificate in 2 business days, please contact FEMA at 301-447-1200.
For any other questions, contact Brenda Carlevato, Manager,
Accreditation & Emergency Preparedness at ext. 73876
Rev. March 2012
NIMS
ICS-100HC.b
Introduction to ICS for Healthcare/Hospitals
Disasters can strive anytime, anywhere. It takes many forms – a hurricane, an earthquake, a tornado, a
flood, a fire or a hazardous spill, an act of nature or an act of terrorism. An incident can build over days or
weeks, or hit suddenly, without warning. Every year, millions of Americans face disaster, and its terrifying
consequences.
Given the magnitude of these types of incidents, it’s not always possible for any one agency alone to handle
the management and resource needs. Partnerships are often required among local, tribal, State and
Federal agencies, as well as nongovernmental and private-sector organizations.
A poorly managed incident response can be devastating to our economy and our health and safety.
Therefore as partners, we must respond together in a seamless, coordinated fashion using the same
terminology and approach.
On February 28, 2003, the President issued Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5, “Management of
Domestic Incidents” which directed the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and administer a
National Incident Management System (NIMS)
NIMS provides:
A consistent, nationwide template to enable Federal, State, tribal, local governments,
nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to work together to prevent, protect against,
respond to, recover from and mitigate the effects of incidents, regardless of cause, size, location or
complexity.
A core set of concepts, principles and terminology for incident command and multi-agency
coordination.
The five key components of NIMS include:
Preparedness: NIMS preparedness encompasses a continuous cycle of planning, organizing,
training, equipping, exercising, evaluating and taking corrective action.
Communication and Information Management: NIMS promotes the use of flexible communications
and information systems that allow all emergency management and response partners to establish
and maintain a common operating picture of the incident.
Resource Management: NIMS describes standardized resource management practices such as
typing, inventorying, organizing, and tracking. These practices allow for effective sharing and
integration of critical resources across jurisdictions.
Command and Management: The NIMS Command component enables effective and efficient
incident management and coordination by providing a flexible, standardized incident management
structure.
Ongoing Management and Maintenance: The FEMA National Integration Center provides strategic
direction, oversight, and coordination of NIMS.
ICS (Incident Command System)? Q1
ICS is a standardized approach to incident management that is applicable for use in all hazards
Enables a coordinated response among various jurisdictions and functional agencies
Establishes common processes for planning and managing resources
Allows for the integration of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures and communications
operating within a common organizational structure.
Rev. March 2012
Was developed in the 1970’s following a series of catastrophic fires in California, where weaknesses
identified included
Lack of accountability; unclear chain of command and supervision
Poor communication; conflicting codes and terminology
Lack of an orderly, systematic planning process
No common, flexible, pre-designed management structure to manage workloads efficiently
No pre-defined methods to integrate interagency requirements into effective structure and
planning processes
ICS can be used to manage any type of incident, including a planned event. The use is applicable to all
hazards including: Q2
Natural Hazards: Disasters, such as fires, tornadoes, floods, ice storms, earthquakes or epidemics
Technological Hazards: Dam breaks, radiological or hazmat releases, or power failures
Human-caused Hazards: Criminal or terrorist acts, school violence or other civil disturbances
ICS Features and Principles Q3, 4, 5
ICS is based on proven management principles.
ICS incorporates a wide range of management features and principles, beginning with the use of
common terminology and clear text.
ICS helps ensure full utilization of all incident resources by:
* Maintaining a manageable span of control
* Establishing pre-designated incident locations and facilities
* Implementing resource management practices
* Ensuring integrated communication
The ability to communicate within the ICS is absolutely critical. During an incident communication
should be in plain English and clear text. Do not use radio codes, institution-specific codes or
jargon.
Command Definition Q6, 7, 8
NIMS defines command as the act of directing, ordering or controlling by virtue of explicit statutory,
regulatory, or delegated authority.
At an incident scene, the Incident Commander has the authority to assume command
Chain of command is an orderly line of authority within the ranks of the incident management
organization. The chain of command:
* Allows an incident manager to direct and control the actions of all
under his or her supervision
* Avoids confusion by requiring that orders flow from supervisors
* Does not prevent personnel from directly communicating with each other to ask
for or share information
Unity of Command Q9
Under unity of command, personnel report to and receive work assignments from only one ICS
supervisor.
The Incident Commander is the primary person in charge at the incident. In addition to managing the
incident scene, he or she keeps officials in the agency groups informed and up to date on all important
matters related to the incident. Q10
The ICS hierarchy of command must be maintained, and not even executives and senior officials
can bypass the system.
Agency executives or other senior officials are accountable for the incident. These individuals have
the authority to make policy decisions, commit resources, obligate funds and obtain the resources
necessary to protect lives and property.
Rev. March 2012
The EOC (Emergency Operations Center) is
A physical location.
Staffed with personnel trained for and authorized to represent their agency/discipline.
Equipped with mechanisms for communicating with the incident site and obtaining resources and
potential resources.
Managed through protocols.
Applicable at different levels of government.
Every incident must have an Incident Action Plan (IAP) that:
Specifies the incident objectives
States the activities to be completed
Covers a specified timeframe, called an operational period
May be oral or written.
The IAP has 4 elements
* What do we want to do?
* Who is responsible for doing it?
* How do we communicate with each other?
* What is the procedure if someone is injure
Span of Control pertains to the number of individuals or resources that one supervisor can manage
effectively during an incident. Effective span of control on incidents may vary from 3-7, and a ratio of one
supervisor to 5 subordinates is recommended.
In ICS, “resources” refers to personnel, supplies and equipment. Q11 During an incident, it is critical to
know what resources are needed and available, and where deployed resources are located
Resource Management includes processes for:
Categorizing resources
Ordering resources
Dispatching (activating) resources
Tracking resources
Recovering resources
Integrated Communications Q 12, 13
A common communication plan is essential for ensuring that responders can communicate with one
another during an incident.
Prior to an incident, responders must work to ensure that communication equipment, procedures,
and systems can operate together during a response. This is referred to as interoperability.
The response to the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center were hampered by response agencies
operating on radios set to different frequencies
Information and Intelligence Management Q 14, 15
The analysis and sharing of information and intelligence is an important component of ICS. Incident
management must establish a process for gathering, sharing, and managing incident related
information and intelligence
Intelligence includes operational information that may come from
* Risk assessments
* Threats including potential for violence
* Surveillance of disease outbreaks
* Weather forecasts
* Structural plans and vulnerabilities
Rev. March 2012
Accountability Q 16, 17, 18 Effective accountability of resources at all jurisdictional levels and within
individual functional areas during incident operations is essential. Accountability includes:
* Resource check in/check out procedures
* Incident Action Planning
* Unity of Command
* Personal Responsibility
* Span of Control
* Resource Tracking
All incidents require some form or record keeping
ICS records or should be standardized, legible, with date and time written on all forms and all blanks
filled in; use N/A as appropriate
There are 5 major management functions that are the foundation upon which an incident management
organization develops (Incident Command, Operations, Planning, Logistics, Finance and Administration).
These functions apply to incidents of all sizes and types, including planned events and emergencies that
occur with warning.
The Incident Commander:
Has overall responsibility for managing the incident by establishing objectives, planning strategies,
and implementing tactics.
The Incident Commander is the only position that is always staffed in ICS applications. On small
incidents and events, one person, the Incident Commander, may accomplish all management
functions
The Incident Commander creates those Sections that are needed. If a Section is not staffed, the
Incident Commander will personally manage those functions.
Ensures overall incident safety
Provides information services to internal and external stakeholders, such as agency executives and
senior officials
Establishes and maintains liaison with other agencies participating in the incident
As an incident grows, the Incident Commander may delegate authority for performance of certain
activities to the Command Staff and the General Staff. The Incident Commander will add positions
only as needed.
Command Staff: Q 12, 19, 20
Public Information Officer, serves as the conduit for information to internal and external
stakeholders, including the media
Safety Officer, monitors safety conditions and develops measures for ensuring the safety of all
response personnel.
Liaison Officer serves as the primary contact for supporting agencies assisting at an incident.
General Staff: Q 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
Operation Section Chief develops and implements strategy and tactics to carry out the incident
objectives
o Organizes, assigns and supervises the response resources.
Planning Section Chief
o Collects, evaluates and displays incident intelligence and information
o Prepares and documents Incident Action Plan
o Tracks resources assigned to the incident
o Maintains incident documentation
o Develops plans for demobilization
Logistics Section Chief
o Ordering, obtaining, maintaining and accounting for essential personnel, equipment and
supplies
Rev. March 2012
o Providing communication planning and resources
o Setting up food services and responders
o Setting up and maintaining incident facilities
o Providing support transportation
o Providing medical services to incident personnel
Finance/Administration Section
o Contract negotiation and monitoring
o Timekeeping
o Cost Analysis
o Compensation for injury or damage to property
o Documentation for reimbursement
Rev. March 2012
TEST QUESTIONS
NIMS ICS-100.HC.b
1. The Incident Command System (ICS) is:
a. A standardized approach to incident management that is applicable for use in all hazards
b. A relatively new approach created based on the lessons learned from the 9/11 terrorist
attacks
c. A military system used in domestic incidents to ensure command and control of Federal
resources
d. Most applicable to the management of complex incidents that extend over many hours or
days
2. The Incident Command System (ICS) is a viable application in all of the following situations,
EXCEPT:
a. The planning and operation of a local festival
b. A hostage situation at a local financial institution
c. The oversight of a jurisdiction’s annual budget
d. A hazardous materials release after a train derailment
3. When communicating, ICS requires the use of:
a. Plain English
b. Agency-specific codes
c. Radio codes
d. Technical language
4. When communicating, ICS requires that responders DO NOT use:
a. Plain English
b. Clear text
c. Agency or radio codes
d. Common terminology
5. ICS facilitates the ability to communicate by using:
a. ICS-specific codes
b. Acronyms
c. Common terminology
d. NIMS lexicon
6. Command is:
a. Directing, ordering, or controlling by virtue of explicit statutory, regulatory, or delegated
authority
b. Based on the number of individuals or resources that one supervisor can manage effectively
during an incident
c. The ability to control information exchange within and across organizations involved in an
incident
d. Assumed by the individual who is the highest ranking person on the scene regardless of
experience or training level
7. Select the FALSE statement below:
a. Chain of command allows an Incident Commander to direct and control the actions of all
personnel under his or her supervision
b. Chain of command avoids confusion by requiring that orders flow from supervisors
Rev. March 2012
c. Chain of command restricts personnel to communicating or sharing information outside their
organizational units
d. Chain of command requires that all task assignments and direction come from the
individual’s supervisor at the incident scene
8. Which section is INCONSISTENT with ICS chain of command principles?
a. The on-scene Public Information Officer (PIO) is being assigned tasks by both the agency
executive’s press secretary and the Incident Commander
b. Members from one strike team warn the members of a second strike team about hazardous
road conditions ahead
c. Requests for additional resources are being communicated from the Task Force Leader to
the Operations Section Chief
d. After the Planning section Chief assembles the Incident Action Plan, it must be approved by
the Incident Commander
9. What does unity of command mean?
a. There is only one Incident Commander per incident
b. Tactical direction is provided by the agency executive
c. Responders receive assignments only from a superior within their home agency
d. Personnel report to only one ICS supervisor
10. Select the FALSE statement below:
a. The Incident Commander may request assistance from the Emergency Operations Center
(EOC) to acquire needed resources
b. Supervisors are responsible for recording and reporting changes in resource status
c. Agency executives may assign additional resources that have not yet been requested by the
Incident Commander
d. Resource management should include procedures for recovering and demobilizing resources
11. In ICS, the term “resources” refers to all of the following items, EXCEPT:
a. Equipment
b. Funding
c. Personnel
d. Supplies
12. Select the FALSE statement below:
a. A common communications plan is essential for ensuring that personnel can communicate
with one another during an incident
b. Prior to an incident, response partners should work together to ensure that communication
equipment, procedures, and systems can operate together
c. During an incident, the Liaison Officer is responsible for ensuring flow of communication
within the ICS organization
d. Integrating communications can be as simple as making sure you have current phone
numbers of all key players
13. Interoperability means:
a. Surrounding jurisdictions all purchase the same type of communications hardware and
software
b. Communication equipment, procedures, and systems can operate together during a
response
c. Personnel from different jurisdictions can all perform the same tasks using the same
protocols
d. A single plan is used to direct the tactical assignments with the Operations Section
Rev. March 2012
14. The analysis and sharing of information and intelligence is an important component of ICS. All of
the following are examples of operational information sources, EXCEPT:
a. Risk assessments
b. Surveillance of disease outbreak
c. Weather forecasts
d. Unsubstantiated media reports
15. TRUE or FALSE: The analysis and sharing of information and intelligence are an important
component of ICS:
a. True
b. False
16. TRUE or FALSE: All incidents require some form of recordkeeping. Requirements vary depending
upon the agencies involved and the nature of the incident:
a. True
b. False
17. Select the FALSE statement below about completing ICS records or forms:
a. Print or type all entries
b. Enter date and time on all forms and records; use local time
c. Fill in all blanks; use N/A as appropriate
d. Avoid using military 24-hour time
18. When completing ICS records or documents, you should follow all of the below guidelines, EXCEPT:
a. Fill in all blanks by using N/A as appropriate
b. Print or type all entries
c. Create your own unique reporting formats
d. Enter the date and time on all forms and records
19. All of the following are Command Staff positions, EXCEPT:
a. Liaison Officer
b. HazMat Officer
c. Safety Officer
d. Public Information Officer
20. Members of the Command Staff are referred to as:
a. Officers
b. Deputies
c. Chiefs
d. Directors
21. Which Section is responsible for developing plans for maintaining incident documentation?
a. Operations Section
b. Logistics Section
c. Planning Section
d. Finance/Administration Section
22. You are working to track the status of all resources assigned to the incident. What Section are you
in?
a. Operations Section
b. Planning Section
c. Logistics Section
d. Finance/Administration Section
Rev. March 2012
23. The Logistics Section Chief is responsible for all of the following activities, EXCEPT:
a. Providing communication planning and resources
b. Setting up food services
c. Setting up and maintaining incident facilities
d. Directing tactical activities to achieve the incident objectives
24. The Incident Commander depends on the Logistics Section Chief to:
a. Direct tactical activities to achieve the incident objectives
b. Interface with representatives from assisting and coordinating agencies
c. Develop the Incident Action Plan
d. Provide facilities, services, and material support for the incident
25. Which of the following Sections is responsible for contract negotiation and monitoring?
a. Operations Section
b. Finance/Administration Section
c. Planning Section
d. Logistics Section
Rev. March 2012