Major Activities of the Planning Section
The Planning Section is one of the five major management functions of the Incident Command System (ICS). It is responsible for collecting, evaluating, and displaying incident intelligence and information; preparing and documenting Incident Action Plans (IAPs); conducting long-range and/or contingency planning; developing plans for demobilization; and maintaining incident documentation.
The Planning Section is typically led by a Planning Section Chief, who is responsible for overseeing all of the section’s activities. The Planning Section Chief is assisted by a variety of other personnel, including:
- Information Officers: These individuals are responsible for collecting, evaluating, and displaying incident intelligence and information. They typically work closely with public information officers to ensure that accurate and timely information is being disseminated to the public.
- Planners: These individuals are responsible for preparing and documenting IAPs. IAPs are documents that outline the objectives, strategies, and tactics that will be used to manage an incident.
- Logistics Planners: These individuals are responsible for long-range and/or contingency planning. They typically work closely with the Logistics Section to ensure that the incident has the resources it needs to be successful.
- Demobilization Planners: These individuals are responsible for developing plans for demobilizing incident resources. They typically work closely with the Operations Section to ensure that the incident is brought to a safe and orderly conclusion.
Questions Related to Major Activities of the Planning Section
Here are some questions that can be used to assess the effectiveness of the Planning Section:
- Is the Planning Section collecting, evaluating, and displaying incident intelligence and information in a timely and accurate manner?
- Are the IAPs prepared and documented in a clear and concise manner?
- Are the long-range and/or contingency plans comprehensive and realistic?
- Are the demobilization plans effective in ensuring that incident resources are returned to their home bases in a safe and orderly manner?
Discussion of Questions
The Planning Section plays a critical role in the Incident Command System. It is responsible for gathering and analyzing information, developing plans, and ensuring that the incident is managed effectively.
Question 1: The Planning Section should be collecting, evaluating, and displaying incident intelligence and information in a timely and accurate manner. This information is essential for making informed decisions about how to manage the incident. The Planning Section should have a process in place for collecting information from a variety of sources, including:
- Incident scene: This includes information from firefighters, law enforcement officers, and other first responders.
- Public: This includes information from witnesses, victims, and other members of the public.
- Government agencies: This includes information from local, state, and federal agencies.
The Planning Section should also have a process in place for evaluating the information that it collects. This includes determining the accuracy, reliability, and relevance of the information. The Planning Section should then display the information in a way that is easy to understand and use.
Question 2: The IAPs should be prepared and documented in a clear and concise manner. The IAPs should outline the objectives, strategies, and tactics that will be used to manage the incident. They should also be specific enough to guide the actions of first responders, but not so specific that they cannot be adapted as the situation changes.
The Planning Section should have a process in place for developing IAPs that are comprehensive, realistic, and flexible. The IAPs should be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure that they are still accurate and relevant.
Question 3: The long-range and/or contingency plans should be comprehensive and realistic. These plans should address the potential for the incident to escalate or change in scope. They should also include plans for dealing with unexpected events or situations.
The Planning Section should have a process in place for developing long-range and/or contingency plans that are based on a thorough understanding of the incident and the potential risks involved. The plans should be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure that they are still effective.
Question 4: The demobilization plans should be effective in ensuring that incident resources are returned to their home bases in a safe and orderly manner. These plans should include steps for demobilizing personnel, equipment, and supplies.
The Planning Section should have a process in place for developing demobilization plans that are coordinated with the other sections of the Incident Command System. The plans should be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure that they are still appropriate for the incident.
By addressing these questions, organizations can assess the effectiveness of the Planning Section and make improvements as needed.
