AMU Emergency Management Opinion Public Safety

How Do We Move to Managing Large Events

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When I conducted research for my dissertation, I discovered that the possibility of managing a large-scale event based on the number of state-declared disasters was miniscule. So why does one incident commander (IC) have a great command presence, but another fails miserably during even a small disaster? This comes down to participation in key activities and the personality of the IC.

Keys to Success

How can we tell an IC is commanding the scene well? Communication.

I often hear students state that we need to improve communications, but I believe that the ability to organize and process information (the key jobs of an IC) will dictate how the communication occurs.

The first key to the IC’s success is to be able to think quickly and analytically to recognize the needs, process requests, and command the scene.

The second key is the personality of the IC. A successful IC can maintain a calm, decisive and firm voice no matter what is occurring. If he or she gets excited, the personnel under his command will begin to lose confidence and the organization will quickly break down.

Participation in Key Activities

To build the confidence needed to develop and maintain command presence, the IC needs experiences that will prepare him/her for what he/she will encounter during a disaster.

Two activities I recommend is participation in the FEMA US&R System and the Incident Management Teams.

FEMA US&R teams go to the largest disasters and see the most destruction. After viewing a town reduced to little pieces, pulling up to an apartment fire does not seem that big. 

Participation in a Type 3 IMT will help develop command positions at regional disasters or events. Being able to serve as a planning chief for a bigger event will allow you as an IC to see the need to elevate the event quickly and not get behind in the event.

Make sure you are prepared to transition from the typical command structure to the next level though participation in key activities and practicing your command presence.  Your firefighters are relying on you.

Dr. Randall Hanifen serves as a shift commander at a medium-sized suburban fire department in the northern part of the Cincinnati area. Randall is the CEO/principal consultant of an emergency services consulting firm, providing analysis and solutions related to organizational structuring of fire and EMS organizations. He is the chairperson and operations manager for a county technical rescue team. From a state and national perspective, he serves as a taskforce leader for one of FEMA's urban search and rescue teams, which responds to presidential declared disasters. From an academic standpoint, Randall has a bachelor’s degree in fire administration, a master’s degree in executive fire service leadership, and a doctoral degree in business administration with a specialization in homeland security. He is the associate author of “Disaster Planning and Control” (Penwell, 2009), which provides first responders with guidance through all types of disasters.

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