1. Last Update: 3/11/2015

2. When the complexity or magnitude of the incident(s) exceeds capacity of the local unit(s), Area Command will: Manage Type 1, 2, and 3 Incident Management Teams (IMTs) Manage Type 1, 2, and 3 Incident Management Teams (IMTs) Ensure span-of-control standards are understood and followed; Ensure span-of-control standards are understood and followed; Prioritize zones and/or incidents; Prioritize zones and/or incidents; Allocate critical resources; Allocate critical resources; Coordinate complex aviation issues; Coordinate complex aviation issues; Simplify data collection and reporting; Simplify data collection and reporting; 2 Primary Focus Areas:

3. Provide strategic support to decision makers by collecting, evaluating, and interpreting information, and developing accurate, timely intelligence reports and other products as needed - Provide strategic support to decision makers by collecting, evaluating, and interpreting information, and developing accurate, timely intelligence reports and other products as needed -  MAC Groups;  Agency Administrators/Executives;  Geographic Area Coordination Centers/Groups  Emergency Operation Centers  Agency Operation Centers;  Joint Field Office (FEMA) 3 Primary Focus Areas:

4. But above all... But above all... Ease the burden/impact on the local/host unit(s), Add value, Foster relationships, & Facilitate safe, effective, efficient operations. 4 Primary Focus Areas:

5. Area Command HISTORICALLY: HISTORICALLY: Developed in the mid-80s by land management agencies Developed in the mid-80s by land management agencies Deployed to provide over-arching command to large scale incidents or multiple large incidents within a geographic area Deployed to provide over-arching command to large scale incidents or multiple large incidents within a geographic area TODAY: TODAY: Part of NIMS, DHS, and core ICS curriculum Part of NIMS, DHS, and core ICS curriculum Deployed by USCG, FEMA, state/local government, and internationally Deployed by USCG, FEMA, state/local government, and internationally 5

6. Who’s on Area Command? A group of highly experienced Subject Matter Experts: Area Commander Area Commander Assistant Area Commander Plans Assistant Area Commander Plans Assistant Area Commander Logistics Assistant Area Commander Logistics Area Command Aviation Coordinator Area Command Aviation Coordinator May also include: May also include: Situation Unit Leader Situation Unit Leader Resource Unit Leader Resource Unit Leader Information Officer Information Officer Liaison Officer Liaison Officer Facilities Unit Leader Facilities Unit Leader Incident Business Advisor Incident Business Advisor Trainees Trainees What positions are missing? What positions are missing? 6

7. Area Command Provides strategic leadership for Agency Administrators by: Provides strategic leadership for Agency Administrators by: Ensuring clarity of objectives; Ensuring clarity of objectives; Coordinating implementation of objectives and strategies for the incidents; Coordinating implementation of objectives and strategies for the incidents; Setting priorities for the allocation of critical resources within the theater of operation; Setting priorities for the allocation of critical resources within the theater of operation; Overseeing the daily battle-rhythm of the incident(s) to ensure continued progress is being made toward incident objectives; Overseeing the daily battle-rhythm of the incident(s) to ensure continued progress is being made toward incident objectives; Assuring safe air-space and aviation management; Assuring safe air-space and aviation management; Setting priorities among zones/incidents; Setting priorities among zones/incidents; Identifying and allocating critical/scarce resources; Identifying and allocating critical/scarce resources; 7

8. Area Command Provides strategic leadership for Agency Administrators by: Provides strategic leadership for Agency Administrators by: Assessing risk and providing mitigation directions or actions; Assessing risk and providing mitigation directions or actions; Ensuring logistical support is in-step with incident needs; Ensuring logistical support is in-step with incident needs; Collecting, compiling, and disseminating information; Collecting, compiling, and disseminating information; Coordinate the zone/incident “glide-path”; Coordinate the zone/incident “glide-path”; Ordering and releasing IMTs as appropriate; Ordering and releasing IMTs as appropriate; In-briefing & out-briefing IMTs; In-briefing & out-briefing IMTs; Managing transitions; Managing transitions; Completing IMT evaluations; and Completing IMT evaluations; and Securing incident documentation package(s). Securing incident documentation package(s). 8

9. Area Command Provides strategic leadership for Agency Administrators by: Provides strategic leadership for Agency Administrators by: Shouldering risk management responsibilities Shouldering risk management responsibilities Reducing /simplifying complexity Reducing /simplifying complexity Maintaining organizational certainty Maintaining organizational certainty Sharing assessment and decision duties Sharing assessment and decision duties Insuring national cohesive strategy goals are identified and addressed Insuring national cohesive strategy goals are identified and addressed Landscapes Landscapes Communities Communities Response Response 9

10. Area Command AC’s do not: AC’s do not: Interfere with IMT battle rhythm Interfere with IMT battle rhythm Staff an Operations Section Chief position Staff an Operations Section Chief position Direct tactical operations Direct tactical operations Prevent or slow AA and stakeholder interactions with IMT(s) Prevent or slow AA and stakeholder interactions with IMT(s) 10

11. How is Authority Delegated? Direction to Area Command is provided through a Delegation of Authority (DOA), a Letter of Expectations (Leaders Intent), a Tasking Order (FEMA), or some other written instrument Direction to Area Command is provided through a Delegation of Authority (DOA), a Letter of Expectations (Leaders Intent), a Tasking Order (FEMA), or some other written instrument Regardless of how, direction is provided by: Regardless of how, direction is provided by:  Agency Administrator(s), and/or  Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) 11

12. Authority Having Jurisdiction? Regional Forester / Forest Supervisor Regional Forester / Forest Supervisor Park or BIA Superintendent Park or BIA Superintendent Refuge Manager Refuge Manager Field Office / District Manager Field Office / District Manager Tribal Chair Tribal Chair State Forester State Forester County Judge / Sheriff County Judge / Sheriff Local Government Chief Executive Local Government Chief Executive Other Administrator(s) as appropriate Other Administrator(s) as appropriate 12

13. What can you expect? Area Command is an “asset” managed by NMAC …. BUT once assigned, works for the requesting Agency Administrator(s) and/or Authority Having Jurisdiction Area Command is an “asset” managed by NMAC …. BUT once assigned, works for the requesting Agency Administrator(s) and/or Authority Having Jurisdiction Self-contained small work unit Self-contained small work unit Normally takes 24-36 hours to mobilize to the area once ordered Normally takes 24-36 hours to mobilize to the area once ordered 13

14. During First Operational Period AC will meet with the Agency Administrator(s) and key cooperators to: AC will meet with the Agency Administrator(s) and key cooperators to:  determine expectations;  review existing strategy and objectives;  confirm reporting timeframes and other issues;  accept direction AC will contact each IMT to: AC will contact each IMT to:  announce arrival and change of command (as appropriate);  review status; and  arrange to meet 14

15. First Meeting w/IMTs ICs & key staff – ICs & key staff – Will occur as soon as can be scheduled (typically within first 24-36 hours); Will occur as soon as can be scheduled (typically within first 24-36 hours); Provides opportunity for the ICs to brief on their incident(s): Provides opportunity for the ICs to brief on their incident(s): IMT strategy IMT strategy Progress, challenges, opportunities Progress, challenges, opportunities Review current maps, Incident Action Plans (IAPs), ICS-209’s, etc Review current maps, Incident Action Plans (IAPs), ICS-209’s, etc Provides opportunity for AC to validate existing priorities, strategy, objectives, set reporting standards, and/or adjust direction as appropriate Provides opportunity for AC to validate existing priorities, strategy, objectives, set reporting standards, and/or adjust direction as appropriate 15

16. General Strategy for Area Command Success = Reducing complexity and easing the burden on local unit(s) Reducing complexity and easing the burden on local unit(s) Managing incident(s) to achieve objectives in a safe, efficient, effective manner Managing incident(s) to achieve objectives in a safe, efficient, effective manner Managing transition, if needed, to the next stage of overall management: Managing transition, if needed, to the next stage of overall management: Another AC Team; Another AC Team; Additional IMTs; Additional IMTs; Another Type of IMT(s); and/or Another Type of IMT(s); and/or Back to the local unit(s) Back to the local unit(s) 16

17. When to consider Area Command? (Current and/or within 72-hours) Complex or multiple incidents are exceeding the normal span of control Complex or multiple incidents are exceeding the normal span of control Long term incidents are taxing/diverting the AA(s) or AHJ away from other important business Long term incidents are taxing/diverting the AA(s) or AHJ away from other important business Fatigue is becoming a factor Fatigue is becoming a factor Multiple IMTs are in the same area/unit Multiple IMTs are in the same area/unit Prioritizing competing incidents is required Prioritizing competing incidents is required Identification and allocation of critical resources is required Identification and allocation of critical resources is required 17

18. When to consider Area Command? (Current and/or within 72-hours) There are escalating political, social, and informational issues and needs There are escalating political, social, and informational issues and needs When the military, FEMA (including ESF4) or other entities are engaged that are outside the scope of experience of those involved. When the military, FEMA (including ESF4) or other entities are engaged that are outside the scope of experience of those involved. Incident reporting requirements are diverse, time-sensitive, and require consolidation and clarity Incident reporting requirements are diverse, time-sensitive, and require consolidation and clarity Incident(s) are having difficulty achieving objective Incident(s) are having difficulty achieving objective IMT’s are uncertain as to strategy based upon competing interests and direction IMT’s are uncertain as to strategy based upon competing interests and direction 18

19. When to consider Area Command? (Current and/or within 72-hours) Growing safety issues and concerns (ie. near misses, fatalities, etc) Growing safety issues and concerns (ie. near misses, fatalities, etc) The concept of “Theater of Operations” is present in the thinking, planning, and operational choices of decision makers. The concept of “Theater of Operations” is present in the thinking, planning, and operational choices of decision makers. When an ‘incident within an incident’ event(s) severely impacts agency oversight When an ‘incident within an incident’ event(s) severely impacts agency oversight Predicted significant events (i.e. weather, large public events, etc) Predicted significant events (i.e. weather, large public events, etc) 19

20. Questions? 20