Establishing an Incident Management Team

The first step in developing an Incident Management Team (IMT) is to determine what "type," or capability, IMT is needed in your jurisdiction. This is determined, in part, by identifying the type of incidents that the IMT would be reasonably anticipated to respond to by reviewing your Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP), the availability of trained personnel for the IMT, a mechanism for notification and dispatch, and the statutory authority to respond.

Every municipality needs to have access to an IMT, but not every emergency response agency needs to have their own IMT.

A typical emergency response agency needs officers trained to fill Command and General Staff roles at major/complex incidents who will recognize when a more robust level of incident management support is needed (such as a Local IMT).
Larger municipal departments or regional areas with several departments (those likely to have multiple-alarm fires or other major incidents on a regular basis) should have a Local IMT.
Each state and major metropolitan region, as well as other high-risk areas (those likely to have multi-day complex incidents or special events requiring a written IAP) should have a multi-discipline, Type 3 IMT.

It is expensive to develop an IMT, and it is expensive to maintain an IMT. These are important considerations when thinking about developing an IMT. Training costs for IMTs are eligible expenses for State Homeland Security Grant funds and Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Grant funds; however, use of these funds must be approved by the appropriate State Administrative Agency or UASI region.

A publication created by USFA assists with the development of IMTs. The All-Hazard IMT Technical Assistance Program Team Manual includes steps in the development process, sample standard operating procedures (SOPs), sample organizational forms, and other important information.

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The following information provides the process for the development of Type 3 IMTs under USFA's Type 3 IMT Technical Assistance Program.

Type 3 Incident Management Team Development Flowchart

All-Hazard IMT (O305) Coordination Process - Type 3 IMTs

Host Agency Requirements

Participate in an initial meeting with the USFA IMT project team. This meeting may be held via conference call.
Identify a liaison with the host agency, and make formal arrangements for this liaison to remain in place through the delivery of the course. The liaison may work with USFA to:
a. Identify and make arrangements for course facilities.
b. Coordinate with IMT authority and various fire, EMS, law enforcement agencies, and other disciplines to market students locally.
c. Establish and maintain logistical arrangements for students.
d. Coordinate requirements for operational equipment and supplies.
e. Establish Public Information point of contact and develop plan to coordinate media contact prior to, during, and after training.
f. Coordinate hotel, classroom, breakout rooms, and cadre workroom arrangements.
g. Coordinate lunch procedures or arrangements for the duration of the course.
h. Identify potential support staff for the delivery from local agencies.
Coordinate with one Lead Instructor for phone contact to gather target information, photos, resource information, etc., for use in customizing the scenario-driven exercise.
Provide USFA with a list of students, including their name, organization and position held within that organization, and their position (or proposed position) within the IMT.
Contract with the instructional cadre at least 30 days prior to course delivery. USFA will provide a list of available qualified instructors and mentors. The course requires:
a. Two instructors, including a Lead Instructor.
b. One mentor per activity group (assembled team: determined by the POC and lead instructor).
Provide a facility for the training. The course requires a facility that has:
a. A classroom that can accommodate approximately 50 people.
b. Three to five breakout rooms that can accommodate approximately 15 people each.
c. Restaurants in close proximity, to accommodate the total number of students/instructors/staff for lunch within a reasonable amount of time.
d. The ability to have on-site lunches provided or delivered during the last two days of class.
Provide audiovisual support for the course, including three laptop computers, three computer projectors, and two VCR players.
Arrange for on-site lunches for students, instructors, mentors, etc. during the last two days of class.
Prepare course materials:
a. Print all materials.
b. Prepare all support materials for students, instructors and coaches/mentors.
c. Distribute materials appropriately.
Provide classroom supplies, including:
a. Marker boards and/or easel charts the classroom and each breakout room.
b. Painter's tape or masking tape (for taping charts to walls without damage).
c. Name tents.
d. Pens, pencils.
e. Markers (permanent, dry erase, and wet erase)
f. Note paper.
g. Paperclips.
h. Post-it notes.
i. Stapler.
j. Three-hole punch.
Provide access to dedicated support for the duration of the course (including Saturday and Sunday). This person will be responsible for ensuring student supplies and materials are available when needed, all duplication needed during the course is completed and delivered in a timely manner, and onsite breaks and meals are in order.
Conduct a walk-through of the training facility on the day prior to the first day of the class. The local liaison and support person should be present during the walk-through, as well as the instructional cadre. The walk-through should include:
a. A physical walk through of the facility to familiarize the instructional team with the floor plans and layout of the facility.
b. A review of schedules and teaching/learning objectives with contracted instructors; clarify any misinterpretations at this time.
c. An operational check of equipment to confirm capabilities.
d. A supply check for completeness prior to delivery.
Upon completion of the course, package and ship all USFA materials, supplies, and equipment to USFA or to another site, as identified by the USFA on-site representative.

USFA Technical Assistance for All-Hazard IMT (O305)

Package and ship print-ready masters of all course materials to the host agency point-of-contact no later than 30 day prior to course delivery.
Package and ship all course support materials for the course.
Provide course oversight, management, and logistical support during the delivery of the course.
Evaluate training program, including scenario-driven simulations.
a. Prepare student evaluation/feedback tool for distribution.
b. Coordinate student evaluation portion of the training.
c. Tabulate and analyze student evaluations.
d. Develop post-course evaluation report summarizing student evaluations.
Serve as the initial point-of-contact for obtaining ICS position-specific professional development and field mentoring opportunities for IMT members.