Success Stories

ORAU Implements Incident Command System Training

Ensuring a successful response to a major incident requires a coordinated effort among multiple agencies and jurisdictions. Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) supports the emergency response community by promoting inter-agency cooperation and developing training that that enhance response efforts.

ORAU has provided extensive support to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Emergency Response with its compliance efforts toward the Homeland Security Presidential Directive–5 (HSPD-5), which includes the implementation of National Incident Management System (NIMS)/Incident Command System (ICS) and the National Response Framework (NRF). 

The ICS, whose training curricula exceed national standards, is an on-scene, all-hazard incident management concept. The system was originally designed for emergency management agencies, but was later federalized. Its main purpose is to establish a standard, integrated organizational structure for incident response agencies across multiple jurisdictions.

The program includes training emergency responders in ICS at the systems-based level, position-specific level (Incident Commander, Safety Officer, Operations Section Chief, Planning Section Chief, Situation Unit Leader, Resources Unit Leader, etc.) and team level (Incident Management Team training). 

Alongside the implementation efforts, ORAU has also been able to assist DOE by designing full-function exercises, drills and tabletops that test the department’s ability to respond to emergencies under the NRF using NIMS and ICS. 

During the exercises, ORAU personnel have served as planners, controllers, evaluators, coaches and players/responders.

As a result, ORAU has been instrumental in assisting DOE with the development of a NIMS/ICS compliant incident management team to support the management of a complex incident.