Enhancing Capacity
For Disaster
Response In India
Integrating the Incident Command System
into the Indian Disaster Response System
March, 2005
Overview of Presentation
 Indian Disaster Management Context
Overview
 Program Background
 Program Phases
 Phase 1: Developing the Framework for Change
 Phase 2: Training
 Phase 3: Implementation
 GOI Actions to Integrate ICS
 Disaster Management Program/IP
India is one of the most hazardprone countries in South Asia
Indian Context
Recurring landslides, floods, drought
High seismic risk
Frequent cyclones
Orissa Super Cyclone – 1999
Indian Context
 Over
 1.8
10,000 people killed
million homes damaged/ destroyed
 $1.5
billion damages
Indian Context
Gujarat Earthquake - 2001

20,000 killed

600,000
homeless

15.8 million
affected

Infrastructure
damage of $453
million
Drought in 2002 - 2003
Indian Context
 14 states affected, 40 million in Rajasthan
 3% decline in agricultural production
 GDP growth rate reduced
 Millions spent on relief programs
Government Actions
Indian Context
High Powered Committee chartered in 1999
Improve disaster response
Recommend actions
Expand Scope of Disaster Management
Change in responsibilities
Ministry of Agriculture to Home Affairs
Include disaster preparedness & mitigation
Program Background
Program Background
 ICS recommended as “culture of quick
response” in HPC report (2001)
 Introduction to ICS presentations (2002)
 OFDA funded ICS program (2002)
 USAID/India funded ICS program (2002)
 One of five components in DMS strategy
Phase I: Framework
Phase 1
The Framework for Change
 Linkage with Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
as nodal institution (October, 2002)
 Orientation to ICS and supporting systems for
decision makers (October, 2002)
 Brainstorming Workshop (March, 2003)
Phase I: Framework
The Framework for Change
 Consultations with key
MHA decision makers
(April, 2003)
 LBSNAA Centre for
Disaster Management
established/funded
(September, 2003)
Phase I: Framework
The Framework for Change
 U.S. Hosted Study Tour on Disaster
Management (August, 2003)
Phase I: Framework
Technical Outputs
1.
Framework to integrate ICS into Indian disaster
management system
2.
Training, rank, and certification standards
3.
Standard operating procedures:
4.

Delegation of authority

Activation of ICS and Special ICS Teams

Team Staffing
Nation-wide plan to institutionalize ICS training
through a train-the-trainer process
Phase I: Framework
GOI Products
 Nationwide TOT plan
 US cadre/LBS to train core group
 12 core trainers per state
 20,000+ ultimately trained
 MHA ICS Directive
disseminated to states
(July, 2004)
Phase I: Framework
Adaptations
Indian vs. U.S. Context
 Role of rank and performance in ICS positions
 Quantity/standard of disaster response resources
 Vulnerability of population

Relative scale of relief to victims
 NGOs, CBOs, volunteers as resources
 Type/relative importance of disasters (all risk)
 TOT model

Trained instructor vs. experienced practitioner
Phase I: Framework
India ICS Components
Incident Command System
Incident
Response
Coordination
System
Institutionalization
Incident
Command
Teams
Training
Specialized
Tactical
Resources
Certification
&
Qualifications
Publications
Phase I: Framework
District Level Teams
District Incident
Command Teams
District Headquarters
Team
 On-scene deployment
 General coordination
 Focus on operational
 Distribution of relief
aspects of response
 Members carefully
selected from District
 Time-bound mobilization
 State can deploy to other
Districts
materials
 Media management
 VVIP visits
 Overall logistics
Sample Expanded District Incident
Management Team
District Incident
Commander*
Deputy Incident
Commander
Phase I: Framework
Information
Officer*
Liaison Officer*
Safety Officer*
Planning*
Logistics*
Situation Unit
Supply Unit
Resource Unit
Communications
Unit
Documentation
Unit
Food
Unit
Demobilization
Unit
Medical
Unit
Facilities
Unit
Ground Support
Unit
Operations*
Finance/
Administration*
Procurement
Unit
Functional/Geog.
Branch Director
Functional/Geog.
Divisions/Groups
Functional/Geog.
Branch Director
Functional/Geog.
Divisions/Groups
Water/
Sanitation Group
Health
Group
Air Operations
Group
Search and
Rescue Group
Corpse Disposal
Group
Evacuation
Group
Shelter
Group
Other Specialized
Operations Group
Sample Expanded District
Headquarters Team
District Incident
Commander*
Phase I: Framework
Deputy Incident
Commander
Information
Officer*
Liaison Officer*
Safety Officer*
Contact for NGOs
& Foreign Teams
Planning*
Situation
Unit
Resource
Unit
Logistics*
Receiving &
Distribution Ctrs
Mobilization
Air Operations
Communications
Centre
Health Unit
Water/
Sanitation Unit
Transportation
Unit
Donations Unit
Food Unit
Supply Unit
Equipment
Unit
Other Line Depts
As Needed
Finance/
Administration*
Procurement
Unit
Cost
Unit
Phase I: Framework
State Level Teams
On-Scene State Incident
Command Teams
 Highly trained and
specialized
 Hold positions above
District Magistrate
 2-hour mobilization
 Deployed by State Chief
Secretary
State Headquarters
Team
 Support DM Secretary
 Overall planning, logistics
and coordination
 Mobilization
 Air Operations
 Finance/Admin
Phase I: Framework
National Level Response
 Headquarters team to support Central
Relief Commissioner
 Sets objectives and strategies
 Mobilizes resources at national level
 Coordinates international assistance and
Inter-State issues
Phase 2: Training
Curriculum for Core ICS Trainers
 Basic/Intermediate ICS
 Advanced ICS
 Planning Section Chief
 Area Command
 Situation Unit Leader
 Resource Unit Leader
 Demobilization Unit Leader
 Documentation Unit Leader
 Finance/Admin Section Chief
 Logistics Section Chief
 Operations Section Chief
 Incident Commander
 Creating & Conducting Disaster
Simulation Exercises
 U.S. Hosted Study Tours/
Shadowing ICS Teams
 Study aid packages provided for
lower level courses
 Adaptation provided as needed
Phase 2: Training
Course Adaptation Process
1.
U.S. cadre meeting (US)
2.
U.S. cadre instruct course to
Indian “National Core
Group” (India)
3.
U.S. cadre/India Core
Group adapt and revise
course materials (India)
4.
U.S. cadre observes course
offerings conducted by
Indian instructors (India)
Phase 2: Training
Basic/Intermediate ICS 01/04
Phase 2: Training
Plans Section Courses 03/04
Phase 2: Training
Finance/Admin Section Chief
Phase 2: Training
Logistics Section Chief
Phase 2: Training
Operations Section Chief
Phase 2: Training
Incident Commander
Other Activities
Phase 2: Training
 U.S. Study Tours
August, 2003, and
June, August, 2004
Future Courses
Phase 2: Training
 Study Tours on Disaster Management in the US
June and August, 2005, 2006
 Advanced ICS – January, 2006
 Creating and Conducting Disaster Simulation
Exercises – February, 2006
 Evaluation Workshop – February, 2006
 Area Command (4 Observer slots) February, 2007
Phase 3: Implementation
Phase 3
Implementation
 Brainstorming workshop – operationalizing ICS
 Develop “Standard Operating Procedures” manual
 Develop ICS suite of software
 Simulation exercises - all government levels
 Mobilization planning
 Linkages with other USAID DMS components
 FEMA: EOCs
 NOAA/NWS: Early warning systems
 USFS consultation/assistance/course observation
 Use of ICS for planned events, mock drills
 Adaptation of Planning Section Chief course
Phase 3: Implementation
ICS Program Oversight
 USAID/India Disaster Management Strategy
steering committee
 Gender mainstreaming review
 Periodic Evaluation/Feedback Workshops
 USFS solicits feedback after each activity

USFS periodically observe ICS courses in India

Evaluation workshop after training curriculum

Conduct workshop after completion of program
Phase 3: Implementation
Role of LBSNAA
“Centre for Disaster Management”
 Training counterpart for USFS
 “Center of Excellence” for ICS expertise in India

Standardization and quality control of ICS courses
Phase 3: Implementation
Role of LBSNAA
“Centre for Disaster Management”
 Responsible for national TOT training plan
 Trainee database system for ICS courses
 Database system for certification of positions
qualifications
GOI Activities to Date
Integrating ICS
GOI Activities
 Basic/Intermediate ICS

March 2004 (U.S. observers)

July 2004

August 2004
 Ongoing ICS Overview
courses

IAS Officers

State Police Services
 ASEAN Inception Workshop
May, 2004
GOI Activities
Integrating ICS
GOI Activities
 Earthquake response
mock drill using ICS New
Delhi: August, 2004
 Use of ICS for cultural
festival in Sikkim
 Courses begin at six
regional ICS training
centers: December, 2004
GOI Activities
Integrating ICS
GOI Activities
 Yashada Institute Journal
article on ICS in Marathi:
October, 2004
 Study of potential use of
ICS during tsunami
response: January, 2005
Future DMP Activities
Future Activities
 ASEAN Program
 Sri Lanka
 Food and Agriculture Organization
 Hosted study tours in the U.S.
 GSA – COOP and COG
Questions