Critical Incident Management Program (CIMP)
RIT uses an Incident Command (Crisis Management) System that is modeled after the National Incident Management System (NIMS). It is a modular emergency management system designed for all hazards and levels of emergency response. This system creates a standardized approach and organizational structure for managing incidents. The system is used by the Department of Homeland Security and throughout the United States as the basis for emergency response management. Use of CIMP at the University facilitates the University's ability to communicate and coordinate response actions with other jurisdictions and external emergency response agencies. As a management system, CIMP helps to mitigate the incident risks by providing accurate information, strict accountability, planning and cost-effective operations and logistical support for any incident.
The key principles of CIMP are:
- Modular response model based on activating only those organizational elements required to meet current objectives.
- Common terminology applied to organization elements, position titles, facility designations and resources.
- Unified command structure so that organizational elements are linked to form a single overall structure with appropriate span-of-control limits.
- Comprehensive resource management for coordinating and inventorying resources for field responses.
- Integrated communication so that information systems operate smoothly among all response agencies involved.
- Generic positions whereby individuals are trained for each emergency response role and follow prepared action checklists.
- Consolidated action plans that contain strategy to meet objectives at both the field response and Emergency Operations Center levels.
The CIMP is organized around five major management activities. It may not resemble the normal University organizational structure. Employees may report to Section Leaders who are not normally in their chain of supervision. In addition, depending on the emergency and how the situation changes, employees may be shifted between roles within a management activity or between management activities.
- Incident Command: Has overall responsibility at the incident or event. Determines objectives and establishes priorities based on the nature of the incident, available resources and agency policy. In all incidents there is an identified Emergency Manager or a unified command team. These have responsibility for overall management of the incident and must be fully qualified to manage the incident.
- Planning and Analysis: Develops the Incident Action Plan to accomplish the objectives. Collects and evaluates information, and maintains status of assigned resources.
- Operations and Implementation: Develops the tactical organization and directs all resources to carry out the Incident Action Plan through the use of the Operations Action Plan.
- Resource Coordination: Provides resources and all other services needed to support response and recovery, both for the CIMT and the University.
- Finance/Administration: Monitors costs related to the incident, provides accounting, procurement, time recording, cost analysis, and overall fiscal, personnel and legal guidance.
The Emergency Manager will decide the scale of each section based on type of incident and its specific demands. Each of the primary Incident Command Sections may be further subdivided as reflected in the organization chart.
