[MRIC] ICS-213

[BrettHam at aol.com]

All Maryland RACES Officers:
 
I have discussed ICS-213 in detail with the Talbot Emergency Planner and  
Emergency Manager. Here is Talbot's official position:
 
1. We agree with MEMA's recommendation to add the message number and  
precedence fields to box 6 (Message) as depicted in the draft they presented at  MRIC 
and distributed for the March COMMEX.
 
2. We do not see any reason to add a message number and precedence fields  to 
box 7 (Reply) as the reply should be the same message number and precedence  
as the original. Otherwise, it should be a new message. We request this  
information be removed from box 7 of the proposed form.
 
3. Talbot will not use different ICS-213 forms for RACES vs. other modes of  
communications. The ICS-213 paper form must be the same as the ICS-213  used 
in MEMA's WebEOC and contain the same fields. We assume, if the  changes are 
adopted by the Association, that MEMA would implement the same  changes to the 
WebEOC ICS-213.
 
4. Talbot has a strong desire that no other fields be added, so that the  
form resemble the nationally recognized form as much as possible.
 
That's our official position on ICS-213. For the sake of discussion, here  is 
some information about how we would process ICS-123 at Talbot:
 
 
PROCEDURES
 
PAPERLESS - In Talbot, we plan to operate paperless. Via the Internet, we  
have access to the MEMA WebEOC application and intend to use that for passing  
messages when possible. If RACES is activated, and we still have Internet  
access, RACES operators will receive messages to be sent, via their WebEOC  PC, 
and transmit them over-the-air via RACES. RACES operators will receive  messages 
over-the-air and type them directly into WebEOC ICS-213 to be forwarded  to 
the recipient. 
 
SENDING - In the event the Internet is down (a more likely scenario), we  
will revert to a multi-part paper ICS-213. We will require at least 3  
carbons/parts per ICS-213. The originator of the message will write the message  on a 
multi-part ICS-213, keep one copy, and pass the rest to the RACES operator.  The 
RACES operator will send the message over-the-air and file the copies. If a  
reply comes back, the RACES operator will retrieve the copies from file, write 
 the reply on the form, keep one copy, and pass the third copy to the 
originator  of the message. 
 
RECEIVING - For new messages received over-the-air, the RACES operator will  
write the message on a blank multi-part ICS-213, keep one copy and pass the  
remaining copies to the recipient. If the recipient has a reply, he will write  
it on his remaining 2 copies, keep one and pass the other to the RACES 
Officer  to be transmitted.
 
FORMS - Once the ICS-213 format is agreed upon, perhaps we can  find state 
funding for printing the multi-part ICS-213. If so, we  would be willing to use 
multi-part forms with more than 3 parts, if that is what  other jurisdictions 
require. In other words, we will not refuse to use forms  that have more than 
3 parts. We will just make use of 3 of the parts.
 
 
FORMATTING
 
I had a few minor comments from our operators about the format of  the paper 
form. Boxes 2 (TO) and 3 (FROM) will contain a lot of text, and we  thought it 
might be useful to make the boxes larger so we more easily write a  second 
line of text.
 
I received a suggestion to make the lines for Message and Reply text (i.e.  
the body of the message) slightly bigger (maybe by 1/8 inch) so they didn't 
have  to write so small. Making the lines bigger and decreasing the number of 
lines  would force the originator to keep the message brief and to the point.


INSTRUCTIONS
 
We had some minor comments regarding the instructions provided for filling  
out the form.
 
During the drill, we were confused about what to put in box 1 (Incident  
Name). If the Incident Commander is supposed to name the incident, we would like  
to get the incident name in the COMMEX instructions so we are all using the 
same  name for the drill. Or is this more specific, for example during hurricane 
 Isabel, would this be "Isabel" or a more specific incident name like "Talbot 
 Flooding" or "Apartment Building Fire" that might occur as a result of  
Isabel?
 
We were not sure what to put in box 5 (Subject). Although this would  
normally be filled out by someone other than a RACES operator, it would be  helpful 
to know what goes here so we can create realistic drills. Some thought  Subject 
should be a summary of the message (e.g. 3 Bridges Washed Out; Need  Rescue 
Vehicles, etc.). Some examples in the instructions of what is valid and  what 
is not, would be very helpful so we are consistent.
 
 
REGARDS
 
I look forward to hearing what other jurisdictions have decided regarding  
the format of the ICS-213 paper form so that we can get any differences  
resolved prior to the April 21 vote. This is a very important issue, and as I  
learned from this experience, has ripple affects that reach much further into  our 
emergency management procedures and processes than just RACES. Please  discuss 
this with your planner and EM so we can be sure that the form we approve  at 
MRIC, will be approved by the Association when they discuss our  
recommendations during their May meeting.
 
Brett Hammond
Talbot County RACES Officer
Chairman, MRIC
 



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