For what is the ICS form 215 Operational Planning Worksheet used

This FEMA Operational Planning Worksheet (ICS 215) Mobile App will expedite disaster management activities, which will get relief and emergency responders to the areas they are most needed. It organizes and stores disaster risk data for the Incident Command System (ICS), which monitors complex emergency management activities. These electronic records in the database are easier to search than the previous paper records.

This app is intended for emergency planning staff of natural disasters, including forest fires or flooding. And it can also be used for man-made disasters such as gas explosions, an active shooter or a security incident that might involve homeland security. You may customize this planning tool to develop a high- quality emergency plan for fast incident response. Since this handy app can be accessed onsite on a smartphone or tablet, it expedites risk assessment, the recovery process, and disaster mitigation. Personnel will appreciate this app during emergency operations, which may include training and personal protective equipment for first responders, environmental health risks and the identification of hazardous materials.

It is also an important feature when organizing long-term recovery operations that involve monitoring off-site storage, rebuilding residential and business property, and maintaining healthcare facilities, such as a local clinic or hospital. FEMA's goal is to build a consistent nationwide approach to emergency management. This disaster preparedness communication network will connect emergency responders and disaster management from all over the country. Use this app's reporting feature to run convenient real-time report PDFs that are exportable and shareable.

Introduction

Welcome to Lesson 4, Starting the Incident Action Plan: ICS-215 and ICS-215A. At the conclusion of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Identify the purpose of, the preparation and distribution of, and describe the relationship of the information captured on ICS-215 and ICS-215A to other ICS forms commonly used in composing an IAP

ICS Forms 215 and 215A Overview

The ICS-215 and ICS-215A are valuable tools to document information for preparing the IAP. They are virtually essential to identifying the supervisory organization, tactical assignments, and resource needs to satisfy the operational objectives established by the IC/UC and to identify potential safety risks that may disrupt any tactical activities.

While not actually a part of the IAP, completed ICS-215 and ICS 215A documentation provides the core data needed to prepare other ICS forms that are components of an IAP.

ICS-215 Form and the Planning "P"

This form is used in the second step of the five Primary Planning Phases known as “Establish Incident Objectives and Strategy” and is found in the Planning “P” at the IC/UC Develop/Update Objectives Meeting.

This step includes:

• Formulating and prioritizing measurable incident objectives and identifying an appropriate strategy
• Identifying, analyzing, and evaluating reasonable strategies to determine the most appropriate strategy for the situation at hand
• Evaluating criteria, including public health and safety factors, estimated costs, and various environmental, legal, and political considerations

ICS-215: Operational Planning Worksheet

Purpose: The Operational Planning Worksheet (ICS-215) communicates the decisions made by the Operations Section Chief during the Tactics Meeting concerning resource assignments and needs for the next operational period.

Preparation: The ICS-215 is initiated by the Operations Section Chief and often involves logistics personnel, the Planning Section Chief, and the Safety Officer. The form is shared with the rest of the Command and General Staff in preparing for the Planning Meeting.

Distribution: When the Branch, Division, or Group work assignments and accompanying resource allocations are agreed upon, the form is distributed and used by the Planning Section to assist in the preparation of the ICS-204. The Logistics Section will use a copy of this worksheet for preparing requests for resources required for the next operational period.

ICS-215A: Incident Action Plan Safety Analysis

Purpose: The purpose of the Incident Action Plan Safety Analysis (ICS‑215A) is to aid the Safety Officer in completing an operational risk assessment to prioritize hazard, safety, and health issues, and to develop appropriate mitigations. This worksheet is best used in the planning phase to identify safety concerns for all operational assignments.

Preparation: The ICS-215A is typically prepared by the Safety Officer during the incident action planning cycle. When the Operations Section Chief is preparing for the Tactics Meeting, the Safety Officer collaborates with the Operations Section Chief to complete the form. This form is closely linked to the Operational Planning Worksheet (ICS-215).

Distribution: When the safety analysis is completed, the form is distributed to the Resources Unit to help prepare ICS-204 forms for each Branch, Division, and Group. All completed forms must be given to the Documentation Unit in the Planning Section.

Lesson Summary

The ICS-215 Operational Planning Worksheet is used to:

• Determine geographic (Division) or functional (Group) assignments
• Establish the specific work assignments (Tactics) to be performed during the next operational period
• Determine the resources needed to accomplish the work assignments

ICS-215A Incident Action Plan Safety Analysis form is used to:

• Produce an operational risk assessment in order to prioritize hazards, safety, and health issues, and develop appropriate control
• Enable Command and General staff to form a complete picture in anticipation of planned operational activities