a. Emergency operations plan amended

Concept of Operations It is the responsibility of government to protect life, property and the environment from the effects of hazardous events using the four phases of emergency management: preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation. This plan is based on the concept that the emergency functions performed by various groups responding to an emergency will generally parallel their normal day-to-day functions. To the extent possible. the same personnel and material resources will be employed in both cases. This plan incorporates the principles of the N ationallncident Management System (NIMS), a nationwide approach to domestic incidents management; applicable at all jurisdictional levels and across functional disciplines in an all-hazards context. It is not an operational incident management or resource allocation plan. NIMS represents a core set of doctrines, principles, terminology and organizational processes to enable efTective, efficient and collaborative incident management at all levels. NIMS provides a consistent nationwide template to enable all government. private-sector and nongovernmental organizations as follo\vs: A. Incident Command System (lCS) The Incident Command System (ICS) is considered the most effective system for managing emergencies. The National Fire Academy ICS can be used as a standard for Emergency Management Operations. Cass County Government subscribes to the use of ICS an important part ofNIMS. ICS is a standardized, f1exible. on-scene, all-hazard incident management concept. ICS allows its users to adopt an integrated organizational structure to match the complexities and demands of single or multiple incidents without being hindered by jurisdictional boundaries. B. Unified Command Svstem (UCS) A Unified Command System. part of ICS, is established upon activation response to an incident. This system encourages agencies with responsibility ft)r the incident to participate in the decision making process. Under a Unified Command, agencies work together through the designated members of the Unified Command to analyze information and establish a common set of objectives and strategies. C. Area Command (Unified Area Command) An organization established ( I) to oversee the management of multiple incidents that are each being handled by an ICS organization or (2) to oversee the management oflarge or multiple incidents to which several Incident Management Teams have been assigned. Area Command has the responsibility to set overall strategy and priorities, allocate critical resources according to priorities, ensure that incidents are properly managed. and ensure that objectives are met and strategies followed. Area Command becomes Unified Area Command when incidents are multi-jurisdictional. Area Command may be established at an emergency operations center facility or at some location other than an incident command post. D. Emergency Operations Local government, because of its proximity to these events. has the primary responsibility for emergency management activities. Other levels of government provide resources not available at the local level. If local resources (county and private) arc not available. the Cass County may request assistance through the county emergency management office 8