Coast Guard Incident Typing Characteristics Catastrophic Incident. A catastrophic incident is any natural or manmade incident, including terrorism, which results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the population, infrastructure, environment, economy, national morale, or government functions. Incident Type Characteristics Type 1 • This type of incident is the most complex, requiring national resources for safe and effective management and operation. • All command and general staff positions are filled, per Reference (h). • Operations personnel often exceed 500 per operational period and total personnel will usually exceed 1,000. • Branches need to be established. • Highly complex information management requirements including the use of one or more incident management software tools and a Common Operational Picture (COP). • An Incident Action Plan (IAP) is required for each operational period. • The agency administrator* will have briefings, and ensure that the complexity analysis and delegation of authority are updated. • Use of resource advisors at the incident base is recommended. • There is a high impact on the local jurisdiction, requiring additional staff for office administrative and support functions. • A Contingency Plan is used (that is, Area Contingency Plan, Heavy Weather Plan, etc.) Type 2 • This type of incident extends beyond the capabilities for local control and is expected to go into multiple operational periods. A Type 2 incident may require the response of resources out of area, including regional and/or national resources, to effectively manage the operations, command, and general staffing. • Most or all of the command and general staff positions are filled. • An IAP is required for each operational period. • Many of the functional units are needed and staffed. • A formal Information Management Plan is developed. • Operations personnel normally do not exceed 200 per operational period and total incident personnel do not exceed 500 (guidelines only). • The agency administrator* is responsible for the incident complexity analysis, agency administration briefings, and the written delegation of authority. • The unit’s organic resources are exhausted within 48-72 hours • A Contingency Plan is used (that is, Area Contingency Plan, Heavy Weather Plan, etc.) Type 3 • Some or all of the command and general staff positions may be activated, as well as division/group supervisor and/or unit leader level positions. • A Type 3 IMT or incident command organization is established. • Operations personnel often exceed 25 per operational period and total incident personnel do not exceed 200 (guidelines only). • The incident requires multiple operational periods. • An IAP is typically used for each operational period. • The unit’s organic resources are exhausted within 48-72 hours • A Contingency Plan is used (that is, Area Contingency Plan, Heavy Weather Plan, etc.) Type 4 • Command staff and general staff functions activate only if needed. • Several resources are required to mitigate the incident, including a task force or strike team. • The incident is usually limited to one operational period in the initial response phase. • The agency administrator* may have briefings and ensures that the complexity analysis and delegation of authority is updated. • No written IAP is required but a documented operational and safety briefing will be completed for all incoming resources. • The role of the agency administrator* includes development of objectives and priorities. • Examples include a maritime search and rescue case, small recoverable oil spill, or extended law enforcement boarding. Type 5 • The incident can be handled with one or two single resources with up to six personnel. • Command and general staff positions (other than the incident commander) are not activated. • No written IAP is required. • The incident is contained within the first operational period and often within an hour to a few hours after resources arrive on scene. • Examples include a maritime search and rescue case, sheen or unrecoverable oil spill, medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) of an injured person, or a law enforcement boarding. * For Coast Guard, agency administrator will be Sector Commander, District Commander, Area Commander, or Commandant, depending on response authority needed. SPRING 2024 — 25
