OR&R offers NOAA-specific ICS-300 (Incident Command System) classes through its Disaster Preparedness Program. This class meets the requirements of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) used by agencies during expanding incidents as required by Executive Order.

In this class, students will learn about typical ICS staffing structure and organization, reporting and working relationships, and information flow, transfer of command, and unified command functions in a multi-jurisdictional or multi-agency incident, ICS forms, resource management, and interagency mission planning and procurement.

Unlike traditional ICS-300 courses provided by other agencies, the NOAA-specific ICS-300 level class also includes key information as to NOAA’s authorities and responsibilities relative to preparedness, emergency response, resilience, and recovery activities for major incidents and natural disasters. The NOAA Concept of Operations (CONOPS) Plan and incident coordination by NOAA’s Homeland Security Program Office (HSPO) are also included as topic areas. This course expands upon the basic information covered in FEMA’s ICS-100 and 200 level online training courses.

The class is held over three or four days (for in-person classes) and is generally offered two to three times per year. The following ICS-300 classes have been scheduled for fiscal year 2024:

• Honolulu, HI, March 19-21, 2024: This class will be held in-person at the NOAA Inouye Regional Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. The application form will be open from January 2-February 9, 2024. Notification of applicants' acceptance status will be sent the week of February 16, 2024.
• Online/Virtual, the week of August 5-9, 2024: Exact days and times for this class are still being determined. The application form will be open from May 20 through June 28, 2024. Notification of applicants' acceptance status will be sent the week of July 12, 2024.

The class is designed for: (1) NOAA staff and contractors who are likely to be assigned roles in assisting in emergency management and preparedness planning activities under the NOAA CONOPS Plan or be deployed to other Incident Commands; and (2) staff requiring greater knowledge of NIMS/ICS and NOAA’s roles in response to major events.

At the end of this course, the participant should have a functional understanding of the following:

• NIMS/ICS management principles and organizational structure for expanding incidents
• Incident Command authorities and change of command process
• Knowledge of ICS forms, resource management, and mission planning
• Implementation of the incident management process on a simulated Type 3 incident
• Development of an initial Incident Action Plan for a simulated incident
• NOAA authorities and responsibilities during emergencies
• NOAA All Hazards Incident Management Concept of Operations (CONOPS)

NOAA staff and contractors taking this course will have a greater understanding of NOAA’s authorities, responsibilities, and resources, and be able to effectively work within established incident management norms, whether assisting in NOAA’s management of an emergency or deployed to an emergency or disaster center managed under NIMS/ICS principles, such as a FEMA Joint Field Office or a USCG Command Post.
 

Questions: Contact us with questions, comments, or suggestions about ICS-300 classes.