Characteristics of Command and Control in Response to Emergencies and Disasters

• Published in: Assessing Command and Control Effectiveness pp. 83 - 102
• Main Authors: Trnka, J., Woltjer, R.
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: United Kingdom Taylor & Francis 2014; Taylor & Francis Group; CRC Press LLC
• Edition: 1
• Subjects: Other warfare & defence issues; Risk assessment; Safety in the home; Operational Resources; Organizational Resource Base; Disaster Response Operations; Incident Command System; Disaster Response Organizations; Larger Control Systems; Kosovo Force Headquarters; Contextual Control Models; Key Viewpoints; Disaster Response; Unexpected Disturbances; Swedish Armed Forces; Temporal Configurations; Response Operations; Control Resources; Control Strategies; Joint Cognitive Systems; Related Command; Dynamic Control Process; Dynamic Control; Multiple Command; Control Work; Emergency Medical Services; Voluntary Emergency Medical Service; Autonomous Command
• ISBN: 9781472436948; 1138073121; 1472436946; 9781138073128
• DOI: 10.1201/9781315568119-6

Controllers are a part of larger control systems that influence what and how specific response operations are managed and related command and control work performed. Controllers in emergency and disaster response operations need to be adaptive in multiple dimensions in order to accomplish their goals. The three main dimensions of adaptation are: resource-driven adaptation, control-driven adaptation and adaptation to unexpected disturbances and changes. The chapter describes and discusses the main characteristics of response operations and the related command and control work. First, emergencies and disasters are distinctive phenomena that require specific management of response operations. Secondly, management of this type of response operation is a dynamic control process controlled by controllers. Thirdly, controllers need to be adaptive in multiple dimensions due to the nature of response operation. The adaptation may also concern use of diverse organizational and temporal configurations of command and control work over time.