CED Multi-Agency Coordination 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a multi-agency response to a wildfire threatening a residential area, which coordination center typically serves as the primary hub for resource tracking and dispatch decisions?
- Local fire station command post
- Multi-Agency Coordination Center (MACC) (Correct answer)
- State emergency operations center
- Regional law enforcement dispatch
Correct answer: Multi-Agency Coordination Center (MACC)
A Multi-Agency Coordination Center (MACC) serves as the central hub for resource tracking, prioritization, and dispatch decisions during large-scale multi-agency incidents.
Question 2: When two dispatch centers are handling a shared incident boundary, what protocol best prevents duplication of resource assignments?
- Each center dispatches independently and compares logs afterward
- A shared incident command post manages all dispatch
- Designating one center as the primary dispatcher with the other in advisory role (Correct answer)
- Both centers simultaneously notify all resources
Correct answer: Designating one center as the primary dispatcher with the other in advisory role
Designating one center as primary dispatcher while the other assumes an advisory role prevents duplicate resource assignments and communication confusion.
Question 3: Under ICS, what role is responsible for coordinating communication between agencies at the operations level during a major incident?
- Incident Commander
- Operations Section Chief
- Liaison Officer (Correct answer)
- Public Information Officer
Correct answer: Liaison Officer
The Liaison Officer serves as the point of contact for representatives from cooperating and assisting agencies, coordinating inter-agency communication.
Question 4: A dispatcher receives simultaneous calls from two mutual aid partners, each requesting the same scarce resource (aerial ladder truck). What is the best approach?
- Assign the resource to whichever agency called first
- Escalate to a supervisor or MAC Group for prioritization (Correct answer)
- Send the resource to the geographically closer incident
- Deny both requests and wait for additional resources
Correct answer: Escalate to a supervisor or MAC Group for prioritization
Scarce resource conflicts should be escalated to a supervisor or MAC Group, which has the authority to prioritize based on life-safety and incident severity.
Question 5: Which document formally authorizes the sharing of resources between jurisdictions during a declared emergency?
- Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
- Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Mutual Aid Agreement (Correct answer)
- Incident Action Plan (IAP)
- Resource Management Plan
Correct answer: Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Mutual Aid Agreement
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Mutual Aid Agreement is the formal document that authorizes inter-jurisdictional resource sharing.
Question 6: During a multi-agency hazmat response, communications between dispatch centers should be conducted on:
- Each agency's primary tactical channel
- A pre-designated interoperability channel (Correct answer)
- Cellular phone to avoid radio congestion
- The highest-priority agency's channel only
Correct answer: A pre-designated interoperability channel
A pre-designated interoperability channel ensures all participating agencies can communicate without interfering with individual agency tactical operations.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of a Unified Command structure in multi-agency incidents?
- To give one agency full control over all others
- To allow agencies to manage their own resources without coordination
- To enable agencies with different jurisdictions to jointly manage an incident (Correct answer)
- To eliminate the need for individual agency communication
Correct answer: To enable agencies with different jurisdictions to jointly manage an incident
Unified Command enables multiple agencies with jurisdictional authority or functional responsibility to jointly manage an incident while maintaining their individual roles.
CED Multi-Agency Coordination 2
During a multi-agency response to a wildfire threatening a residential area, which coordination center typically serves as the primary hub for resource tracking and dispatch decisions?