CED Multi-Agency Coordination 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A multi-county search and rescue operation is underway. Which NIMS component provides the framework for dispatchers to track and request resources from other jurisdictions?
- Incident Command System (ICS)
- Resource Management (Correct answer)
- Communications and Information Management
- Command and Coordination
Correct answer: Resource Management
NIMS Resource Management provides the framework for identifying, ordering, mobilizing, tracking, and recovering resources across jurisdictions.
Question 2: When establishing communications during a multi-agency response, which of the following should dispatchers confirm FIRST?
- That all agencies use compatible radio encryption
- That a common operating frequency or channel has been established (Correct answer)
- That the incident command post has internet connectivity
- That all agencies have identical CAD systems
Correct answer: That a common operating frequency or channel has been established
Confirming a common operating frequency or channel is the first priority so all agencies can communicate during the incident.
Question 3: During a large-scale evacuation requiring law enforcement, fire, and EMS coordination, which function does the emergency dispatcher most critically perform?
- Directing evacuee traffic on major roads
- Maintaining situational awareness and routing resources to agency supervisors (Correct answer)
- Conducting door-to-door welfare checks personally
- Writing the Incident Action Plan
Correct answer: Maintaining situational awareness and routing resources to agency supervisors
Dispatchers maintain situational awareness and route resources efficiently, serving as the communications backbone for all responding agencies.
Question 4: A neighboring jurisdiction's CAD system is incompatible with yours during a joint response. What is the recommended workaround?
- Refuse to accept mutual aid until systems are compatible
- Manually relay resource status updates via radio or telephone (Correct answer)
- Allow responding units to self-dispatch without CAD tracking
- Transfer all records to a spreadsheet and email between agencies
Correct answer: Manually relay resource status updates via radio or telephone
Manually relaying resource status updates via radio or telephone bridges CAD incompatibility while keeping all agencies informed.
Question 5: In multi-agency coordination, 'span of control' refers to:
- The geographic boundary of each agency's jurisdiction
- The number of subordinates one supervisor can effectively manage (typically 3–7) (Correct answer)
- The radio frequency range of dispatch communications
- The number of incidents a dispatcher can handle simultaneously
Correct answer: The number of subordinates one supervisor can effectively manage (typically 3–7)
Span of control in ICS refers to the optimal number of subordinates (3–7) that one supervisor can effectively manage to maintain coordination.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the role of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in relation to field dispatch operations?
- The EOC replaces dispatch centers during major incidents
- The EOC provides strategic support, policy guidance, and resource coordination to support field operations (Correct answer)
- The EOC directly dispatches all field units during emergencies
- The EOC handles only media inquiries during major incidents
Correct answer: The EOC provides strategic support, policy guidance, and resource coordination to support field operations
The EOC provides strategic support, policy decisions, and resource coordination at a higher level to support and enable field dispatch and tactical operations.
Question 7: During a multi-agency active shooter response, which interoperability solution allows first responders from different agencies to communicate in real time?
- Shared email distribution lists
- Radio gateway or patch systems linking disparate radio systems (Correct answer)
- Posting updates to a shared social media account
- Sequential phone chain among supervisors
Correct answer: Radio gateway or patch systems linking disparate radio systems
Radio gateway or patch systems physically connect disparate radio systems, enabling real-time inter-agency communication during critical incidents.
CED Multi-Agency Coordination 3
A multi-county search and rescue operation is underway.
Which NIMS component provides the framework for dispatchers to track and request resources from other jurisdictions?