Enhancing Capabilities for Crisis Management and Disaster Response: Implementation in the Western Balkans Region (NATO Science for Peace and Security Series C: Environmental Security)

Science for Peace and Security (SPS) cooperation brings together NATO & partners to address common security concerns reflected in the so-called SPS Key Priorities. These include emerging security challenges such as terrorism, cyber defense or energy security, as well as human and social aspects of security, support to NATO-led mission and operation, advanced technologies with security applications, and early warning. The SPS project “Advanced Civil Emergency Coordination Pilot in the Western Balkans” addresses several of these areas. As a key regional SPS flagship project, it helps to build capacity in response to a concrete security challenge. The Western Balkans is a region frequently affected by natural disasters and the pilot project provides emergency responders in the region with an incident command system that allows sharing information about disasters in a fast and easy way, enhancing situational awareness and building capacity in the area of civil emergency coordination. Foreword Preface Contents Abbreviations About the Editors About NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme 1 Historical Context 2 Programme Overview 3 SPS Programme’s Contributions to Civil Emergency Planning and Crisis Management References Critical Role of Information Sharing Technologies in Advancing Public Safety 1 An Age of Acceleration and Convergence in Homeland Security and Public Safety 2 Information Sharing Technologies to Advance Regional Civil Emergency Coordination 3 Interoperability Continuum and Information Sharing Capability Maturity 4 Conclusion References The Next-Generation Incident Command System (NICS) 1 Introduction 2 What Is NICS 3 NICS Development 4 NICS Description 5 Technical Description/Capabilities Development, Structure, and Organization of the ARCECP 1 A Slow and Steady Start 2 Developing the SPS Multi-year Project Proposal 3 Goals/Objectives 4 Project Plan and Milestones 5 Working/Advisory Group of End-Users 6 Needs and Capability Survey 7 Technical Development 8 Training 9 Demonstration(s)/Exercises/Evaluations 10 Transition and Sustainability 11 Implementation 12 The Risks 13 Financial – Budget at a High Level 14 Project Collaboration 15 Meeting Highlights 15.1 Initial Meetings 15.2 Kick-Off Conference, Brussels, Belgium 15.3 Progress Meeting – June 2017 15.4 Field Exercise – September 2017 15.5 Train-the-Trainer Workshop – March 2018 15.6 Second Progress Meeting – June 2018 15.7 Consequence Management Exercise – September 2018 15.8 NATO EARDCC Lessons Learned Conference – January 2019 15.9 Initial Planning Conference – February 2018 15.10 Final Planning Conference – April 2018 15.11 Third Progress Meeting – June 2019 15.12 Regional Cooperation Exercise – October 2019 References Validation of NICS in Exercises – Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia 1 Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre 2 Exercises Timeline 3 Exercise Objectives 4 Visibility 5 NICS Integration into Exercises 5.1 BOSNA I HERCEGOVINA 2017 5.2 SRBIJA 2018 5.3 NICS-Montenegro 2019 6 Conclusions and Recommendations References Implementation of NICS in the Western Balkans 1 Introduction 1.1 Bosnia 2 Bosnia – Young Researchers 3 Croatia 4 Croatia – Young Researchers 5 North Macedonia 6 North Macedonia – Young Researchers 6.1 Multimodal Incident Command System Interface 7 Montenegro 8 Montenegro – Young Researchers 9 Localization 10 Other Functions References Towards Open Source Technologies for Public Safety 1 Concept of Social Media Data Analytics for NICS 2 Integration of Simulated Social Media in Live Exercises Appendices Appendix 1: ARCECP CONOPS CONOPS for ARCECP Regional Agreements Incident Command System Appendix 2: Montenegro 2019 Exercise Guidebook Introduction Purpose Exercise Objectives Exercise Participants Exercise Area of Operation Schedule Safety and Security Emergency Termination or Suspension Communications Internet Access Host Nation Support Food Accommodations Transportation Uniform Requirements Medical Support Roles and Responsibilities Exercise Management Exercise Media Social Media Monitoring