Incident Tactics - Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  What does Incident Tactics do?
A:  Incident Tactics delivers a suite of simulation tools that put First Responders in real-world crisis situations where they develop and fine tune conditioned responses to terrorist events or other large-scale emergencies.  The Web-based challenges, also known as Readiness Forecasters, require the participant to demonstrate proficiency in emergency management and procedural knowledge while being confronted with simulated stress factors such as GIS, audio, video and timers.  The scoring system provides an accurate assessment of critical gaps as well as performance comparison across the organization or region.

"Incident Tactics is to First Responders what the flight simulator is to pilots"

The tools are developed with strict adherence to Department of Homeland Security standards and are used by local, county, and state government agencies committed to the highest level of emergency preparedness and the protection of citizens.

Q:  Who are potential users of Incident Tactics' products?   Why do they need them?
A:  The primary users of Incident Tactics' products include:

Firefighters
Police Officers
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT)
Educators
Citizen Emergency Response Teams (CERT)

These are the individuals most likely responsible for managing large-scale emergency situations. Knowledge of their strategic and tactical readiness is critical and they require the ability to perform drills and exercises frequently.

Q:  Do the products comply with guidelines and standards set by leading emergency management organizations?  If so, which ones?
A:  Incident Tactics products are developed to meet the strict and most current guidelines set by emergency management organizations and systems including:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA)
Firescope Incident Management Systems (ICS)
National Incident Management System (NIMS)
National Fire Service Incident Management System Consortium
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Q:  What expertise does Incident Tactics' leadership have in the field of emergency management?
A:  The Incident Tactics team is comprised of highly-credentialed professional First Responders with years of first-hand experience managing emergency situations.  Incident Tactics has assembled a board of directors that includes:

Jeff Sedevic, President of the California State Firefighters' Association (CSFA), the oldest and largest firefighter association representing over 29,000 firefighters and emergency medical services.

John Mitchell, President and CEO, is a retired firefighter/paramedic who served K for 12 years before becoming a leader in the technology field.  He is a former flight technician on Airlift Northwest and was a clinical assistant at Harborview Medical Center 's Trauma Unit.  As an expert in emergency medicine, John taught advanced courses at the Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute, The American Red Cross, The American Heart Association and local chapters of The American College of Emergency Physicians.  John also attended the University of Washington School of Medicine graduating first in the Advanced Mobile Intensive Care Paramedic program.  John is a nationally registered paramedic.

Most recently, he completed training by the US Army2d Medical Brigade in Emergency Response to Weapons of Mass Destruction at the Los Alamitos facility in California .

Q: What products does the company currently offer?
A:  Incident Tactics offers two series of Readiness Forecasters.

Threaded Series
Threaded challenges immerse First Responders in pre-defined emergency scenarios where a specific crisis situation is in progress.  Prompted by a variety of information sources including images, video, audio, and maps, participants manage the incident to resolution.  The participants’ ability to respond to time-sensitive questions and to make command decisions is assessed.

The first release in the Threaded Series, to be launched fall 2004, simulates the possible dispersal of a chemical or biological agent on a cruise ship.

Custom Series
Custom challenges are designed to accompany existing training resources developed by client organizations and are used to evaluate competency of personnel according to client requirements.

Incident Tactics’s proprietary software “engine” permits rapid and efficient implementation of custom challenges.

Q: Do customers need to have their own IT staff to handle the ongoing management and maintenance of the products?
A:  No.  As an Application Service Provider (ASP), Incident Tactics hosts the application and specific challenges on its own servers.  All software and content upgrades are performed transparently by Incident Tactics.  The only requirement for accessing a challenge is an internet-connected computer running a supported web browser.  This virtually eliminates all hardware, software and support costs.

Q: When will Incident Tactics products be available?
A:  The Company will launch its first products during the fall of 2004.

Q: How can organizations on tight budgets access funds to purchase Incident Tactics products?
A: The Department of Homeland Security has made $3.5 billion available to local governments. Incident Tactics can assist the customer in obtaining these grants.

Q:  Can I evaluate the Incident Tactics products?
A:  Yes.  Please contact us via the website at www.incidenttactics.com or call (425) 640-2685.

Q: How is Incident Tactics funded?
A:  The Company is privately held and funded primarily by investors.