Incident Command System (ICS)

In a disaster, many groups may need to work together: fire departments, hospitals, government agencies, and more. Most disasters start at a local level, the limitations of resources and people may require bringing in partners in the community, state, and federal levels. Coordinating multiple agencies in disasters can be challenging. It’s like having too many cooks in the kitchen. Who is in charge? How do we communicate effectively? 

We learned a lot of difficult lessons after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 . Poor coordination led to delays, confusion, and miscommunication.
 

A failure to address these potential issues may result in inefficiency, redundancy, and confusion in deploying resources and personnel.

 
The Incident Command System (ICS) is a flexible and scalable framework that can be used in any scale of disaster planning, response, and recovery.
 

Incident Command System chart showing an Incident Commander overseeing Public Information, Liaison, and Safety Officers, plus

 
5 main functions of ICS
  1. Incident Command
  2. Operations
  3. Planning
  4. Logistics
  5. Finance/Administration

Within Incident Command, additional staff can be added that includes a public information officer, liaison officer and safety officer.

Incident Commander

  • Public Information Officer
  • Liaison Officer
  • Safety Officer

Sets priorities and objectives. Assigns roles.

  • Media briefings, digital communication, communication with public
  • Point of contact for agencies and coordinates interagency efforts; Speaks on behalf of the incident commander
  • Identify and mitigate hazards;deliver safety briefings
Operations Section Plans and performs activities towards accomplishing objectives
Planning Section Collects, evaluates, and processes data about the situation and resources; disseminates this information
Logistics Section Provides support that can include facilities, transportation, communication, supplies, food
Finance/Administration Section Track, analyze, and estimate costs; identify cost-saving actions
 
14 main features of ICS
Common terminology Common terms around functions/functional units, resources, and facilities
Modular Organization The structure expands based on the size, complexity, and hazards of the disaster
Management by Objectives

Creates specific and measurable objectives

Identifies actions and tasks that achieve those objectives

Develops plans/procedures/protocols

Tracks results
Incident Action Plan Clear and concise communication of objectives that guides activities
Manageable Span of Control

Ensure efficiency and effectiveness

Management can communicate and supervise all assets
Incident Facilities and Locations

Key places include:

  • Incident Command Post
  • Staging areas
  • Triage/Treatment/Transport area
Comprehensive Resource Management

Tracks:

  • Personnel/Teams
  • Equipment
  • Supplies
  • Facilities
Integrated Communication A plan for how everyone communicates across agencies.
Establishment and Transfer of Command

Assigned a person with primary responsibility for the incident at the beginning.

Transfer command when a higher ranking individual arrives.
Unified Command

There is no one commander in unified command. 

Establishes jointly agreed upon objectives in situations where there are multiple overlapping authorities or jurisdictions involved.
Chain of Command/Unity of Command Individuals report to one person
Accountability Account for resources
Deployment/Dispatch Resource employment when requested by authorities.
Information/Intelligence Management Information shared through chain of command
 

 

What is your role and responsibility in the Incident Command System?

 

Resources:

  • FEMA: ICS Organizational Structure and Elements

Written by Dennis Ren

Last updated: 5/30/2025

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