The Incident Command System (ICS) is? - ANSWER Standardized, on-scene, all-risk, inci-
dent management concept. ICS is the result of decades of lessons learned in the organiza-
tion and management of emergency incidents.
Designers of the system recognized early that ICS must be interdisciplinary and organization-
ally flexible to meet the following management challenges - ANSWER 1. Meet the needs
of the incidents of any kind or size
2. Be usable for routine events or complex emergencies incidents
3. allow personnel from a variety of agencies to meld rapidly into a common management
structure.
4. provided logistical and administrative support to ensure that operational staff can meet
incident objectives.
5. Be cost effective by avoiding duplication of efforts
Poorly managed incident response can be devastating to our? - ANSWER Economy, to our
food supply and to our health and safety.
ICS is built around five major functions that may be applied on any incident whether it is
large or small. The five major management functions are - ANSWER 1. Incident Command
IC
2. Operations Section
3. Planning Section
4. Logistics Section
5. Finance/Administration Section
1
, Incident Commander - ANSWER The individual responsible for overall management of
the incident
Command Staff - ANSWER The command staff consists of the PIO, Safety officer and liai-
son officer. They report directly to the incident command. They may have an assistant or as-
sistants as needed.
Officer - ANSWER Officer is the ICS title for the personnel responsible for the Command
Staff positions of Safety, Liaison and Public information.
General Staff - ANSWER The group of incident management personnel reporting to the
incident commander. They may have one or more deputies as needed. The General staff
consist of the Operations section chief, Planning section Chief, Logistics section chief and fi-
nance/administration section chief.
Section - ANSWER The organizational level with responsibilities for a major functional
area of the incident Operations Planning Logistic finance/administration
Chief - ANSWER The ICS title for individuals responsible for functional sections: Opera-
tions, Planning, Logistics and Finance/Administration
Branch - ANSWER The organizational level having functional or geographic responsibility
for major parts of the operation of logistic functions.
Director - ANSWER The ICS title for individual responsible for supervision of a branch
Division/Group - ANSWER Division are used to divide an incident geographically. Groups
are used to divide an incident functionally.
Supervisor - ANSWER The ICS title for individuals responsible for a Division or group
2
dent management concept. ICS is the result of decades of lessons learned in the organiza-
tion and management of emergency incidents.
Designers of the system recognized early that ICS must be interdisciplinary and organization-
ally flexible to meet the following management challenges - ANSWER 1. Meet the needs
of the incidents of any kind or size
2. Be usable for routine events or complex emergencies incidents
3. allow personnel from a variety of agencies to meld rapidly into a common management
structure.
4. provided logistical and administrative support to ensure that operational staff can meet
incident objectives.
5. Be cost effective by avoiding duplication of efforts
Poorly managed incident response can be devastating to our? - ANSWER Economy, to our
food supply and to our health and safety.
ICS is built around five major functions that may be applied on any incident whether it is
large or small. The five major management functions are - ANSWER 1. Incident Command
IC
2. Operations Section
3. Planning Section
4. Logistics Section
5. Finance/Administration Section
1
, Incident Commander - ANSWER The individual responsible for overall management of
the incident
Command Staff - ANSWER The command staff consists of the PIO, Safety officer and liai-
son officer. They report directly to the incident command. They may have an assistant or as-
sistants as needed.
Officer - ANSWER Officer is the ICS title for the personnel responsible for the Command
Staff positions of Safety, Liaison and Public information.
General Staff - ANSWER The group of incident management personnel reporting to the
incident commander. They may have one or more deputies as needed. The General staff
consist of the Operations section chief, Planning section Chief, Logistics section chief and fi-
nance/administration section chief.
Section - ANSWER The organizational level with responsibilities for a major functional
area of the incident Operations Planning Logistic finance/administration
Chief - ANSWER The ICS title for individuals responsible for functional sections: Opera-
tions, Planning, Logistics and Finance/Administration
Branch - ANSWER The organizational level having functional or geographic responsibility
for major parts of the operation of logistic functions.
Director - ANSWER The ICS title for individual responsible for supervision of a branch
Division/Group - ANSWER Division are used to divide an incident geographically. Groups
are used to divide an incident functionally.
Supervisor - ANSWER The ICS title for individuals responsible for a Division or group
2
