This lesson introduces you to the Incident Command System (ICS) Functional Areas and roles of the Incident Commander and Command Staff. By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Identify the five major ICS functional areas.
• Describe the role of the Incident Commander.
• Describe the selection of and transfer of command between Incident Commanders.
• Identify the position titles associated with the Command Staff.
• Describe the roles of the Command Staff.
• Differentiate between incident command and incident coordination.

Every incident requires that certain functional areas be implemented. The problem must be identified and assessed, a plan to deal with it must be developed and implemented, and the necessary resources must be procured and paid for.

Regardless of the size of the incident, these functional areas are all required.

In case you ever need to assist with an incident, you should understand how the management structure is constructed using the Incident Command System (ICS). This will help you understand your role in the structure and how you may receive information and assignments.

This lesson focuses on the five major functional areas and the Command Staff roles. The General Staff roles will be discussed in the next lesson.

There are five major Incident Command System (ICS) functional areas that are the foundation on which an incident management organization develops.

These functions apply to incidents of all sizes and types, including both planned events and ones that occur without warning.

If you are in an incident and hear these terms, it’s important for you to know what they mean. For instance, you may be directed to provide documents to the Planning Section or receipts to the Finance/Administration Section.

Incident Command: Sets the incident objectives, strategies, and priorities, and has overall responsibility for the incident.

Operations: Conducts operations to reach the incident objectives. Establishes tactics and directs all operational resources.

Planning: Supports the incident action planning process by tracking resources, collecting/analyzing information, and maintaining documentation.

Logistics: Arranges for resources and needed services to support achievement of the incident objectives (resources can include personnel, equipment, teams, supplies, and facilities).

Finance/Administration: Monitors costs related to the incident. Provides accounting, procurement, time recording, and cost analyses.

Intelligence/Investigations (I/I) is a sixth ICS function identified in NIMS. The Intelligence / Investigations function can be established to collect, analyze, and disseminate incident-related information and intelligence for incidents involving intensive intelligence gathering and investigative activity (such as a criminal or terrorist act, or epidemiological, accident or mass fatality investigation).

When I/I is required, the Incident Command/Unified Command can place the I/I function in multiple locations within the incident command structure based on factors such as the nature of the incident, the level of I/I activity, and the relationship of I/I to other incident activities.

The National Incident Management System (NIMS) defines command as the act of directing, ordering, or controlling by virtue of explicit statutory, regulatory, or delegated authority.

When you are using the Incident Command System (ICS) to manage an incident, an Incident Commander is assigned. The Incident Commander has the authority to establish objectives, make assignments, and order resources. To achieve these ends, the Incident Commander works closely with staff and technical experts to analyze the situation and consider alternative strategies.

The Incident Commander should have the training, experience, and expertise to serve in this capacity. Qualifications to serve as an Incident Commander should not be based solely on rank, grade, or technical knowledge.

In addition to having the overall responsibility for managing the entire incident, the Incident Commander is specifically responsible for:

• Ensuring overall incident safety
• Providing information services to internal and external stakeholders, such as disaster survivors, agency executives, and senior officials
• Establishing and maintaining liaisons with other agencies participating in the incident

The Incident Commander may appoint one or more Deputies. If a Deputy is assigned, he or she should be fully qualified to assume the Incident Commander’s position.

The command function should be clearly established at the beginning of an incident. The jurisdiction or organization with primary responsibility for an incident designates the individual at the scene who is responsible for establishing command and the protocol for transferring command. As an incident becomes more or less complex, command may change to meet the needs of the incident.

When command is transferred, the process should include a briefing that captures all essential information for continuing safe and effective operations.

The Incident Commander is responsible for all Incident Command System (ICS) functional areas until the Incident Commander delegates a function. Since the ICS organization is modular, it has the ability to expand or contract to meet the needs of the incident. During a larger incident, the Incident Commander may create sections and delegate the Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration responsibilities. For very small, routine, or short-duration incidents, it is possible that the Incident Commander will not establish any of the Staff positions. In this case, the Incident Commander will personally manage all ICS functions.

Depending upon the size and type of incident or event, the Incident Commander may designate personnel to provide information, safety, and liaison services. In the Incident Command System (ICS), the Command Staff may include:

• Public Information Officer, who interfaces with the public and media and/or with other agencies with incident-related information requirements.
• Safety Officer, who monitors incident operations and advises the Incident Commander on all matters relating to safety, including the health and safety of incident management personnel.
• Liaison Officer, who serves as the Incident Commander’s point of contact for representatives of governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and private-sector organizations.

Incident Commanders may also choose to appoint technical specialists (such as legal, medical, science and technology, or access and functional needs) to act as command advisors.

The Command Staff reports directly to the Incident Commander. In a complex incident, Assistant Officers may be assigned to each of the Command Staff functions.

Video Transcript

You’ve now learned that the Incident Commander has overall authority and responsibility for conducting incident operations. An Incident Commander may assign staff to assist with managing the incident.

The Command Staff consists of the Public Information Officer, Safety Officer, and Liaison Officer, who all report directly to the Incident Commander.

Let’s look at the roles of each member of the Command Staff. The Public Information Officer serves as the conduit for information to internal and external stakeholders, including the media and the public.

Accurate information is essential. The Public Information Officer serves as the primary contact for anyone who wants information about the incident and the response to it.

Another member of the Command Staff is the Safety Officer, who monitors conditions and develops measures for assuring the safety of all personnel.

The Safety Officer is responsible for advising the Incident Commander on issues regarding incident safety, conducting risk analyses, and implementing safety measures.

The final member of the Command Staff is the Liaison Officer, who serves as the primary contact for supporting agencies assisting at an incident.

Additionally, the Liaison Officer responds to requests from incident personnel for contacts among the assisting and cooperating agencies, and monitors incident operations in order to identify any current or potential problems between response agencies.

A Command Staff may not be necessary at every incident, but every incident requires that certain management functions be performed. An effective Command Staff frees the Incident Commander to assume a leadership role.

Now that we’ve discussed the Command Staff roles, let’s take a look at how the overall incident is coordinated.

Coordination involves the activities that ensure the onsite Incident Command System (ICS) organization receives the information, resources, and support needed to achieve those incident objectives. Coordination takes place in a number of entities and at all levels of government. Examples of coordination activities include:

• Establishing policy based on interactions with agency executives, other agencies, and stakeholders.
• Collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information to support the establishment of shared situational awareness.
• Establishing priorities among incidents.
• Resolving critical resource issues.
• Facilitating logistics support and resource tracking.
• Synchronizing public information messages to ensure that everyone is speaking with one voice.

Let’s take a look at how this coordination happens.

Effective incident management consists of four overarching areas of responsibility:

1. Direct tactical response to save lives, stabilize the incident, and protect property and the environment
2. Incident support through resource acquisition, information gathering, and interagency coordination
3. Policy guidance and senior level decision making
4. Outreach and communication with the media and public to keep them informed about the incident

These objectives are accomplished through the use of the Incident Command System (ICS), Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs), Multi-agency Coordination (MAC) Groups, and the Joint Information System (JIS), respectively.

The Command and Coordination component of NIMS defines these structures and explains how various elements operating at different levels of incident management interface to achieve the maximum effect through a shared understanding.

Jurisdictions and organizations across the Nation use Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) as an element of their emergency management programs.

Typically, an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) supports the on-scene response by relieving the Incident Commander of the burden of external coordination and the responsibility for securing additional resources.

An EOC is:

• A physical or virtual location where staff from multiple agencies come together to address imminent threats and hazards
• Staffed with personnel trained for, and authorized to, represent their agency/discipline
• Equipped with mechanisms for communicating with the incident site
• Providing support to the incident by obtaining resources 
• Applicable at different levels of government

EOCs may be established at the Federal, state, territorial, tribal, and local levels.

If you are from a non-governmental organization (NGO) or from the private sector, you may be asked to assist at the EOC to assess a situation, provide advice, and make recommendations based on your knowledge and professional expertise.

Another coordination entity is the Joint Information Center (JIC). The JIC:

• May be established to coordinate all incident-related public information activities
• Serves as the central point of contact for all news media—when possible, public information officials from all participating agencies should co-locate at the JIC

JICs may be established at various levels of government and at incident sites. Depending on your role in the incident, you may need to direct individuals or organizations to the JIC to obtain information.

This lesson introduced you to the:

• Five major Incident Command System (ICS) Functional Areas
• ICS organizational structure
• Incident Commander roles and responsibilities
• Selection and transfer of Incident Commanders
• Command Staff roles and responsibilities
• Differences between incident command and incident coordination

The next lesson provides an introduction to the ICS General Staff Roles.