ICS Basics
This is the standardized approach used to manage emergency incidents of any size or complexity.
What is the incident Command System (ICS)?
This person has overall responsibility for managing the incident.
Who is the Incident Commander (IC)?
This is the top level of ICS leadership, consisting of the Incident Commander and their immediate staff.
What is Command Staff?
This term refers to personnel, equipment, and supplies available to support incident operations.
What are resources?
ICS is commonly used for this type of event, such as hurricanes or earthquakes.
What are natural disasters?
ICS was originally developed in the 1970s to address coordination issues during these large-scale events in California.
What are wildfires?
This role serves as the primary contact for coordinating with external agencies and the public.
Who is the Public Information Officer (PIO)?
These four sections—Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration—make up this ICS component.
What is General Staff?
Resources are classified as Single Resources, Strike Team, or these, which are groups of mixed personnel and equipment.
What are Task Forces?
This written plan outlines objectives, tactics, and assignments for each operational period.
What is the Incident Action Plan (IAP)?
This principle ensures that every individual reports to only one supervisor.
What is Unity of Command?
This officer monitors incident operations to identify safety hazards for responders.
Who is the Safety Officer?
This group is activated to handle large-scale incidents requiring multi-agency coordination.
What is a Unified Command?
This status indicates a resource is checked in and ready for assignment.
What is Available?
This type of incident might require ICS to manage a multi-vehicle crash with hazardous materials.
What is a transportation accident?
ICS is designed to be this, meaning it can grow or shrink based on the incident’s needs.
What is modular?
This position is responsible for tracking resources, personnel, and equipment during the incident.
Who is the Logistics Section Chief?
This temporary location serves as the central hub for incident management activities.
What is the Incident Command Post (ICP)?
This process ensures all resources are accounted for when they arrive at the incident site.
What is Check-In?
This principle ensures that ICS adapts when multiple jurisdictions or agencies are involved.
What is Flexibility (or Multi-Agency Coordination)?
This term describes the maximum number of subordinates one supervisor should manage, typically 3 to 7.
What is Span of Control?
This role develops the Incident Action Plan (IAP) to outline objectives and strategies.
Who is the Planning Section Chief?
This term describes a facility where resources are kept ready before being assigned to the incident.
What is a Staging Area?
This document tracks the status and location of all resources throughout the incident.
What is the Resource Status Report (or ICS Form 201)?
This real-world event in 2005 highlighted the need for better ICS implementation during disaster response.
What is Hurricane Katrina?