ICS Functional Areas and Command Staff Roles

Five major ICS functional areas

• Incident Command, Operations, Planning, Logistics, Finance/Administration

• Safety, Security, Communications, Transportation

• Assessment, Response, Recovery, Mitigation

• Training, Coordination, Evaluation, Support

Command Staff in ICS

• May include roles like Public Information Officer and Safety Officer.

• Is responsible for managing logistics and resources.

• Focuses solely on financial management during incidents.

• Oversees the operational tactics and strategies.

Command Staff reporting

• Reports directly to the Incident Commander. Assistant Officers may be assigned in complex incidents.

• Reports to the Safety Officer during emergencies.

• Coordinates with the Logistics Section Chief for resource allocation.

• Provides updates to the Public Information Officer.

Examples of coordination activities

• Establishing policy

• Conducting market research

• Organizing social events

• Managing financial accounts

Public Information Officer Role

• Interfaces with the public and media and provides incident-related information.

• Manages internal communications within an organization.

• Conducts training sessions for staff members.

• Oversees financial operations and budgeting.

Creating Sections in ICS

• The Incident Commander creates only the necessary sections for the incident.

• The Incident Commander creates all sections regardless of the incident size.

• The Incident Commander eliminates all sections to streamline operations.

• The Incident Commander delegates section creation to subordinates.

Role of the Incident Commander

• Sets the incident objectives, strategies, and priorities, and has overall responsibility for the incident.

• Coordinates the logistics and resources for the incident response.

• Communicates with the media and public about the incident.

• Evaluates the performance of the response team after the incident.

Public information officials from all agencies should co-locate at the JIC when possible.

• Co-location facilitates better communication and coordination.

• Co-location is only necessary during emergencies.

• Co-location increases the risk of misinformation.

• Co-location is not recommended for all agencies.

Logistics

• Arranges for resources and needed services to support achievement of the incident objectives, including personnel, equipment, teams, supplies, and facilities.

• Manages the financial aspects of an incident response, including budgeting and funding allocation.

• Coordinates communication between different teams and stakeholders during an incident.

• Develops strategies for long-term recovery and rebuilding after an incident.

Command Staff

• Assigned by the Incident Commander to support the incident command function.

• Responsible for managing logistics during an incident.

• In charge of public relations and media communications.

• Oversees the financial aspects of the incident response.