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Referencing the content of incident command, NIMS, and National Response Framework readiness

ICS Readiness · Chapter 2

Command and General Staff

B1 — ICS fundamentals (IS-100)

Why this chapter matters

Clear command and staff roles prevent gaps in safety, public information, and interagency liaison while operations stay focused.

Learning objectives (4)

  1. Define Incident Commander — Individual responsible for overall incident management and authority on scene.
  2. Describe Command Staff functions — PIO handles information; Safety monitors hazards; Liaison coordinates with cooperating agencies.
  3. List General Staff sections — Operations, Planning, Logistics, Finance/Administration.
  4. Explain when to add deputies — Deputies support the IC or section chief when span of control or workload requires.

Chapter outline

  1. Engage: missing Safety or PIO on a growing incident
  2. Incident Commander authority and responsibilities
  3. Command Staff: PIO, Safety, Liaison
  4. General Staff sections and chiefs
  5. Deputy roles and span of control
  6. Adapt: table-top your agency into ICS positions

Vocabulary (16)

Incident Commander (IC)
Individual with overall responsibility for incident management.
Command Staff
PIO, Safety Officer, and Liaison Officer who report directly to the IC.
Public Information Officer (PIO)
Advises IC on public information; interfaces with media and stakeholders.
Safety Officer
Monitors incident operations and advises IC on safety issues.
Liaison Officer
Primary contact for supporting agencies without direct tactical assignment.
General Staff
Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration sections.
Operations Section Chief
Develops tactics and directs operational resources.
Planning Section Chief
Collects, evaluates, and disseminates information; maintains documentation.
Logistics Section Chief
Provides facilities, services, and material support.
Finance/Administration Section Chief
Monitors costs; handles compensation and claims.
deputy
Qualified person who may assume IC or section chief role and shares workload.
agency executive
Official with policy authority who may set objectives with IC.
staging area
Location where resources await assignment.
single resource
Individual, piece of equipment, or crew with defined capability.
organizational chart
Visual display of ICS positions filled for the incident.
accountability
Tracking personnel and resources assigned to the incident.

Sequence practice (2 puzzles on Quiz Me)

Command and General Staff

Put these ICS readiness steps in a logical order.

  1. Incident Commander authority and responsibilities
  2. Adapt: table-top your agency into ICS positions
  3. Command Staff: PIO, Safety, Liaison
  4. Engage: missing Safety or PIO on a growing incident
  5. Deputy roles and span of control
  6. General Staff sections and chiefs
Learning objectives

Order these chapter objectives from recognition toward coordination and handoff.

  1. Explain when to add deputies
  2. Describe Command Staff functions
  3. List General Staff sections
  4. Define Incident Commander

Quick fire sample (15 of 28 on Quiz Me)

Who has overall incident management responsibility?
  1. Incident Commander
  2. Liaison Officer only
  3. Finance Chief only
  4. Staging manager
The Safety Officer:
  1. Advises the IC on safety issues
  2. Writes press releases only
  3. Orders federal declarations
  4. Replaces Operations
The PIO:
  1. Manages public information
  2. Runs all tactics
  3. Credentials all resources
  4. Signs Stafford Act requests
Operations Section is responsible for:
  1. Tactics and operational resources
  2. Long-range cost recovery only
  3. Credentialing only
  4. MAC Group policy
Planning Section maintains:
  1. Incident information and documentation
  2. Only food services
  3. Only aircraft
  4. State legislative records
Logistics Section provides:
  1. Facilities, services, and support
  2. Only law enforcement
  3. Only weather forecasts
  4. Only legal advice
A deputy is used to:
  1. Support command when span of control is exceeded
  2. Eliminate need for IC
  3. Remove unified command
  4. Avoid briefings
Liaison Officer coordinates with:
  1. Cooperating and assisting agencies
  2. Only finance vendors
  3. Only hospitals internally
  4. Only news editors exclusively
Finance/Administration tracks:
  1. Costs and administrative requirements
  2. Only weather
  3. Only tactics
  4. Only maps exclusively without data
Command Staff reports to:
  1. Incident Commander
  2. Operations Chief only
  3. Lowest field responder
  4. Federal court
General Staff sections report to:
  1. Incident Commander through section chiefs
  2. Public only
  3. Media only
  4. No one
Organizational charts help:
  1. Show assigned positions and span of control
  2. Replace IAP
  3. Eliminate safety
  4. Avoid resource tracking
Individual with overall responsibility for incident management.
  1. Incident Commander (IC)
  2. Finance/Administration Section Chief
  3. deputy
  4. accountability
PIO, Safety Officer, and Liaison Officer who report directly to the IC.
  1. Operations Section Chief
  2. Finance/Administration Section Chief
  3. Command Staff
  4. organizational chart
Advises IC on public information; interfaces with media and stakeholders.
  1. Command Staff
  2. Logistics Section Chief
  3. Public Information Officer (PIO)
  4. Operations Section Chief

Full scored drills are on Quiz Me at /courses/ics-readiness/chapters/02/print/. Answers are not marked on this sheet.