Appendix A
NIMS - The Incident Command System

The Incident Command System (ICS) is the combination of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications operating within a common organizational structure, designed to aid in domestic incident management activities. It is used for a broad spectrum of emergencies, from small to complex incidents, both natural and manmade, including acts of catastrophic terrorism. ICS is used by all levels of government—Federal, State, local, and tribal, as well as by many private-sector and nongovernmental organizations. ICS is usually organized around five major functional areas: command, operations, planning, logistics, and finance and administration. A sixth functional area, Intelligence, may be established if deemed necessary by the Incident Commander, depending on the requirements of the situation at hand.

Some of the more important “transitional steps” that are necessary to apply ICS in a field incident environment include the following:

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