Agency: An agency is a division of government with a specific function, or a nongovernmental organization (e.g., private contractor, business, etc.) that offers a particular kind of assistance. In ICS, agencies are defined as jurisdictional (having statutory responsibility for incident mitigation) or assisting and/or cooperating (providing resources and/or assistance). (See Assisting Agency, Cooperating Agency, Jurisdictional Agency, and Multi-Agency Incident.)
Agency Administrator or Executive: Chief executive officer (or designee) of the agency or jurisdiction that has responsibility for the incident.
Agency Dispatch: The agency or jurisdictional facility from which resources are allocated to incidents.
Agency Representative: An individual assigned to an incident from an assisting or cooperating agency who has been delegated authority to make decisions on matters affecting that agency's participation at the incident. Agency Representatives report to the Incident Liaison Officer.
Air Operations Branch Director: The person primarily responsible for preparing and implementing the air operations portion of the Incident Action Plan. Also responsible for providing logistical support to helicopters operating on the incident.
Allocated Resources: Resources dispatched to an incident.
All-Risk: Any incident or event, natural or human-caused, that warrants action to protect life, property, environment, public health and safety and minimize disruption of governmental, social and economic activities.
Area Command: An organization established to: 1) oversee the management of multiple incidents that are each being handled by an Incident Command System organization; or 2) to oversee the management of a very large incident that has multiple Incident Management Teams assigned to it. Area Command has the responsibility to set overall strategy and priorities, allocate critical resources based on priorities, ensure that incidents are properly managed, and ensure that objectives are met and strategies followed.
Assigned Resources: Resources checked in and assigned work tasks on an incident.
Assignments: Tasks given to resources to perform within a given operational period, based upon tactical objectives in the Incident Action Plan.
Assistant: Title for subordinates of the Command Staff positions. The title indicates a level of technical capability, qualifications, and responsibility subordinate to the primary positions.
Assisting Agency: An agency directly contributing tactical or service resources to another agency.
Available Resources: Incident-based resources which are ready for deployment.
Base: The location at which primary Logistics functions for an incident are coordinated and administered. There is only one Base per incident. (Incident name or other designator will be added to the term Base.) The Incident Command Post may be collocated with the Base.
Branch: The organizational level having functional or geographic responsibility for major parts of the Operations or Logistics functions. The Branch level is organizationally between Section and Division/Group in the Operations Section, and between Section and Units in the Logistics Section. Branches are identified by the use of Roman Numerals or by functional name (e.g., medical, security, etc.).
Cache: A pre-determined complement of tools, equipment, and/or supplies stored in a designated location, available for incident use.
Camp: A geographical site, within the general incident area, separate from the Incident Base, equipped and staffed to provide sleeping, food, water, and sanitary services to incident personnel.
Chain of Command: A series of management positions in order of authority.
Check-In: The process whereby resources first report to an incident. Check-in locations include: Incident Command Post (Resources Unit), Incident Base, Camps, Staging Areas, Helibases, Helispots, and Division Supervisors (for direct line assignments).
Chief: The ICS title for individuals responsible for functional Sections: Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration.
Clear Text: The use of plain English in radio communications transmissions. No Ten Codes or agency-specific codes are used when utilizing clear text.
Command: The act of directing and/or controlling resources by virtue of explicit legal, agency, or delegated authority. May also refer to the Incident Commander.
Command Post: See Incident Command Post.
Command Staff: The Command Staff consists of the Public Information Officer, Safety Officer, and Liaison Officer. They report directly to the Incident Commander. They may have an Assistant or Assistants, as needed.
Communication Unit: An organizational Unit in the Logistics Section responsible for providing communication services at an incident. A Communication Unit may also be a facility (e.g., a trailer or mobile van) used to provide the major part of an Incident Communications Center.
Compacts: Formal working agreements among agencies to obtain mutual aid.
Compensation/Claims Unit: Functional Unit within the Finance/Administration Section responsible for financial concerns resulting from property damage, injuries, or fatalities at the incident.
Complex: Two or more individual incidents located in the same general area which are assigned to a single Incident Commander or to Unified Command.
Cooperating Agency: An agency supplying assistance other than direct tactical or support functions or resources to the incident control effort (e.g., Red Cross, telephone company, etc.).
Coordination: The process of systematically analyzing a situation, developing relevant information, and informing appropriate command authority of viable alternatives for selection of the most effective combination of available resources to meet specific objectives. The coordination process (which can be either intra- or interagency) does not involve dispatch actions. However, personnel responsible for coordination may perform command or dispatch functions within the limits established by specific agency delegations, procedures, legal authority, etc.
Coordination Center: Term used to describe any facility that is used for the coordination of agency or jurisdictional resources in support of one or more incidents.
Cost Sharing Agreements: Agreements between agencies or jurisdictions to share designated costs related to incidents. Cost sharing agreements are normally written but may also be oral between authorized agency or jurisdictional representatives at the incident.
Cost Unit: Functional Unit within the Finance/Administration Section responsible for tracking costs, analyzing cost data, making cost estimates, and recommending cost-saving measures.
County Emergency Board (CEB): Every county or comparable subdivision of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands is covered administratively by an organized USDA CEB. Note: CEB's parallel the Farm Service Agency (FSA) administrative combinations for County FSA Offices. CEB's are composed of representatives of USDA Agencies operating within their respective jurisdiction. The boards constitute the organization responsible for carrying out USDA's national security emergency functions.
Crew: See Single Resource.
Delegation of Authority: A statement provided to the Incident Commander by the Agency Executive delegating authority and assigning responsibility. The Delegation of Authority can include objectives, priorities, expectations, constraints, and other considerations or guidelines as needed. Many agencies require written Delegation of Authority to be given to Incident Commanders prior to their assuming command on larger incidents.
Demobilization Unit: Functional Unit within the Planning Section responsible for assuring orderly, safe, and efficient demobilization of incident resources.
Deputy: A fully qualified individual who, in the absence of a superior, could be delegated the authority to manage a functional operation or perform a specific task. In some cases, a Deputy could act as relief for a superior and therefore must be fully qualified in the position. Deputies can be assigned to the Incident Commander, General Staff, and Branch Directors.
Director: The ICS title for individuals responsible for supervision of a Branch.
Dispatch: The implementation of a command decision to move a resource or resources from one place to another.
Dispatch Center: A facility from which resources are ordered, mobilized, and assigned to an incident.
Division: Divisions are used to divide an incident into geographical areas of operation. A Division is located within the ICS organization between the Branch and the Task Force/Strike Team. (See Group.) Divisions are identified by alphabetic characters for horizontal applications and, often, by floor numbers when used in buildings.
Documentation Unit: Functional Unit within the Planning Section responsible for collecting, recording, and safeguarding all documents relevant to the incident.
Emergency Management Coordinator/Director: The individual within each political subdivision that has coordination responsibility for jurisdictional emergency management.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT): A health-care specialist with particular skills and knowledge in pre-hospital emergency medicine.
Emergency Operations Center (EOC): A pre-designated facility established by an agency or jurisdiction to coordinate the overall agency or jurisdictional response and support to an emergency.
Emergency Operations Plan: The plan that each jurisdiction has and maintains for responding to appropriate hazards.
Event: A planned, non-emergency activity. ICS can be used as the management system for a wide range of events, e.g., parades, concerts, or sporting events.
Facilities Unit: Functional Unit within the Support Branch of the Logistics Section that provides fixed facilities for the incident. These facilities may include the Incident Base, feeding areas, sleeping areas, sanitary facilities, etc.
Field Operations Guide: A pocket-size manual of instructions on the application of the Incident Command System.
Finance/Administration Section: The Section responsible for all incident costs and financial considerations. Includes the Time Unit, Procurement Unit, Compensation/Claims Unit, and Cost Unit.
Food Unit: Functional Unit within the Service Branch of the Logistics Section responsible for providing meals for incident personnel.
Function: In ICS, function refers to the five major activities in the ICS, i.e., Command, Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration. The term function is also used when describing the activity involved, e.g., the planning function.
General Staff: The group of incident management personnel reporting to the Incident Commander. They may have one or more Deputies, as needed. The General Staff consists of the Operations Section Chief, Planning Section Chief, Logistics Section Chief, and Finance/Administration Section Chief.
Generic ICS: Refers to the description of ICS that is generally applicable to any kind of incident or event.
Ground Support Unit: Functional Unit within the Support Branch of the Logistics Section responsible for the fueling, maintaining, and repairing of vehicles, and the transportation of personnel and supplies.
Group: Groups are established to divide the incident into functional areas of operation. Groups are composed of resources assembled to perform a special function not necessarily within a single geographic division. (See Division.) Groups are located between Branches (when activated) and Resources in the Operations Section.
Helibase: The main location for parking, fueling, maintenance, and loading of helicopters operating in support of an incident. It is usually located at or near the incident Base.
Helispot: Any designated location where a helicopter can safely take off and land. Some helispots may be used for loading of supplies, equipment, or personnel.
Hierarchy of Command: See Chain of Command.
Incident: An occurrence, either human caused or by natural phenomena, that requires action by emergency service personnel to prevent or minimize loss of life or damage to property and/or natural resources.
Incident Action Plan (IAP): Contains objectives reflecting the overall incident strategy and specific tactical actions and supporting information for the next operational period. The Plan may be oral or written. When written, the Plan may have a number of forms as attachments (e.g., traffic plan, safety plan, communications plan, map, etc.).
Incident Base: Location at the incident where the primary Logistics functions are coordinated and administered. (Incident name or other designator will be added to the term Base.) The Incident Command Post may be collocated with the Base. There is only one Base per incident.
Incident Commander (IC): The individual responsible for overall management of the incident.
Incident Command Post (ICP): The location at which the primary command functions are executed. The ICP may be collocated with the incident base or other incident facilities.
Incident Command System (ICS): A standardized on-scene emergency management concept specifically designed to allow its user(s) to adopt an integrated organizational structure equal to the complexity and demands of single or multiple incidents, without being hindered by jurisdictional boundaries.
Incident Communications Center: The location of the Communications Unit and the Message Center.
Incident Management Team (IMT): The Incident Commander and appropriate Command and General Staff personnel assigned to an incident.
Incident Objectives: Statements of guidance and direction necessary for the selection of appropriate strategy(s), and the tactical direction of resources. Incident objectives are based on realistic expectations of what can be accomplished when all allocated resources have been effectively deployed. Incident objectives must be achievable and measurable, yet flexible enough to allow for strategic and tactical alternatives.
Incident Support Organization: Includes any off-incident support provided to an incident. Examples would be Agency Dispatch centers, Airports, Mobilization Centers, etc.
Initial Action: The actions taken by resources which are the first to arrive at an incident.
Initial Response: Resources initially committed to an incident.
Jurisdiction: The range or sphere of authority. Public agencies have jurisdiction at an incident related to their legal responsibilities and authority for incident mitigation. Jurisdictional authority at an incident can be political/geographical (e.g., city, county, State, or Federal boundary lines) or functional (e.g., police department, health department, etc.). (See Multijurisdiction.)
Jurisdictional Agency: The agency having jurisdiction and responsibility for a specific geographical area, or a mandated function.
Landing Zone: See Helispot.
Leader: The ICS title for an individual responsible for a Task Force, Strike Team, or functional Unit.
Liaison Officer: A member of the Command Staff responsible for coordinating with representatives from cooperating and assisting agencies. The Liaison Officer may have Assistants.
Life-Safety: Refers to the joint consideration of both the life and physical well-being of individuals.
Logistics Section: The Section responsible for providing facilities, services, and materials for the incident.
Management by Objectives: In ICS, this is a top-down management activity which involves a three-step process to achieve the incident goal. The steps are: establishing the incident objectives, selection of appropriate strategy(s) to achieve the objectives, and the tactical direction associated with the selected strategy. Tactical direction includes: selection of tactics, selection of resources, resource assignments, and performance monitoring.
Managers: Individuals within ICS organizational Units that are assigned specific managerial responsibilities, e.g., Staging Area Manager or Camp Manager.
Medical Unit: Functional Unit within the Service Branch of the Logistics Section responsible for the development of the Medical Emergency Plan, and for providing emergency medical treatment of incident personnel.
Message Center: The Message Center is part of the Incident Communications Center and is collocated or placed adjacent to it. It receives, records, and routes information about resources reporting to the incident, resource status, and administrative and tactical traffic.
Mobilization: The process and procedures used by all organizations Federal, State, and local for activating, assembling, and transporting all resources that have been requested to respond to or support an incident.
Mobilization Center: An off-incident location at which emergency service personnel and equipment are temporarily located pending assignment, release, or reassignment.
Multi-Agency Incident: An incident where one or more agencies assist a jurisdictional agency or agencies. May be single or unified command.
Multi-Agency Coordination (MAC): A generalized term which describes the functions and activities of representatives of involved agencies and/or jurisdictions who come together to make decisions regarding the prioritizing of incidents, and the sharing and use of critical resources. The MAC organization is not a part of the on-scene ICS and is not involved in developing incident strategy or tactics.
Multi-Agency Coordination System (MACS): The combination of personnel, facilities, equipment, procedures, and communications integrated into a common system. When activated, MACS has the responsibility for coordination of assisting agency resources and support in a multi-agency or multijurisdictional environment. A MAC Group functions within the MACS.
Multijurisdiction Incident: An incident requiring action from multiple agencies that have a statutory responsibility for incident mitigation. In ICS these incidents will be managed under Unified Command.
Mutual Aid Agreement: Written agreement between agencies and/or jurisdictions in which they agree to assist one another upon request, by furnishing personnel and equipment.
National Interagency Incident Management System (NIIMS): An NWCG-developed program consisting of five major subsystems which collectively provide a total systems approach to all-risk incident management. The subsystems are: The Incident Command System, Training, Qualifications and Certification, Supporting Technologies, and Publications Management.
Officer: The ICS title for the personnel responsible for the Command Staff positions of Safety, Liaison, and Public Information.
Operational Period: The period of time scheduled for execution of a given set of operation actions as specified in the Incident Action Plan. Operational Periods can be of various lengths, although usually not over 24 hours.
Operations Section: The Section responsible for all tactical operations at the incident. Includes Branches, Divisions and/or Groups, Task Forces, Strike Teams, Single Resources, and Staging Areas.
Out-Of-Service Resources: Resources assigned to an incident but unable to respond for mechanical, rest, or personnel reasons.
Overhead Personnel: Personnel who are assigned to supervisory positions which include Incident Commander, Command Staff, General Staff, Directors, Supervisors, and Unit Leaders.
Planning Meeting: A meeting held as needed throughout the duration of an incident, to select specific strategies and tactics for incident control operations, and for service and support planning. On larger incidents, the Planning Meeting is a major element in the development of the Incident Action Plan.
Planning Section: Responsible for the collection, evaluation, and dissemination of information related to the incident, and for the preparation and documentation of Incident Action Plans. The Section also maintains information on the current and forecasted situation, and on the status of resources assigned to the incident. Includes the Situation, Resources, Documentation, and Demobilization Units, as well as Technical Specialists.
Procurement Unit: Functional Unit within the Finance/Administration Section responsible for financial matters involving vendor contracts.
Public Information Officer: A member of the Command Staff responsible for interfacing with the public and media or with other agencies requiring information directly from the incident. There is only one Public Information Officer per incident. The Public Information Officer may have Assistants.
Recorders: Individuals within ICS organizational units who are responsible for recording information. Recorders may be found in Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration Units.
Reinforced Response: Those resources requested in addition to the initial response.
Reporting Locations: Location or facilities where incoming resources can check-in at the incident. (See Check-in.)
Resources: Personnel and equipment available, or potentially available, for assignment to incidents. Resources are described by kind and type (e.g., Type III Helicopter) and may be used in tactical, support, or overhead capacities at an incident.
Resources Unit: Functional Unit within the Planning Section responsible for recording the status of resources committed to the incident. The Unit also evaluates resources currently committed to the incident, the impact that additional responding resources will have on the incident, and anticipated resource needs.
Safety Officer: A member of the Command Staff responsible for monitoring and assessing safety hazards or unsafe situations, and for developing measures for ensuring personnel safety. The Safety Officer may have Assistants.
Section: The organizational level with responsibility for a major functional area of the incident, e.g., Operations, Planning, Logistics, Finance/Administration.
Segment: A geographical area in which a Task Force/Strike Team Leader or Supervisor of a single resource is assigned authority and responsibility for the coordination of resources and implementation of planned tactics. A segment may be a portion of a division or an area inside or outside the perimeter of an incident. Segments are identified with Arabic numbers.
Service Branch: A Branch within the Logistics Section responsible for service activities at the incident. Includes the Communication, Medical, and Food Units.
Single Resource: An individual, a piece of equipment and its personnel complement, or a crew or team of individuals with an identified work Supervisor that can be used on an incident.
Situation Unit: Functional Unit within the Planning Section responsible for the collection, organization, and analysis of incident status information, and for analysis of the situation as it progresses. Reports to the Planning Section Chief.
Span of Control: A supervisory range of three to seven individuals, with the ratio of one-to-five being established as optimum.
Staging Area: Staging Areas are locations set up at an incident where resources can be placed while awaiting a tactical assignment. Staging Areas are managed by the Operations Section.
State Emergency Board (SEB): USDA national security emergency programs, under direction from USDA national headquarters, are administered by a USDA SEB in each State and the Caribbean Area. The boards constitute the organization responsible for carrying out USDA's national security emergency functions.
Strategy: The general plan or direction selected to accomplish incident objectives.
Strike Team: A specified combination of the same kind and type of resources with common communications and a Leader.
Supervisor: The ICS title for individuals responsible for a Division or Group.
Supply Unit: Functional Unit within the Support Branch of the Logistics Section responsible for ordering equipment and supplies required for incident operations.
Support Branch: A Branch within the Logistics Section responsible for providing personnel, equipment, and supplies to support incident operations. Includes the Supply, Facilities, and Ground Support Units.
Supporting Materials: Refers to the several attachments that may be included with an Incident Action Plan, e.g., communications plan, map, safety plan, traffic plan, and medical plan.
Support Resources: Non-tactical resources under the supervision of the Logistics, Planning, Finance/Administration Sections, or the Command Staff.
Tactical Direction: Direction given by the Operations Section Chief which includes the tactics required to implement the selected strategy, the selection and assignment of resources to carry out the tactics, directions for tactics implementation, and performance monitoring for each operational period.
Tactics: Deploying and directing resources on an incident to accomplish incident strategy and objectives.
Task Force: A combination of single resources assembled for a particular tactical need with common communications and a Leader.
Team: See Single Resource.
Technical Specialists: Personnel with special skills that can be used anywhere within the ICS organization.
Time Unit: Functional Unit within the Finance/Administration Section responsible for recording time for incident personnel and hired equipment.
Type: Refers to resource capability. A Type 1 resource provides a greater overall capability due to power, size, capacity, etc., than would be found in a Type 2 resource. Resource typing provides managers with additional information in selecting the best resource for the task.
Unified Area Command: A Unified Area Command is established when incidents under an Area Command are multijurisdictional. (See Area Command and Unified Command.)
Unified Command: In ICS, Unified Command is a unified team effort which allows all agencies with responsibility for the incident, either geographical or functional, to assign an Incident Commander to the Unified Command. The Incident Commanders in the Unified Command establish a common set of incident objectives and strategies. This type of command structure is accomplished without losing or giving up agency authority, responsibility, or accountability.
Unit: The organizational element having functional responsibility for a specific incident Planning, Logistics, or Finance/Administration activity.
Unity of Command: The concept by which each person within an organization reports to one and only one designated person.
