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Incident Command System

ICS Unit Guide

ICS Organization guide - For problems with accessibility in using figures and illustrations, please contact the Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management at (202) 693-2300.
This guide is for the purpose of outlining the required units and sizes for handling an incident. Some of the units in the chart below are not found in the this ICS eTool but are mentioned here to illustrate that the ICS can be used as a guide to fulfill all the needs of an incident and can be dynamic in structure. The following sections list unit positions and gives suggested numbers based on number of divisions.


Command
  1. Incident Commander - one per incident. Unless incident is multi- jurisdictional.
  2. Multi-jurisdictional incidents establish Unified Command with each jurisdiction supplying individual to represent agency in Unified Command Structure.
  3. Incident Commander may have Deputy.
  4. Command Staff Officer - one per function per incident.
  5. Command Staff may have assistants as needed.
  6. Agency Representatives report to Liaison Officer on Command Staff.
INCIDENT BASE RECOMMENDED MINIMUM PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS (PER TWELVE (12) HOUR OPERATIONAL PERIOD)

(If camps are established, the minimum personnel requirements for the Base may be modified or additional personnel may be added to support camps.)


Operations
  SIZE OF INCIDENT (NUMBER OF DIVISIONS)
UNIT POSITION 2 5 10 15 25  
Operations Section Chief One Per Operational Period
Branch Director   2 3 4 6  
Division/Group Supervisor 2 5 10 15 25  
Strike Team Leaders As Needed
Task Force Leaders As Needed
Air Operations Director   1 1 1 1  
Air Tactical Group Supervisor 1 1 1 1 1  
Air Tanker/Fixed Wing Coordinator As Needed
Helicopter Coordinator As Needed
Air Support Group Supervisor 1 1 1 1 1  
Helibase Manager One Per Helibase
Helispot Manager One Per Helispot
Fixed Wing Support Leader One Per Airport
Staging Area Manager One Per Staging Area


Planning
  SIZE OF INCIDENT (NUMBER OF DIVISIONS)
UNIT POSITION 2 5 10 15 25  
Planning Section Chief One Per Incident
Resources Unit Leader 1 1 1 1 1  
Status Recorders 1 2 3 3 3  
Check-In Recorders As Needed
Volunteer Coordinator As Needed
Technical Specialists As Needed
Situation Unit Leader 1 1 1 1 1  
Field Observer   1 2 2 3  
Weather Observer As Needed
Display/Report Processor   1 1 1 2  
Aerial/Ortho Photo Analyst As Needed
IR Equipment Operators Two (If Needed)
Computer Terminal Operator   1 1 1 1  
Photographer     1 1 1  
Environmental Unit Leader   1 1 1 1  
Documentation Unit Leader   1 1 1 1  
Demobilization Unit Leader     1 1 1  
Staging Area Manager One Per Staging Area


Logistics
  SIZE OF INCIDENT (NUMBER OF DIVISIONS)
UNIT POSITION 2 5 10 15 25  
Logistics Section Chief One Per Incident
Service Branch Director As Needed
Communications Unit Leader 1 1 1 1 1  
Incident Communications Manager 1 1 1 1 1  
Incident Dispatcher 1 2 3 3 4  
Message Center Operator   1 1 2 2  
Messenger   1 2 2 2  
Communications Technician   1 2 4 4  
Medical Unit Leader 1 1 1 1 1  
Medical Unit Leader Assistant As Needed
Responder Rehabilitation Manager As Needed
Food Unit Leader   1 1 1 1  
Food Unit Assistant (each camp) As Needed
Cook   1 1 2 2  
Assistant Cook   2 2 6 12  
Helper   8 8 16 24  
Support Branch Director As Needed
Supply Unit Leader   1 1 1 1  
Camp Supply Assistant (each camp) As Needed
Ordering Manager     1 1 1  
Receiving/Distribution Manager   1 1 1 1  
Tool/Equipment Specialist     1 1 1  
Recorders   1 1 2 2  
Helpers   2 2 2 2  
Facility Unit Leader   1 1 1 1  
Base Manager   1 1 1 1  
Camp Manager (each camp) As Needed
Facility Maintenance Specialist   1 1 1 1  
Security Manager   1 1 1 1  
Helpers   6 6 12 12  
Ground Support Unit Leader 1 1 1 1 1  
Equipment Manager   1 1 1 1  
Assistants As Needed
Equipment Timekeeper   1 1 1 1  
Mechanics 1 1 3 5 7  
Drivers As Needed
Operators As Needed
Vessel Support Unit Leader As Needed


Finance/Admin
  SIZE OF INCIDENT (NUMBER OF DIVISIONS)
UNIT POSITION 2 5 10 15 25  
Finance/Administration Section Chief One Per Incident
Time Unit Leader   1 1 1 1  
Time Recorder, Personnel   1 3 3 5  
Time Recorder, Equipment   1 2 2 3  
Procurement Unit Leader   1 1 1 1  
Compensation/Claims Unit Leader   1 1 1 1  
Compensation Specialist As Needed
Claims Specialist As Needed
Cost Unit Leader   1 1 1 1  
Cost Analyst     1 1 1  

For problems with accessibility in using figures and illustrations, please contact the Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management at (202) 693-2300.

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