Incident Command System

The Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized approach to the command, control, and coordination of emergency response. ICS consists of a standard hierarchy and procedures for managing temporary incident(s) of any size and includes procedures for temporary management to control funds, personnel, facilities, equipment, and communications. ICS is a system designed to be used or applied from the time an incident occurs until the requirement for management and operations no longer exists.

How Does ICS Work?

Think of ICS as a baseball game. Whether that game is played in a multimillion-dollar stadium or on a corner sandlot, certain activities must occur. Someone must pitch the ball, someone must bat, and someone has to cover the bases. In a sandlot game, with only a few players, one player may have to cover the entire outfield. For a small game, this is fine.

In the major leagues, however, the scale and complexity of the event becomes much more sophisticated. There is still pitching, hitting, and fielding, but now there is one player for every position on the field. Each player has very specific responsibilities. Players must “play their position” and veering off into another player’s area of responsibility can leave a portion of the game field dangerously uncovered.

ICS operates in a similar fashion. For a small house fire, one person may be able to cover multiple activities: taking charge of the operation, serving hot dogs from a canteen, and speaking with the local newspaper reporter who stopped by to report on the event. As a disaster gets larger or more complicated, however, the ICS structure must grow to accommodate more positions. As the complexity of the event increases, disaster workers must stay in their area of responsibility and avoid freelancing into other positions.

Incident Commander

The Incident Commander is responsible for the overall leadership of the disaster response operation. They supervise the incident management team, set incident and service delivery objectives, monitor and approve financial expenditures, assess the physical and emotional well-being of staff, and ensure that all aspects of the disaster relief operation reflect the mission and principles of The Salvation Army.

Public Information Officer

The Public Information Officer (PIO) communicates with the media and others seeking information about the disaster operation. They provide public-facing or “outward facing” communication which can include pictures, interviews, service updates, social media posts, and much more.

Liaison Officer

The Liaison Officer (LIA) serves as The Salvation Army’s point-of-contact with local, state, and federal government representatives involved in the response efforts. This often occurs at an Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The Liaison Officer also communicates with other organizations involved in the response such as the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief or the American Red Cross.

Safety Officer

The Safety Officer assesses safety and security risks and recommends actions to protect all disaster personnel. This includes base camp accommodations, food service and delivery, weather and safety plans, and the overall health of disaster workers.

Emotional and Spiritual Care Officer

Unique to The Salvation Army, the Emotional & Spiritual Care Officer attends to the emotional and spiritual needs of disaster workers, survivors, and rescue workers. They are often out in the field talking with survivors or engaging with disaster workers back at base camp. Their role is critical in maintaining a healthy disaster response operation.

Operations Chief

The Operations Chief manages all direct services to disaster survivors such as mass feeding, bulk distribution, and emergency assistance programs. All canteen crews are supervised under the operations section.

Logistics Chief

The Logistics Chief is responsible for securing and managing resources (including supplies and equipment) necessary to support operations. For example, logistics is responsible for acquiring the necessary food for the operations section to feed people.

Finance and Administration

The Finance & Administration Chief is primarily responsible for managing personnel. This includes recruiting, deploying, arranging transportation, and assigning housing for disaster workers. They also oversee all the finances of the operation.