Key Personnel/Identification of Roles and Responsibilities

The Incident Commander

The Incident Commander (IC) is head of the command function. ICs are selected on the basis of who has primary authority for overall control of the incident. The IC may change at various stages of the incident but initially will be the senior official on the scene until relieved by a more senior or expert individual.. 

The IC is responsible for overall management of the incident. Major concerns for command include:

• Performing command activities, such as establishing command and establishing a Command Post.
• Protecting life and property.
• Controlling resources, including personnel and equipment.
• Ensuring personnel accountability for safety and task accomplishment.
• Maintaining effective liaison with outside agencies and resources.

Incident management includes the following major responsibilities:

• Establishing command.
• Ensuring responder safety.
• Assessing incident priorities.
• Determining goals.
• Determining objectives.
• Developing and implementing the incident action plan.
• Developing an appropriate organizational structure.
• Maintaining a manageable span of control.
• Managing incident resources.
• Coordinating overall emergency activities.
• Coordinating activities of outside agencies.
• Authorizing release of information to the media.

An effective IC must be proactive, decisive, objective, calm, and a quick thinker. To handle all the responsibilities of this role, the IC also needs to be adaptable, flexible, and realistic about his or her limitations.