An Incident Command System (ICS) is a management system designed to enable effective and efficient responses to emergencies of any scale, large or small, by integrating five functional areas for management of all major incidents:

• Command
• Operations
• Planning
• Logistics
• Finance/administration

The national precedent

The original Incident Command System was established in the mid-1970s by the US Forest Service and a number of California agencies. It was designed to improve and help coordinate responses to catastrophic wildfires in California. By 1981, ICS used widely in Southern California in response to fire and non-fire incidents, and its success led to its application in a broad variety of emergency situations.

In March 2004, ICS was included as a mandate in the National Incident Management System, which is managed by the Department of Homeland Security. It applies to Federal, State, and Local Governments, and to all first-response agencies such as police and fire departments.

Suffolk’s response

While colleges and universities are not first response organizations, Suffolk University recognizes its role in the community, and the importance of protecting its students, faculty, and staff in the event of an emergency. Planning for the  Suffolk Incident Command System began in 2005 In early 2006, members of the Suffolk community began to participate in ICS training, and are now being certified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).