When a major incident occurs at a live event, the event organizer does not operate in a vacuum. Public safety agencies will respond using a standardized management system called the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and its operational framework, the Incident Command System (ICS). Event organizers who understand these systems before an incident occurs are far better positioned to integrate with the public safety response and protect their audience.

What Is NIMS?

NIMS was established by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 (HSPD-5) in 2003. It provides a consistent nationwide framework enabling federal, state, local, and tribal governments—as well as private-sector and non-governmental organizations—to work together effectively to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size, or complexity (Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA], 2017).

All jurisdictions in the United States are required to use NIMS. This means that when police, fire, and EMS respond to a major incident at your event, they are operating within the NIMS framework. Event organizers who are unfamiliar with NIMS will have difficulty communicating, coordinating, and integrating with that response. FEMA recommends that event organizers complete IS-15b, IS-100, and IS-200 online courses to develop working knowledge of the systems in use by local public safety agencies (FEMA, 2010).

The Incident Command System (ICS)

ICS is the operational component of NIMS. It is a standardized, scalable management structure designed for any type or size of incident. ICS organizes incident management into five major functional areas: Command, Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration (FEMA, 2017).

Command

Command is led by the Incident Commander (IC), who has overall authority and responsibility for the incident response. The IC is supported by Command Staff:

• Public Information Officer (PIO) — manages media and public communication
• Safety Officer — monitors scene safety and has authority to halt unsafe operations
• Liaison Officer — coordinates with representatives from cooperating agencies (FEMA, 2017)

When multiple agencies respond to the same incident, Unified Command allows them to share the IC function, providing a single integrated response without any one agency losing authority over its own resources (FEMA, 2017).

General Staff

The four General Staff sections manage the functional work of the incident:

• Operations Section — directs tactical operations to achieve incident objectives
• Planning Section — collects and analyzes information, maintains situation awareness, produces the Incident Action Plan
• Logistics Section — provides resources, services, and support including equipment, facilities, transportation, food, and communications
• Finance/Administration Section — tracks costs, manages contracts, documents time and procurement (FEMA, 2017)

The 14 ICS Management Characteristics

ICS is built on 14 proven management principles (FEMA, 2017):

1. Common Terminology
2. Modular Organization
3. Management by Objectives
4. Incident Action Plan
5. Manageable Span of Control (3–7 personnel per supervisor)
6. Pre-designated Incident Mobilization Center Locations and Facilities
7. Comprehensive Resource Management
8. Integrated Communications
9. Establishment and Transfer of Command
10. Chain of Command and Unity of Command
11. Unified Command
12. Accountability of Resources and Personnel
13. Proper Dispatch and Deployment
14. Information and Intelligence Management

The Incident Command Post

For any event other than the smallest gatherings, NIMS requires a designated on-site Incident Command Post (ICP) that is staffed continuously while the event is operating (FEMA, 2017). The ICP location must be factored into venue and site design. Emergency service command vehicles must be able to access and park near the ICP—a design requirement that must be addressed during planning, not on the day of the event. Detailed, gridded site plans should show the ICP location and be shared with all responding agencies in advance (FEMA, 2010).

ICS in Event Operations

ICS can be used to organize the functions of the event itself—not just emergency response. The Command, Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration structure maps cleanly onto how many large events are already organized. Adopting ICS terminology and structure for the event operation makes transitioning to an emergency response posture more effective and communication with public safety agencies clearer and faster (FEMA, 2010).

Free Training Resources

FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute offers free online courses directly relevant to event organizers:

• IS-15.b: Special Events Contingency Planning for Public Safety Agencies
• IS-100.c: Introduction to the Incident Command System
• IS-200.c: Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response
• IS-700.b: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System

These courses are voluntary for event organizers but required for all U.S. jurisdictions. Completing them provides a meaningful operational advantage when coordinating with public safety agencies before and during an event.

References

Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2010). Special events contingency planning job aids manual. U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2017). National Incident Management System (3rd ed.). U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2020). IS-100.c: Introduction to the Incident Command System. Emergency Management Institute.

Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2020). IS-700.b: An introduction to the National Incident Management System. Emergency Management Institute.