The incident command system and recovery: Establishing the recovery section in the ICS to promote sustained recovery operations

John J. Burke, Nina Shaafi Kabiri, Kevin Thomas and Michael Karam
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John J. Burke: Sandwich Fire Department, USA
Nina Shaafi Kabiri: Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, USA
Kevin Thomas: Laboratory for Human Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, USA
Michael Karam: Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, USA

Journal of Business Continuity & Emergency Planning, 2025, vol. 18, issue 4, 372-380

Abstract: This paper explores the importance of adopting a broader perspective and applying lessons learned from response and recovery efforts to establish a more adaptive incident command system (ICS) approach to recovery and resilience. The National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) has been used since its introduction in 2004 to a consistent nationwide framework and approach to enable government at all levels (federal, state, tribal, local), the private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to work together to prepare for, prevent, respond to, recover from and mitigate the effects of incidents regardless of their cause, size, location or complexity.1 NIMS provides a consistent framework for responders to handle incidents of any size or significance including those that require large command structures to ensure appropriate objectives and resources are applied to the incident within a common framework.2 While NIMS and the National Defense Response Framework (NDRF) provide specific objectives for response, less attention has been given to establishing a recovery section within ICS to enable small, medium and large communities to facilitate recovery in a structured fashion. Much of the incident command system is used for response operations. This paper examines the history of ICS and the emergence of recovery and resiliency and their intersection to offer communities with a practical recovery platform and playbook. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.

Keywords: demobilisation; incident command system; emergency management; recovery; Recovery Section Chief (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: M1 M10 M12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aza:jbcep0:y:2025:v:18:i:4:p:372-380

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