Unified command (ICS)
title: "Unified command (ICS)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["incident-management"] topic_path: "general/incident-management" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_command_(ICS)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
In the Incident Command System, a unified command is an authority structure in which the role of incident commander is shared by two or more individuals, each already having authority in a different responding agency. Unified command is one way to carry out command in which responding agencies and/or jurisdictions with responsibility for the incident share incident management.
A unified command may be needed for incidents involving multiple jurisdictions or agencies.
If a unified command is needed, incident commanders representing agencies or jurisdictions that share responsibility for the incident manage the response from a single incident command post. A unified command allows agencies with different legal, geographic, and functional authorities and responsibilities to work together effectively without affecting individual agency, authority, responsibility, or accountability. Under a unified command, a single, coordinated incident action plan will direct all activities. The incident commanders will supervise a single command and general staff organization and speak with one voice.
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