What does 'Unity of Command' refer to in incident management?

'Unity of Command' refers to the principle that all personnel involved in an incident should report to a single incident commander. This structure is essential for effective incident management because it establishes clear authority and ensures that all resources are coordinated under one set of directives.

When everyone reports to a single incident commander, it minimizes confusion and overlap in leadership, streamlining communication and decision-making. This is vital in high-stress situations where timely and coordinated actions are necessary for efficient response and recovery efforts. It creates accountability and clarity among team members as they know whom to follow and whom to report to, facilitating a unified response to incidents.

Maintaining 'Unity of Command' helps avoid conflicts in directives and ensures that all responders are working towards the same objectives, thereby increasing the overall effectiveness of the incident management process.