ICS-400; Advanced ICS Command and
General Staff—Complex Incidents
Questions and Correct Answers
1. The term "major or complex incident" may have different meanings to different agencies
depending upon the size of the jurisdiction, number of resources available, and other variables.
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of major or complex incidents:
a. Involve more than one agency and/or political jurisdiction.
b. Require numerous tactical and support resources.
c. Can be mitigated in one operational period.
d. Require extensive recovery efforts. - <CORRECT ANSWER >>c. Can be x in one operational
period.
2. The act of directing, ordering, or controlling by virtue of explicit statutory, regulatory, or
delegated authority is the definition of:
(a) Command
(b) Coordination
(c) Communication
(p. 5.4 SM, 5.9 IG) - <CORRECT ANSWER >>(a) Command
3. What type of ICS structure is illustrated below?
Caption: ICS organization with Incident Command, Operations Section, Planning Section,
Logistics Section, and Finance/Admin Sections. Reporting to the Operations Section are Branch I
(Incident 1), Branch II (Incident 2), and Branch III (Incident 3).
(a) Area Command
(b) Incident Complex
(c) Unified Command
(d) Incident Command Post
, (p. 3.8 SM, 3.16 IG) - <CORRECT ANSWER >>(b) Incident Complex
4. Which of the following is NOT a reason why a single incident may be divided into separate
incidents:
a. When an incident spreads into other jurisdiction(s) and Unified Command is not feasible.
b. When it is difficult to manage from one location due to terrain and access.
c. When the Planning Section, even with additional resources, can no longer adequately provide
planning services.
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General Staff—Complex Incidents
Questions and Correct Answers
1. The term "major or complex incident" may have different meanings to different agencies
depending upon the size of the jurisdiction, number of resources available, and other variables.
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of major or complex incidents:
a. Involve more than one agency and/or political jurisdiction.
b. Require numerous tactical and support resources.
c. Can be mitigated in one operational period.
d. Require extensive recovery efforts. - <CORRECT ANSWER >>c. Can be x in one operational
period.
2. The act of directing, ordering, or controlling by virtue of explicit statutory, regulatory, or
delegated authority is the definition of:
(a) Command
(b) Coordination
(c) Communication
(p. 5.4 SM, 5.9 IG) - <CORRECT ANSWER >>(a) Command
3. What type of ICS structure is illustrated below?
Caption: ICS organization with Incident Command, Operations Section, Planning Section,
Logistics Section, and Finance/Admin Sections. Reporting to the Operations Section are Branch I
(Incident 1), Branch II (Incident 2), and Branch III (Incident 3).
(a) Area Command
(b) Incident Complex
(c) Unified Command
(d) Incident Command Post
, (p. 3.8 SM, 3.16 IG) - <CORRECT ANSWER >>(b) Incident Complex
4. Which of the following is NOT a reason why a single incident may be divided into separate
incidents:
a. When an incident spreads into other jurisdiction(s) and Unified Command is not feasible.
b. When it is difficult to manage from one location due to terrain and access.
c. When the Planning Section, even with additional resources, can no longer adequately provide
planning services.
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