Who typically oversees the operations of the team during an incident?

The Incident Commander is responsible for the overall management of the incident and oversees the operations of the entire incident response team. This role includes making strategic decisions, allocating resources, and coordinating between various teams to ensure the incident is managed effectively.

The Incident Commander serves as the primary point of contact and communication among various agencies and organizations involved in the response. This position is critical because it requires a comprehensive understanding of the incident's scope, the objectives of the response, and the deployment of personnel and equipment effectively to achieve those objectives.

In contrast, the Resource Unit Leader focuses specifically on tracking and managing the resources assigned to the incident, the Safety Officer monitors and addresses safety concerns, and the Public Information Officer handles all communication with the media and public. While all these roles are vital to a successful response, it is the Incident Commander who has overall responsibility and authority during the incident management process.