When an incident is large or complex, what is established according to NIMS principles?

When an incident is large or complex, a Unified Command is established according to NIMS principles. This approach allows multiple agencies or organizations to work together effectively to manage the incident. By creating a Unified Command, stakeholders from various jurisdictions or sectors can collaborate, share resources, and coordinate their efforts to ensure a cohesive response strategy.

Unified Command is especially important because it ensures that all parties involved in the incident have a voice in decision-making processes, which fosters teamwork and enhances the effectiveness of the response. This structure is critical in preventing miscommunication and operational conflicts that could arise from a fragmented approach to incident management.

Other structures listed, like a Joint Operations Center, serve different functions and may not specifically address the complexities introduced by having multiple organizations involved in a large incident. A Local Command might imply a more limited or singular operational approach rather than the collaborative nature implied by Unified Command. The Incident Command Post is the physical location where the command staff operates, but it does not represent the collaborative framework necessary for managing complex incidents across multiple organizations.