The incident command system and recovery: Establishing the recovery section in the ICS to promote sustained recovery operations
Abstract
This paper explores the importance of adopting a broader perspective and applying lessons learned from response and recovery efforts to establish a more adaptive incident command system (ICS) approach to recovery and resilience. The National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) has been used since its introduction in 2004 to a consistent nationwide framework and approach to enable government at all levels (federal, state, tribal, local), the private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to work together to prepare for, prevent, respond to, recover from and mitigate the effects of incidents regardless of their cause, size, location or complexity.1 NIMS provides a consistent framework for responders to handle incidents of any size or significance including those that require large command structures to ensure appropriate objectives and resources are applied to the incident within a common framework.2 While NIMS and the National Defense Response Framework (NDRF) provide specific objectives for response, less attention has been given to establishing a recovery section within ICS to enable small, medium and large communities to facilitate recovery in a structured fashion. Much of the incident command system is used for response operations. This paper examines the history of ICS and the emergence of recovery and resiliency and their intersection to offer communities with a practical recovery platform and playbook. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.
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Author's Biography
John J. Burke is a 30-year member of the Sandwich (MA) Fire Department where he currently serves as Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director since 2018. From 2014–18 he was the Deputy Fire Chief overseeing operations, community risk reduction and special operations. John is a Graduate Instructor at Boston University’s Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine’s graduate programme in healthcare emergency management and an Adjunct Professor in the fire science programme at Cape Cod Community College. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in fire science from Columbia Southern University and a Master’s degree in healthcare emergency management from Boston University. He is a credentialed Chief Fire Officer (CFO) through the Center for Public Safety Excellence as well as a credentialed Massachusetts Professional Emergency Manager Specialist (MPEM-S) through the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA).
Nina Shaafi Kabiri is a Research Scientist in the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology at Boston University (BU) Medical School. Prior to joining BU, she worked as a psycho-vocational/educational evaluator at a rehabilitation centre. Nina teaches and directs in two healthcare emergency management (HEM) programme courses: Experimental Design & Statistics and the Psychology and Sociology of Disasters and Methods of Risk Communication. In addition, she is a member of the Laboratory for Human Neurobiology and is the laboratory’s principal psychometrician. Nina graduated from York University in Toronto with honours with a Bachelor of Science in biology and psychology (double major). She also holds a Master’s degree from Boston University in healthcare emergency management (HEM) and a PhD in behavioural neuroscience.
Kevin Thomas is the Principal Investigator for the Laboratory for Human Neurobiology at Boston University’s Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, where he is actively involved in cognitive and neurophysiological studies of individuals from diverse backgrounds. His research focuses on the study of human neurobiology, cognition and behaviour at the individual and group level to study societal dynamics in complex adaptive environments. Kevin’s career has been interdisciplinary with special focus on the intersection of social science with neuroscience. He has provided research programme oversight, systems analyses and modelling and simulation of exercises for developing research, policy and acquisition strategies for the US Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security and various private corporations. As the founding Research Program Director for the Department of Homeland Security Critical Infrastructure Protection Program, Kevin has developed systems analysis and modelling and simulation tools to analyse methods of critical infrastructure protection and cyber security. This included research and project oversight for over 50 activities conducted at 14 universities. Furthermore, Kevin is the Program Director for both the Master’s of bioimaging and Master’s of Science in healthcare emergency management degree programmes. His experience in multivariate research design and analyses, as well as teaching, makes him well suited to support the research team.
Michael Karam is a dedicated public health professional recently graduated with a Master of Science in healthcare emergency management from Boston University. Michael has a solid educational foundation, complemented by a Bachelor of Arts in emergency preparedness, homeland security and cyber security from the University at Albany. In his current role as an Emergency Management Specialist for Lenox Hill Hospital and its affiliated facilities in New York City, Michael coordinates comprehensive emergency management programmes. Responsibilities include overseeing joint commission surveys, conducting annual hazard vulnerability analysis meetings and establishing command protocols for diverse incidents, from medical surges to severe weather events. Previous experience as a Crisis Management Project Coordinator at Northwell Health Corporate included enhancing emergency preparedness for a vast network of hospitals and ambulatory sites. A natural leader, Michael achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America, directing a significant community project that established a memorial garden. This commitment to service continues through ongoing volunteering with Kids Helping Kids Inc., driving community engagement and operational support. In addition to practical experience, Michael is committed to continuous learning and community service, having actively contributed to Red Cross initiatives in the community. With a passion for enhancing public health infrastructure and resilience, Michael is poised to make a lasting impact in emergency management and crisis response.
Citation
Burke, John J., Kabiri, Nina Shaafi, Thomas, Kevin and Karam, Michael (2025, May 4). The incident command system and recovery: Establishing the recovery section in the ICS to promote sustained recovery operations. In the Journal of Business Continuity & Emergency Planning, Volume 18, Issue 4. https://doi.org/10.69554/VYSH1374.
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