Which of the following ICS sections is responsible for the collection, evaluation, dissemination, and use of information and intelligence critical to the incident?

The Planning section of the Incident Command System (ICS) is critical for the overall management of incidents as it is specifically tasked with the collection, evaluation, dissemination, and utilization of information and intelligence that is vital to the incident response. This section gathers and analyzes data to support decision-making and ensures that all necessary information is available for effective response and recovery efforts.

The focus on information and intelligence enables the Planning section to develop strategic objectives and incident action plans that are informed by situational awareness. This role is essential to ensure that all levels of the incident response are aligned with the latest available data, allowing for coordinated operations.

In contrast to the Planning section, the Operations section primarily deals with the execution of response activities and implementation of the incident action plan. The Logistics section supports the operations by providing the necessary resources and services, while the Finance section manages costs, tracking expenditures, and financial aspects of the incident. While all sections work collaboratively, the unique responsibility of managing information squarely falls within the Planning section’s domain.