During which phase of incident management is the ICS set up?

The correct choice highlights the crucial stage in incident management where the Incident Command System (ICS) is established. During the initial response phase, the focus is on quickly organizing and managing resources to address the incident effectively. Setting up the ICS at this juncture ensures there is a clear command structure, assignment of roles, and communication protocols in place among responders. This structured approach is vital for coordinating efforts and facilitating efficient operations in a potentially chaotic environment.

The initial assessment, while important in understanding the situation, does not involve the formal setup of the ICS. It is primarily about gathering information to inform the response strategy. Ongoing evaluation refers to the continuous process of monitoring the incident management efforts and assessing the effectiveness of the response, which already assumes that the ICS is in place. Final reporting is the concluding stage where outcomes are documented, making it unrelated to the establishment of the ICS. Thus, the initial response phase is indeed the right time for setting up the ICS to ensure an organized and effective response to the incident.