Of the five functional areas within the Incident Command System (ICS) structure, the first to be established should be:

The first area to be established within the Incident Command System (ICS) structure is the Incident Command. This is because the Incident Command serves as the central authority that provides overall leadership and direction during an emergency or crisis situation. It is responsible for decision-making, resource allocation, and ensuring that all operations are coordinated and effectively managed.

Incident Command is crucial for establishing clear lines of communication and command hierarchy, which are essential for efficient incident response. Without an established command structure, there can be confusion and lack of direction, which could lead to ineffective management of the incident.

In contrast, the logistics, planning, and operations sections are important but come into play once the command structure is in place. These sections support the command in carrying out the incident objectives, but they rely on the leadership and direction provided by the Incident Command to function effectively.