The Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) is a multidisciplinary group assembled for the purpose of completing and/or enhancing the incident command system at the local or State response level. The team can also be used for large-scale events that require pre-planning. Members of the team volunteers that may be drawn from local response agencies, specialized teams, State (ITTF) sponsored teams, state agencies or in some cases, even the private sector

The purpose of creating IMAT is to provide a valuable resource for state and local Incident Command /Unified Command staff at the scene of an emergency or disaster. IMAT would provide support to the IC/UC in the implementation of the incident command system and specifically in the formation and implementation of the Incident Action Plan (IAP). The purpose of IMAT is to support the incident commander, not assume or divide command authority.

• IMAT Concept Paper