The purpose of this study is to determine whether the Incident Command System is an ideal structure for public health organizations to utilize during their response to a disaster. Ten key attributes of an effective organization for incident management are presented and discussed. The principles of the Incident Command System are compared to those attributes to determine how strongly the system aligns with those attributes. The public health response in Texas to Hurricane Katrina is then used as a case study to examine whether the application of the Incident Command System during a complex and far-reaching disaster was perceived by those involved in the response in a positive way. An analysis of a survey of individuals involved in the response is presented as well as recommendations for change and conclusions.