What element of hazardous materials incidents involves assessing risk and making informed decisions?

The correct answer is strategic analysis. This component is vital when responding to hazardous materials incidents because it encompasses the assessment of risks associated with the materials involved, the potential impact on the environment and public safety, and the evaluation of available information to make informed decisions.

Strategic analysis allows an Incident Commander to understand the scope of the incident, identify hazardous materials, evaluate their potential hazards, and forecast the consequences of various response strategies. Through this analysis, the IC can prioritize actions, allocate resources effectively, and develop a comprehensive plan to mitigate the situation and protect public safety.

In contrast, operational planning focuses more on the immediate actions and logistics needed for response rather than the high-level risk assessment involved in strategic analysis. Resource management deals with the allocation of personnel and equipment, while incident evaluation typically occurs after the incident to assess the response's effectiveness rather than during real-time decision-making. Thus, strategic analysis stands out as the critical element that directly involves the assessment and decision-making processes in hazardous materials incidents.