What is defined as the physical area that feels the effects of the incident?

The term that describes the physical area affected by an incident is known as the impact zone. This area is critical for understanding the direct consequences of incidents, such as accidents or emergencies, where the effects can be felt by people, the environment, or property. It is essential for emergency responders to assess this zone to determine the scope of the incident and the necessary response actions.

The other options do not specifically capture the concept of the physical area impacted by an incident. The incident itself refers to the occurrence or event, while the response area typically denotes where responders are deployed to manage the incident, and the service area often relates to the geographical zone served by a particular service, such as a bus route or similar. Thus, the impact zone is the most accurate term for identifying the specific area that experiences the effects of an incident.