What is the purpose of an incident action plan?

The purpose of an incident action plan is centered on providing direction for incident supervisory personnel. This document outlines the overall objectives for the response and defines specific tasks, strategies, and resource allocations necessary to achieve those objectives. By doing so, it ensures that all personnel involved in the incident response are working towards a common goal and have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

An incident action plan is critical in ensuring that activities are organized and that there is a coordinated approach to managing the incident. It facilitates the effective deployment of resources and helps in maintaining situational awareness among the leadership team. This comprehensive plan is essential for guiding the actions of all supervisory personnel on the ground, allowing them to effectively manage their teams and operations.

While coordinating communications among agencies, managing logistical needs, and analyzing intelligence data are important components of incident management, these tasks fall under broader operational responsibilities rather than serving as the primary focus of the incident action plan itself.