How often should an incident action plan be updated?

An incident action plan should be updated every operational period to ensure that it reflects the current situation, resources, and strategies necessary for effective incident management. Operational periods provide a structured time frame during which specific objectives can be achieved, and updating the incident action plan at the beginning of each period allows for the evaluation of the effectiveness of previous strategies and any changes in conditions or information. This practice is essential for maintaining situational awareness and adaptability throughout the incident response, enabling the incident management team to respond effectively to dynamic circumstances and ensure all personnel are aligned with the current objectives and tasks.

While an incident action plan could be updated daily or at the end of an incident, the requirement for updates at every operational period ensures responsiveness to evolving events and promotes a systematic approach to incident management. Additionally, the plan shouldn't rely solely on requests from the Incident Commander, as the ongoing nature of incidents often necessitates regular assessments and adjustments regardless of direct prompts.