ICS
2Respond and manage

The planning cycle

An operational period is the time set for carrying out one set of objectives, as written in the Incident Action Plan. Each period gets its own objectives, assignments and briefing. The plan for the next period is written during the current one.

Incident or eventNotificationsInitial response and assessmentIncident briefing (ICS 201)Initial objectives, IC or UCINITIAL RESPONSE, ONCEObjectives meetingCommand and General Staff meetingTactics meetingPlanning meetingIAP prepared and approvedOperations briefingExecute plan, assess progressOPERATIONAL PERIODOne lap per period.The next period startsat the operations briefing.
The Planning P. The stem runs once. The loop repeats each operational period.

Setting the period length

Start with twelve-hour periods during active containment, so each shift has its own plan and briefing. Move to twenty-four hours once eradication and recovery are routine, and to longer periods for monitoring. The IC sets the length, and it goes in the IAP.

The meetings

StepWhoProduces
Initial response and assessmentFirst respondersSize-up and first actions
Incident briefingOutgoing and incoming commandICS 201
Objectives meetingIC or unified commandObjectives for the next period (ICS 202)
Command and General Staff meetingIC with Command and General StaffPriorities, constraints, decisions
Tactics meetingOperations, Planning, Logistics, SafetyWork assignments and resource needs
Planning meetingCommand and General StaffAgreement to the plan
IAP preparation and approvalPlanning prepares, IC signsThe Incident Action Plan
Operations briefingThe oncoming shiftAssignments delivered. The period starts
Execute and assessOperations, with Planning trackingStatus updates, changes flagged to command

A day in twelve-hour periods

Example

TimeWhat happens
06:30Operations briefing for the day shift
07:00Day period starts. Night shift hands over and goes to rest
09:00Executive update from the status summary
11:00Objectives meeting for the night period
12:00Command and General Staff meeting
13:00Tactics meeting
14:30Planning meeting
16:00IAP signed
17:00Executive update
18:30Operations briefing for the night shift
19:00Night period starts. Day shift hands over and goes to rest

What goes in the IAP

  • Objectives and command emphasis (ICS 202)
  • Organization assignment list (ICS 203) or chart (ICS 207)
  • Assignment lists, one per group or division (ICS 204)
  • Communications plan (ICS 205)
  • Safety and wellbeing message
  • Current situation summary

For Type 4 and 5 incidents the incident briefing (ICS 201) is the plan.

Adapted from the National Incident Management System, Third Edition (FEMA, 2017). Cyber adaptation, examples and templates by Habib Tora, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Not published by, endorsed by, or affiliated with FEMA or the Department of Homeland Security. Structure after Google's SRE Incident Management Guide. Companion to PIVTR-D.