What are the five primary phases for the development of an Incident Action Plan (IAP)?

The correct answer is the full set of phases involved in developing an Incident Action Plan (IAP), which typically includes conducting an initial incident scene size-up, establishing incident objectives and strategy, developing the plan, and preparing and disseminating the plan.

The initial incident scene size-up is crucial as it provides a comprehensive assessment of the situation, enabling responders to understand the current conditions, hazards, resource needs, and potential challenges. This phase is foundational because it informs all subsequent steps in the IAP development process.

Establishing incident objectives and strategy focuses on what needs to be accomplished during the incident and outlines the overall approach to achieve these goals. This is where the strategic direction is set based on the insights gained from scene size-up.

Developing the plan involves creating a detailed operational blueprint that integrates the objectives and strategies into coordinated actions, including task assignments and resource allocation.

Finally, preparing and disseminating the plan ensures that all involved parties are informed about their roles, responsibilities, and the overall strategy, which is critical for effective execution during the incident.

This holistic framework ensures that the response to the incident is organized, effective, and flexible to adapt as circumstances change.