What is the purpose of an Incident Action Plan (IAP)?

The purpose of an Incident Action Plan (IAP) is to provide a comprehensive, written plan for incident resolution. An IAP is crucial in emergency response situations as it outlines the objectives, strategies, and tactics necessary to manage and resolve an incident effectively. It serves as a clear guide for all personnel involved, ensuring that everyone understands their roles and responsibilities during an incident.

The IAP is a collaborative tool that helps organize resources, define operational periods, and communicate expectations, which is vital in dynamic and potentially chaotic environments like emergencies. By establishing a formal plan, the IAP helps to coordinate efforts, manage risks, and maintain a focus on safety and mission objectives throughout the response.

In contrast, outlining the annual budget or scheduling duty shifts does not pertain to the immediate operational needs during an incident, nor does it address the urgent requirement for coordinated action that an IAP fulfills. Analyzing community needs and response capabilities, while important for long-term planning and resource allocation, is not the core purpose of an IAP used in real-time incident response.