An IAP is an oral or written plan containing the general objectives reflecting the overall strategy for managing an incident. It’s used as a vehicle by which the senior leaders of an incident communicate their expectations and provide clear guidance to those managing an incident.

Production of the IAP is the responsibility of the Planning Section. The Operations Section is primarily responsible for incident action planning and execution of the IAP. The Logistics Section also has planning responsibilities and has an integral part to play in IAP production. So, while the Planning Section ensures all components of the IAP are completed, proper planning requires deliberate planning from all sections of the staff.

To facilitate deliberate planning from all sections within an EOC or Incident Command group, a process is provided. That process lays out a schedule and benchmarks to coordinate the planning efforts necessary to produce an IAP. The process is about more than producing an IAP. It is a set of activities, repeated each operational period, and provides a consistent rhythm and structure to incident planning and overall incident management.

The incident action planning process is built on the following phases:

1. Understand the situation
2. Establish incident objectives
3. Develop the plan
4. Prepare and disseminate the plan
5. Execute, evaluate, and revise the plan

A graphical representation of the planning process phases is the Planning “P”. The leg of the “P” includes the initial steps to gain awareness of the situation and establish the organization for incident management. Although maintaining situational awareness is essential throughout the life cycle of the incident, the steps in Phase 1 are done only one time. During each Phase, various forms are completed by the responsible party until the entire IAP is completed, approved, and published. The cycle then repeats itself.