What is the purpose of an incident briefing?

The purpose of an incident briefing is to provide essential information to incoming personnel about the current status of the incident. This process ensures that new team members or personnel arriving after the initial response are quickly brought up to speed on the situation, including what has occurred, the current strategies being implemented, and any critical concerns or issues that need immediate attention.

Having a structured briefing helps maintain situational awareness, supports effective communication, and enables the continuity of operations. It allows responders to have the necessary context to make informed decisions and take appropriate actions without needing to start from scratch. This critical component of incident management emphasizes the importance of sharing information and facilitating smooth transitions in leadership and operational oversight.