Developing the Incident Situation Report
5 Tips for Information Sharing During Disaster and Crisis Response
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Effective information sharing during disasters is one of the most critical capabilities an organization can develop before a crisis strikes. It enables teams to build a shared understanding of the unfolding situation, directly impacting decision-making and response efforts.
In a previous article – From Observation to Action: Strengthening Information Sharing in Complex Incidents – I discussed why an information-sharing capability is essential and highlighted common challenges organizations face doing this during crisis response. However, developing this capability "left of bang" is key for organizations preparing to navigate the fast-paced, rapidly evolving environments disasters create, ensuring timely and informed decisions when they matter most.
One of the most effective and most used tools for facilitating an organization-wide understanding of an incident is the situation report, or "sit rep." When done right, a situation report provides a comprehensive common operating picture, creating a shared understanding of the current incident, summarizes response activities, and highlights the issues and decisions that need attention. It’s a foundational component of disaster management that keeps everyone on the same page, from frontline teams to executive leaders.
At the end of this article, I’ll provide a template to get you started, but first, let’s break down what it means to “do a sit rep right.”