Anticipating Incident Resource Needs

Experience and training will help you to predict workloads and corresponding staffing needs. As the graphic illustrates, an incident may build faster than resources can arrive.

Eventually, a sufficient number of resources arrive and begin to control the incident. As the incident declines, resources then exceed incident needs. Remember that when resources increase or decrease you will have to reassess your organizational structure and staffing to determine if it is right-sized for the resources that are being managed.

Image showing two arcs intersecting at the top. Arcs labeled Incident Arc and Resources Arc. Arcs start at bottom at Not Enough Resources, then join at top labeled Resources On Hand Meet Needs of Incident.  Other end of the arcs is labeled Too Many Resources.