During what phase is it most appropriate to conduct a post-incident review?

Conducting a post-incident review is most appropriately done during the recovery phase. This phase focuses on returning the community and its resources to normal functioning after an incident. It is during this time that stakeholders analyze what occurred, the effectiveness of the response, and identify areas for improvement. This review is essential to learn from the experience, ensuring that future planning and response strategies are enhanced and more effective. The insights gained during the recovery process can lead to better preparedness and mitigative actions for future events, thereby contributing to overall resilience.

The other phases play different roles in emergency management. While preparation is about planning, training, and resource allocation before an incident, the response phase is focused on the immediate actions taken during the incident to save lives and protect property. The mitigation phase aims to reduce the severity or impact of future incidents. However, these phases are not as suitable for a comprehensive review since they do not encompass the full scope of the situation and its aftermath, which is critical for a meaningful post-incident evaluation.