• Situational awareness - head off trouble early
• What is the root of the problem?
• Prevent the crisis from escalating
• Keep your head, even when others do not
• Avoid injury to yourself and others
• Defusing the situation and resolving a crisis

In an emergency deployment, the first step (unless other instructions are given) is to load your gear (personal kit and any specialty gear needed for your role or which you have arranged to provide) and proceed to the Staging Area. At the staging area, equipment and personnel are unloaded (large equipment inventoried in place), checked in, and sorted for their destinations. Staff officers will confer with authorities, determine where we are ultimately needed, and issue orders for actual deployment.