Key Components for Conducting Successful Hot Washes
By Russ Henderson, Director of Research
Conducting prompt hot washes post-event is critical to a utility’s Emergency Management Improvement Process.
Successful hot washes facilitate structured debriefs immediately after an event to capture fresh, candid observations across all IMT functions.
Hot washes must be conducted promptly after an incident or exercise to capture candid, accurate, and immediate insights.
The most effective hot washes are characterized by the following:
- Inclusive Participation: Involve all functional groups and key personnel who actively participated in the response or drill, ensuring diverse perspectives are captured.
- Structured Elicitation: Employ structured prompts and targeted questions to systematically elicit observations, identify successes, and pinpoint areas for improvement.
- Multi-Modal Input Gathering: Collect input both in-person and through digital platforms (e.g., forms, or other off-the-shelf feedback collection software, or dedicated event management platforms) to maximize participation and ease data compilation.
- Trained Facilitation: Ensure hot washes are led by trained facilitators who can guide discussions, maintain focus, and ensure consistent, constructive feedback across all departments.
- Solution-Oriented Discussion: Provide actionable solutions to identified improvement opportunities, rather than solely focusing on problems.
To learn more about the Emergency Management Leadership Council, please contact Tim Herrick.
