> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.verkada.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.verkada.com/incident-response/getting-started/get-started-with-incident-response.md).
# Get Started with Incident Response
Incident Response helps organizations track the well-being and location of people during an incident. It enables organizations to account for employees and visitors, and allows schools to reunite students with their guardians.
{% hint style="danger" %}
Incident Response is only available in sites with Verkada Guest.
{% endhint %}
***
## Set up Incident Response
{% hint style="danger" %}
You need **Org Admin** permissions to configure Incident Response.
{% endhint %}
### Initial site
{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Workplace Incident Response.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Click Import Existing Guest Sites.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Select your site > Import Site.**
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}
### Additional sites
After setting up the first Workplace site for Incident Response, you can configure additional sites.
{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Workplace Incident Response.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**On the left navigation, click Incident Response Settings.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**At the top, select Organization > Sites.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Click Import Site.**
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}
***
## Response templates
Workplace Site Admins can create Response Templates for different types of incidents. A Response Template defines:
* Who needs to be accounted for as evacuees
* What statuses can be assigned to evacuees
* Where evacuees can be marked as present
For schools, configure the Response Template for Reunification and set up a Guardian Form.
{% hint style="warning" %}
See [Create Response Templates](/incident-response/configuration/create-response-templates.md) for more information.
{% endhint %}
***
## Workplace Employees
Employees assigned to an Incident Response site can take part in any active Response at that site. Employees are shared across all Workplace products (Guest, Mailroom, and Incident Response) for that site.
{% hint style="danger" %}
* You need **Workplace Site Admins** to manage site-level employee lists.
* You need **Org Admins** permissions to manage the organization-level employee list.
{% endhint %}
{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Workplace Incident Response.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**On the left navigation, click Incident Response Settings.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**At the top, select Site > Employees.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Select Manage Employee List.**
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}
{% hint style="warning" %}
See [Manage Host Lists in Guest](/guest/configuration/manage-host-lists-in-guest.md) for more information.
{% endhint %}
***
## Launch a Response
{% hint style="danger" %}
Only **Workplace Site Admins** can launch a Response.
{% endhint %}
{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Workplace Incident Response.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**On the Incident Response Home, click Launch Response.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Select a Response Template.**
{% hint style="warning" %}
At the beginning of a Response, all evacuees have **Unknown** status and location.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**(Optional) Toggle on Drill mode to treat the Response as a drill.**
{% hint style="info" %}
If Drill mode is enabled, toggle on **Notify Staff** to send notifications with magic links to employees.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Click Launch.**
When a Response is launched (with Drill mode disabled), all employees will receive notifications with magic links to the [Incident Response portal](/incident-response/getting-started/incident-response-portal.md).
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}
***
## End a Response
{% hint style="danger" %}
You need permissions **Workplace Site Admins** to end a Response.
{% endhint %}
{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Workplace Incident Response.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**On the Incident Response Home, click Active Response.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**In the top right, click End.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**In the confirmation menu, select End Incident.**
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}
Ending a Response locks further changes on the Incident Response portal. For non-Drill Responses, all employees are notified that the Response has ended.
---
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