Final answer:
Preparedness activities are key to effective incident management, involving systematic planning well before crises occur. The 2016 U.S. National Security Council document and the 2017 pandemic preparedness exercise illustrate the importance of readiness for disease threats.
Step-by-step explanation:
Effective incident management begins with a host of preparedness activities conducted on a systematic and ongoing basis, well in advance of potential emergencies or crises such as pandemics. These activities are essential for establishing protocols, procedures, and communication that can be activated quickly when an incident occurs. The importance of preparedness was underscored by the 2016 U.S. National Security Council's 69-page document titled Playbook for Early Response to High-Consequence Emerging Infectious Disease Threats and Biological Incidents, which outlined actions for anticipatory responses to disease threats both inside and outside U.S. borders. The subsequent pandemic preparedness exercise conducted by the joint Obama-Trump transition teams in January 2017 highlights the significance of planning and rehearsing response strategies to cope effectively with such critical events.