Four questions, 15 minutes
An after-action review (AAR) is a structured debrief used by the military, FEMA, and emergency management at every level. The format is simple: What was supposed to happen? What actually happened? What went well? What needs to change?
Even 15 minutes of honest review after a power outage, severe storm, or household emergency produces specific, actionable improvements for next time.
After every event, while memory is fresh
Conduct the AAR within 24 to 48 hours of the event, while details are fresh. Include every household member who participated. Write down the findings. A verbal review forgotten by next week has no value.
No blame, only improvement
The AAR must be blame-free to be useful. The question is "what should we change" not "whose fault was it." If people fear blame, they will not share what went wrong, and the review becomes useless.
- Four questions: expected, actual, went well, needs change
- Conduct within 24-48 hours while details are fresh
- Include all household members who participated
- Write down the findings
- Blame-free: focus on what to change, not whose fault
- Emergency Preparedness — FEMA preparedness planning and improvement.