After discovering a situation, within how many hours should you send a message?

• A. 12 hours
• B. 72 hours
• C. 24 hours
• D. 96 hours

Answer: (A)

Timely reporting is essential for command and control. Getting a message out within twelve hours keeps leadership informed quickly enough to assess risk, authorize a response, and marshal resources before the situation escalates. It also creates a clear timeline for accountability and after-action review.

In practice, the initial message should clearly state what happened, where, when, who is affected, and the potential impact, along with actions already taken or planned. If new information comes in, follow up with updates to keep the situation current. Waiting longer than twelve hours can slow decision-making and response, while trying to report too soon without verified facts can cause confusion; twelve hours provides a practical balance between speed and accuracy.