Incident Templates are created by Incident Administrators to streamline the message-sending process by pre-populating important aspects of a message ahead of time.

To create an Incident Template, start by hovering over the Communications Tab.

Then hover over Incidents.

And then select Templates.

Here you will see a list of Incident Templates, if any have already been created.

Upload an XML file to import an Incident Template from another Organization.

Or, click New Incident Template to create a template from scratch.

There are multiple settings available in this pane to fully configure your Template for an Incident.

Let's start with the name for this New Template.

Setting a Draft Template to Live makes it visible and available for launch, while you can toggle between them as you edit the Template.

If you're creating multiple Templates.

it is important to sort them, by creating, or assigning categories for each Template.

Enter the type of incident.

Adding a Template ID allows you to launch your Incident by phone.

Enter the template ID number.

Additionally, if you have IT Alerting enabled for your organization, this option can enable you to include an ITA process.

Select the appropriate category.

The menu option here allows you to divide the incident template into three notification phases. In order to predetermine how this incident will function.

You can manage them by clicking Manage, next to the menu.

Manage the notification phases.

Click Copy to create a different new phase off of a copy of the current one.

Access the updated or closed template options.

Confirm the duplication.

Select the new option.

Enter the update details.

Enter the closure details.

Enter the update information.

Enter the closing details.

Keep in mind. You will need to save a configuration for each notification phase you create.

For our example, we will need to configure each of our three notification phases.

The Form and Message options guide the content and structure of your Incident Notification.

Let's begin by adding Variables to the Template.

Identify which Variables need to be included.

Next to the Variables, you'll be able to see two checkboxes. The box on the far left adds the Variable to the Template.

The second box makes filling out that Variable required.

Enter the necessary information.

Enter the ID number.

Next, we'll move on to the message itself.

Click Outgoing Message in the Preview and Edit section.

Here you can review.

The Title,

Message,

Speech,

and Message Type fields.

Click in any field to edit it,

Enter the incident details.

Add any appropriate Tokens to the Message boxes by clicking the black plus sign by the Variable.

Add introductory text.

Enter the message details.

You have the option to mark the Message as Imminent Threat to Life or High Priority.

Once you're finished,

Click Preview to view the Form and make sure everything is correct.

Select the sender details.

Click on "OK"

There are several types of Publishing Options you can utilize for an Incident Message.

However, the options you see in this section depend on what you've purchased, as well as what you've enabled in your organization settings, we recommend you check out our course "Creating an Incident Template" within Everbridge University for full details on each of these options.

When creating an Incident Template, Contacts can be chosen ahead of time through various means.

You can quickly add relevant Contacts to the Template using the Individuals, Groups, Rules or the Map options for your Notifications.

If you want to learn how to create Groups, Rules, or Conditions, check out the link at the bottom right to review courses from our Everbridge University course catalog.

Template Settings control aspects of message delivery for your Incident Template.

You can make changes to the delivery rules by clicking the Edit button.

Make sure that these details are something recognizable for your contacts. This increases the chance of them trusting and opening your message.

To edit your message settings further, click More Options.

Choose the "Reply-to E-Mail: Organization default" option

Permissions are the ability granted to anyone who launches a Live Incident Template to make changes or modifications.

Operators can be allowed to edit messages, contacts, settings, and publishing options in this section.

Once you finish adding all the appropriate functions for the Incident. Click Save, or Save and Copy to make an instant copy of the Template.