> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.incident.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Incident streams

export const SlackPreview = ({snapshot, alt, maxWidth, caption}) => {
  const slug = snapshot.replace(/\.json$/, '').replace(/\//g, '--').replace(/[^a-zA-Z0-9-]/g, '-').replace(/-{2,}/g, '-').replace(/^-|-$/g, '').toLowerCase();
  const light = `/images/slack_generated_screenshots/${slug}-light.png`;
  const dark = `/images/slack_generated_screenshots/${slug}-dark.png`;
  return <>
<img src={light} alt={alt} className="block dark:hidden" style={maxWidth ? {
    maxWidth
  } : undefined} />
<img src={dark} alt={alt} className="hidden dark:block" style={maxWidth ? {
    maxWidth
  } : undefined} />
{caption && <p style={{
    fontSize: '14px',
    color: 'var(--content-tertiary)',
    marginTop: '8px',
    textAlign: 'center'
  }}>
{caption}
</p>}
</>;
};

Major incidents can have hundreds of responders, and even more following updates along the way. In incidents like these there are lots of moving parts:

* Teams like engineering, communications, legal...
* Different impacts across products, services or regions with different groups working on mitigations
* Groups exploring independent approaches towards resolution, or investigations on root causes

Manage the complexity by breaking large scale incidents into 'Streams', each of which will have its own Slack channel, Zoom/Meet call, and distinct leads and participants.

***

## Creating a stream

To create a stream, simply type `/incident stream` in an incident channel.

You'll be presented with a modal to:

* Set a **name** for the stream
* Assign someone as the **stream lead** - this will usually be a different person to the main incident lead to avoid splitting their focus
* Invite anyone else who should collaborate on the stream

<Frame>
  <SlackPreview snapshot="Modal--Incident--Create a stream/standard incident.json" alt="The create a stream modal in Slack, with fields for name, stream lead, and participants" />
</Frame>

You can also create streams from the incident dashboard, or automatically via [workflows](/workflows/getting-started) — including specifying initial participants when the stream is created.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/incidentio-18bb4170/HJXxJD3eY5_CVUex/images/help-centre/incident-streams/screenshot-2.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=HJXxJD3eY5_CVUex&q=85&s=5daffe4f9f168c41d53986ae70b8ea6e" alt="" width="864" height="328" data-path="images/help-centre/incident-streams/screenshot-2.png" />

We'll create a new Slack channel for the stream, and invite the stream lead and any participants.

<Info>
  If you've [configured automatic call links](/incidents/video-calls) we'll also create one for your stream. If not, you can also manually link a video call from the stream channel, just [like in an incident channel](/incidents/video-calls).
</Info>

***

## Updating a stream

To create an update, simply type `/incident update` in a stream channel, just like you would in an incident channel.

You'll be presented with a modal that:

* Allows you to provide a **short message** to update people with what's going on (' *Can you share any more details* ')
* Lets you **set a reminder** for your next update: no need to remind yourself manually! We will come back and remind you when an update is due.

<Frame>
  <SlackPreview snapshot="Modal--Streams--Provide update/default.json" alt="The stream status update modal in Slack, with a message field and next update reminder" />
</Frame>

Alternatively, you can share an update from the stream in the dashboard.

Any updates shared here will be posted in the stream channel, and also announced in the incident channel for anyone following along there.

***

## Closing a stream

Once a stream of work is complete, type `/incident close` in the stream channel.

You'll be presented with a modal that asks you to provide a final update on the stream.

The stream will be marked as closed, and the final update will be posted in the incident channel to keep everyone up to speed.

<Frame>
  <SlackPreview snapshot="Modal--Streams--Close/default.json" alt="The close stream modal in Slack, asking for a final update" />
</Frame>

You can also close a stream from the dashboard the same way you provide an update.

***

## Roles in streams

Just like incidents, you should nominate a person to lead each stream. We recommend you have a separate lead for each stream to the incident, as they cover different areas of work in different Slack channels.

If you have set up [custom incident roles](/incidents/custom-roles), we’ll also make those available in streams. Any role available in the parent will be available in its streams.

From within the stream channel you can use commands such as `/inc lead` and `/inc handover` just as you would in an incident to reassign the roles in that stream.

<Frame>
  <SlackPreview snapshot="Modal--Incident--Handover/standard incident.json" alt="The handover modal in Slack, showing who is handing over and to whom" />
</Frame>

***

## Streams in your incident timeline

Activity that occurred in a stream will be included in your [incident timeline](/post-incident/timeline) in both the dashboard, and your exported post-mortem. We’ll highlight which stream each item occurred in.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/incidentio-18bb4170/HJXxJD3eY5_CVUex/images/help-centre/incident-streams/screenshot-6.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=HJXxJD3eY5_CVUex&q=85&s=ed51250bb2c5a7a6dc73119ab3ec30e8" alt="" width="2442" height="1410" data-path="images/help-centre/incident-streams/screenshot-6.png" />

We’ll detect the same types of events automatically as incidents, for example updates and role changes within a stream. You can also pin messages in a stream channel and these will be pinned to the incident timeline.

***

## Restricting access to streams

This can be done by making a private stream from a public incident. Read more about that [here](/incidents/private-streams).

***

## Streams shortcuts cheatsheet

If you've [learnt just one command](/incidents/shortcuts) you can use it in streams too!

`/inc` while in a stream's Slack channel will pop up a menu of all the actions you can run in a stream.

## Emojis

From a stream's Slack channel, you can react to messages with:

| Emoji                                               | Action                                                                                 |
| --------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `:pushpin:` `:bookmark:` `:round_pushpin:` `:star:` | Pins the message from the stream to the incident's [timeline](/post-incident/timeline) |
| `:mega:` `:speech_balloon:`                         | Turns the message into an [Update](/incidents/status-updates)                          |

## Slack Commands

\| Command                                        | Description                                                     |
\| ---------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------- |
\| **ROLES**                                      |                                                                 |
\| `/incident lead`                               | Make someone the stream lead `/incident lead [me                | @user]` to auto-fill the lead |
\| `/incident roles` `/incident role`             | View, assign and unassign roles in the stream                   |
\| `/inc handover`                                | Hand over responsibilities in a stream to another user.         |
\| **COMMUNICATION**                              |                                                                 |
\| `/incident update`                             | Provide an internal status update to your team about the stream |
\| `/incident close`                              | Provide a closing update, and mark the stream as closed         |
\| `/incident request` `/incident request-update` | Request an internal status update from the stream lead          |
\| `/incident escalate` `/incident page`          | Pull in other teammates for help                                |
\| `/incident call`                               | Set a call link `/incident call [link]` to auto-fill the link   |
\| `/incident statuspage`                         | Post or update an incident on your status page                  |