diff --git a/fih.py b/fih.py
index fe2184a..b4a4958 100644
--- a/fih.py
+++ b/fih.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 from flask import Flask, request
 import os
 import incident
+import datetime
 
 app = Flask( __name__ )
 app.config.from_envvar( 'FIH_SETTINGS' )
@@ -33,8 +34,8 @@ def mattermost_incident():
         channel = app.mm.channels.create_channel( options = { "team_id": request.form[ 'team_id' ],
                                                               "name": channel_name,
                                                               "display_name": fi_number,
-                                                              "purpose": "Internal discussion about incident " + fi_number,
-                                                              "header": purpose,
+                                                              "purpose": purpose,
+                                                              "header": "",
                                                               "type": "O",
                                                               } )
 
@@ -42,11 +43,52 @@ def mattermost_incident():
         app.mm.client.make_request( 'post', '/channels/' + channel[ 'id' ] + '/members', options = { 'user_id': request.form[ 'user_id' ],
                                                                                                      } )
         app.mm.posts.create_post( options = { 'channel_id': channel[ 'id' ],
-                                              'message': "Incident Channel for %s created by @%s" % ( fi_number, request.form[ 'user_name' ] ),
+                                              'message': "Incident discussion channel for [%s](https://status.faelix.net/incident/%s) created by @%s." % ( fi_number, incident_number, request.form[ 'user_name' ] ),
+                                              } )
+
+        now = datetime.datetime.utcnow().strftime( "%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S" )
+
+        app.mm.posts.create_post( options = { 'channel_id': channel[ 'id' ],
+                                              'message': """\
+# Incident Response Communication Procedure
+
+The contents of this channel are strictly confidential.
+
+## Public Announcement
+
+1. adjust the name of the incident with **/purpose**
+2. adjust the description of the incident with **/header**
+3. choose a front page status (see below)
+4. publish https://status.faelix.net/incident/%(incident_number)s with **@FIH PUBLISH**
+
+## Status Updates
+
+* add an update: **@FIH TIMELINE** _text_
+* set the incident start: **@FIH START** _%(now)s_ (UTC)
+* set the incident ETR: **@FIH ETR** _%(now)s_ (UTC)
+* set the incident resolved time: **@FIH RESOLVED** _%(now)s_ (UTC)
+* set the incident finished time: **@FIH CLOSED** _%(now)s_ (UTC)
+
+Again, don't forget to **@FIH PUBLISH** once making changes.
+
+## Front Page Status
+
+* **@FIH INCIDENT**
+* **@FIH DEGRADED**
+* **@FIH MAINTENANCE**
+* **@FIH NOTICE**
+* **@FIH OK**
+
+Again, after setting the headline status you must: **@FIH PUBLISH**
+
+## Good luck, Incident Commander @%(commander_name)s!""" % { "incident_number": incident_number,
+                                                             "commander_name": request.form[ 'user_name' ],
+                                                             "now": now,
+                                                             },
                                               } )
 
         app.mm.posts.create_post( options = { 'channel_id': request.form[ 'channel_id' ],
-                                              'message': 'Starting incident %s with discussion in channel ~%s' % ( fi_number, channel_name, ),
+                                              'message': 'On behalf of @%s I have started incident ~%s.' % ( request.form[ 'user_name' ], channel_name, ),
                                               } )
 
         return ""