It is fairly common for crisis events to occur unexpectedly and to bring consequences whose negative nature goes well beyond the means available to local rescue services. Therefore, measures taken at the first stage of the crisis are usually chaotic, especially in terms of organisation. These seem to be the most essential factors to be considered in the entire crisis management process. The article describes the role and significance of planning in the crisis management system because the plan, in envisaging all types of potential threat, makes it possible to assume the implementation of mitigating measures from a relatively safe point, but developing a good-quality crisis management plan is neither easy nor straightforward. Several difficulties are encountered in the process. These are related not only to work organisation, but also to the lack of sufficient information and delays in the crisis management team work.