The Asylum Agency should assist Member States to draw up and review their contingency plans, with the agreement of the Member State concerned. A contingency plan should consist of a comprehensive set of measures that are necessary in order to deal with a possible disproportionate pressure on the Members States’ reception systems, and to enhance the efficiency of those systems. For the purpose of this Directive, a situation of disproportionate pressure may be characterised by a sudden and massive influx of third-country nationals and stateless persons to the extent that that influx places an extreme burden even on a well-prepared reception system. To achieve greater preparedness for such a situation, the template developed by the Asylum Agency should include guidance on how to identify possible scenarios, the impact of those scenarios, actions to be taken and resources available to respond to those scenarios.