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Incident Management Team Position Task Book: All-Hazards Finance/Administration Section Chief NIMS Alert
January 26, 2006
More NIMS Resources Now Online: ICS Instructor Guidelines, Integrating NIMS into State/Local EOPs and SOPs, FY06 Implementation Details
WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its National Incident Management System (NIMS) Integration Center have recently added a number of NIMS-related resources online at www.fema.gov/nims. These include the following:
- Integrating NIMS into State EOPs and SOPs and Integrating NIMS into Local/Tribal EOPs and SOPs, which outline ways state and local incident managers can modify Emergency Operations Plans (EOP) and Standard Operating Procedures to align with NIMS concepts and terminology.
- Training Guidelines for ICS Instructors, January 2006, provides direction on training needed by ICS instructors and for agencies that offer ICS training programs.
- FY06 NIMS Training Requirements details required components of NIMS-compliant ICS training.
- Summary of FY06 NIMS Training Requirements outlines NIMS, NRP and ICS training that responders at various levels need to complete during FY 2006.
- FY 2006 NIMS Compliance Package outlines activities that states and tribal and local jurisdictions must complete by Sept. 30, 2006, the last day of the current federal fiscal year.
- National Standard Curriculum: Training Development Guidance, October 2005 . The Center’s guidelines document for NIMS-compliant ICS training has been updated and posted on the site as have several new training-related fact sheets, including NIMS, NRP and ICS Training Fact Sheets, which may be found at www.fema.gov/nims/nims_training.shtm.
All personnel with a direct role in emergency preparedness, incident management or response must complete IS-700 NIMS, An Introduction, which is a Web-based awareness level course that explains NIMS components, concepts and principles. All entry, first line supervisor, middle management, and command and general staff level of emergency management operations must complete ICS-100 level training; first line supervisors and above must complete ICS-200 during the year.
Emergency managers and personnel with incident management as their primary responsibility also must complete IS-800 National Response Plan (NRP): An Introduction, a Web-based awareness level course that introduces key elements of the National Response Plan.
Jurisdictions are asked to promote mutual aid agreements, use plain English in emergency operations, and see to it that NIMS components are incorporated into emergency plans and procedures. Other required activities involve training, exercises and resource management planning, such as taking an inventory of response assets and developing plans for ordering, tracking, receiving and returning resources as outlined in the NRP.
NIMS-related activities that jurisdictions will need to accomplish over the course of FY 2006 include officially adopting NIMS for all government departments and agencies, and using the NIMS-based Incident Command System (ICS) organizational structures and operational procedures to manage emergency incidents.
States play an important role in ensuring the effective implementation of the NIMS. It is recommended that, where appropriate, states encourage and support a regional approach to NIMS implementation among its jurisdictions. The successful implementation of NIMS depends on the participation and integration of all states and local jurisdictions as well as community-based organizations and their private sector partners.
Tribal and local authorities, not federal, have the primary responsibility for preventing, responding to, and recovering from emergencies and disasters. The benefit of NIMS is most evident at the local level, when a community as a whole prepares for and provides an integrated response to an incident. Incident response organizations, such as emergency medical services, public works, fire, law enforcement, private sector entities and non-governmental organizations must work together to comply with NIMS components, policies, and procedures.
States and territories will have to certify that they and the local and tribal jurisdictions within their boundaries have completed the FY06 NIMS requirements in order to receive FY 2007 federal preparedness funding.
Full NIMS implementation is a dynamic process and the NIMS Integration Center expects that future changes to NIMS will evolve as policy and technical issues are further developed and clarified at the national level. This may result in additional requirements as to what will constitute continuous full NIMS compliance in FY 2007 and beyond.
Note: The NIMS team was detailed in early September to assist in the hurricane-relief efforts in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Florida and other states. For those of you who have e-mailed us and not yet received a reply, we apologize. We are working to respond to your questions and comments. Thank you for your patience.
Letter to the Governors from Michael Chertoff
October 4, 2005
Dear Governor:
The purpose of this letter is to provide information on the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 implementation requirements. Hurricane Katrina was a stark reminder of how critical it is for our nation to approach incident management in a coordinated, consistent, and efficient manner. We must be able to come together, at all levels of government, to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from any emergency or disaster. Our operations must be seamless and based on common incident management doctrine, because the challenges we face as a nation are far greater than the capabilities of any one jurisdiction. The NIMS is our nation’s incident management system, and recent events have taught us that full implementation of NIMS among all jurisdictions and all levels of government is must be achieved as quickly as possible.
As you are aware, Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 “Management of Domestic Incidents” required the adoption of NIMS by all Federal departments and agencies. This directive also requires that Federal preparedness assistance funding for states, territories, local jurisdictions and tribal entities be dependent on NIMS compliance. This letter transmits two FY 2006 NIMS Implementation Matrices. The first matrix identifies the state and territorial level NIMS implementation requirements, while a separate matrix identifies the NIMS implementation requirements that must be taken at the tribal and local government levels. I hope that the two distinct matrices will facilitate the state’s coordination and communication with tribal and local jurisdictions regarding NIMS implementation.
The NIMS was issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on March 1, 2004, to provide a comprehensive and consistent national approach to all-hazard incident management at all jurisdictional levels and across functional disciplines. In a September 8, 2004, letter to the nation’s governors, DHS outlined a phased approach to NIMS implementation, with full compliance required by September 30, 2006. The September 2004 letter also outlined the important steps that states, territories, tribes and local jurisdictions would need to take during FY 2005 (October 1, 2004- September 30, 2005) to ensure minimum compliance with the NIMS during the first year of implementation. A copy of the September 2004 letter is available on the NIMS Web page at: http://www.fema.gov/nims.
Over the past year, with the support of the NIMS Integration Center (NIC), states, territories, tribes, and local jurisdictions have made significant progress in implementing this important new system. The implementation of the NIMS within every state, territory, tribal and local jurisdiction creates a baseline capability that, once established nationwide, will be the foundation for our prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery strategies.
In addition to the above NIMS implementation efforts, the NIC has worked closely with the Federal departments and agencies as they developed plans to fully adopt and implement the NIMS. The NIMS implementation requirements were incorporated into (FY) 2005 Federal preparedness assistance programs. The NIC will continue to work with the Federal departments and agencies to ensure federal implementation of NIMS and that all FY 2006 Federal preparedness assistance programs reflect and support the NIMS implementation at the state, territory, tribal, and local government levels as appropriate.
This letter and the enclosed matrices outline the important steps that state, territorial, tribal, and local entities must take during FY 2006 (October 1, 2005- September 30, 2006) to become fully compliant with the NIMS. Jurisdictions will be required to meet the FY 2006 NIMS implementation requirements as a condition of receiving federal preparedness funding assistance in FY 2007. However, it is important to recognize that NIMS implementation will not end in FY 2006. The NIMS is a dynamic system, and the doctrine as well as the implementation requirements will continue to evolve as our prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities improve and our homeland security landscape changes. Further, new personnel will continue to need NIMS training, and NIMS processes will still have to be exercised in future years.
Most important of the FY 2006 requirements, states and territories must establish a planning process that incorporates the appropriate procedures to ensure the effective communication and implementation of NIMS requirements across the state, including tribes and local governments. This planning process must include a means for measuring progress and facilitate the reporting of NIMS implementation among its tribal and local jurisdictions.
The successful implementation of the NIMS depends on the participation and integration of all state, territorial and community-based organizations, including public, non-governmental, and private organizations that may have a role in preventing, preparing for, responding to, or recovering from an incident. States, territories, tribes and local jurisdictions should therefore consider and include appropriate organizations in their NIMS implementation efforts, including private sector emergency medical and hospital providers, transportation systems, utilities, and special facilities such as industrial plants, nuclear power plants, factories, military facilities, stadiums and arenas. Moreover, full NIMS implementation is a dynamic and multi-year phase-in process with important linkages to the National Response Plan (NRP), the Homeland Security Presidential Directive - 8 (i.e. the “National Preparedness Goal”) and the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP). Future refinement to the NIMS will evolve as policy and technical issues are further developed and clarified at the national level. This may well result in additional requirements being issued by the NIC as to what will constitute continuous full NIMS compliance in FY2007 and beyond.
Additional information about NIMS implementation and resources for achieving compliance are available through the NIC. Once again, this year’s federal preparedness assistance program documents will also address state and local NIMS compliance. The NIC web page, http://www.fema.gov/nims, is updated regularly with information about the NIMS and additional guidance for implementation. The NIC may also be contacted at the following address:
Gil Jamieson, Acting Director
NIMS Integration Center
500 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20472
(202) 646-3850
NIMS-Integration-Center@dhs.gov
Web page: http://www.fema.gov/nims
Thank you for your support in implementing the NIMS. I look forward to continuing our collective efforts to better secure the homeland and protect our citizens.
Sincerely,
Michael Chertoff
Secretary
FY 2006 NIMS Training Requirements Overview Training is one of the important elements that state, territorial, tribal, and local entities must complete during the FY 2006 (October 1, 2005 – September 30, 2006) to become fully compliant with the NIMS. Jurisdictions will be required to meet the FY 2006 NIMS implementation requirements as a condition of receiving federal preparedness funding assistance in FY 2007.
It is important to recognize that NIMS implementation will not end in FY 2006. The NIMS is a dynamic system, and the doctrine as well as the implementation requirements will continue to evolve as our prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities improve and our homeland security landscape changes. Further, new personnel will continue to need NIMS training, and NIMS processes will still have to be exercised in future years.
The successful implementation of the NIMS depends on the participation and integration of all state, territorial and community-based organizations, including public, non-governmental, and private organizations that may have a role in preventing, preparing for, responding to, or recovering from an incident. States, territories, tribes and local jurisdictions should therefore consider and include appropriate organizations in their NIMS implementation efforts, including private sector emergency medical and hospital providers, transportation systems, utilities, and special facilities such as industrial plants, nuclear power plants, factories, military facilities, stadiums and arenas. Moreover, full NIMS implementation is a dynamic and multi-year phase-in process with important linkages to the National Response Plan (NRP), the Homeland Security Presidential Directive - 8 (i.e. the “National Preparedness Goal”) and the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP). Future refinement to the NIMS will evolve as policy and technical issues are further developed and clarified at the national level. This may well result in additional requirements being issued by the NIC as to what will constitute continuous full NIMS compliance in FY2007 and beyond.
IS-700 NIMS: An Introduction All personnel with a direct role in emergency preparedness, incident management or response must complete this training. IS-700 NIMS: An Introduction is a Web-based awareness level course that explains NIMS components, concepts and principles. Although it is designed to be taken online as an interactive Web-course, course materials may be downloaded and used in a group or classroom setting. Answer sheets may be obtained from the Emergency Management Institute by calling the EMI Independent Study Office at 301-447-1256. To obtain the IS700 course materials or take the course online go to http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/IS/is700.asp. More than 550,000 persons completed this course in FY 2005.
Who should take IS-700 in FY 2006? As stated above all personnel with a direct role in emergency preparedness, incident management or response must complete the training. Included below are additional guidelines to assist you in determining the type of individual by position who should take the IS-700 training.
Executive Level – Political and government leaders, agency and organization administrators and department heads; personnel that fill ICS roles as Unified Commanders, Incident Commanders, Command Staff, General Staff in either Area Command or single incidents; senior level Multi-Agency Coordination System personnel; senior emergency managers; and Emergency Operations Center Command or General Staff.
Managerial Level – Agency and organization management between the executive level and first level supervision; personnel who fill ICS roles as Branch Directors, Division/Group Supervisors, Unit Leaders, technical specialists, strike team and task force leaders, single resource leaders and field supervisors; midlevel Multi-Agency Coordination System personnel; EOC Section Chiefs, Branch Directors, Unit Leaders; and other emergency management/response personnel who require a higher level of ICS/NIMS Training.
Responder Level – Emergency response providers and disaster workers, entry level to managerial level including Emergency Medical Service personnel; firefighters; medical personnel; police officers; public health personnel; public works/utility personnel; and other emergency management response personnel.
Note: Multi-agency Coordination System personnel include those persons who are charged with coordinating and supporting incident management activities. These emergency management personnel typically may function from an emergency operations center or similar facility.
IS-800 NRP: An Introduction All Federal, state, territorial, tribal, and local emergency managers or personnel whose primary responsibility is emergency management must complete must this training. IS-800 National Response Plan (NRP): An Introduction is a Web-based awareness level course that introduces the key elements of the National Response Plan so that its implementation can be supported at all levels of government. The following topics are covered in this training: National Response Plan Overview (and correlation to NIMS) Roles and Responsibilities of Federal, State, local, and tribal governments, and private sector organizations Coordinating structures in the field and at the regional and national levels Field-level organizations and teams that support an incident Incident management actions, including notification and assessment, activation, deployment, and demobilization The course is designed to be taken online as an interactive Web-course; course materials may be downloaded and used in a group or classroom setting. Answer sheets may be obtained from the Emergency Management Institute by calling the EMI Independent Study Office at 301-447-1256. To obtain the IS800 course materials or take the course online go to http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/IS/is800.asp. More than 55,000 persons completed this course in FY 2005.
Who should take IS-800 in FY 2006? As stated above all Federal, state, territorial, tribal, and local emergency managers or personnel whose primary responsibility is emergency management must complete must this training. Included below are additional guidelines to assist you in determining the type of individual by position who should take the IS-800 training.
Federal Level – Officials in Federal government departments and agencies with emergency management responsibilities under the NRP.
State/Territorial Level – Officials in state and territorial governments with emergency management responsibilities to include personnel from state and territorial emergency management agencies and from agencies who support and interact with the 15 Emergency Support Functions (ESF) in the NRP.
Tribal/Local Level – Officials in tribal and local jurisdictions with overall emergency management responsibilities as dictated by law or ordinance; those officials with overall emergency management responsibilities through delegation; and those officials primarily involved in emergency planning.
ICS-100 Introduction to ICS ICS-200 Basic ICS
All Federal, State, territorial, tribal, private sector and non-governmental personnel at the entry level, first line supervisor level, middle management level, and command and general staff level of emergency management operations must complete ICS-100 level training.
All Federal, State, territorial, tribal, private sector and non-governmental personnel at the first line supervisor level, middle management level, and command and general staff level of emergency management operations must complete ICS-200 level training.
(See NIMS Training Guidelines page end of this section for additional detail)
Training developed and conducted by Federal, state, local, and tribal agencies as well as private training vendors at the ICS-100 level must include at a minimum the following topical areas along with the specific objectives noted.
- Purpose of ICS to include the following objectives: Identify requirements to use ICS; Identify three purposes of ICS; and Identify common incident tasks
- Basic Features of ICS to include the following objectives: Describe the basic features of ICS
- Incident Commander and Command Staff Functions to include the following objectives: Describe the role and function of the Incident Commander: and Describe the role and function of the Command Staff.
- General Staff Functions to include the following objectives: Describe the role and function of the Operations Section; Describe the role and function of the Planning Section; Describe the role and function of the Logistics Section; and Describe the role and function of the Finance/Administration Section.
- Facilities to include the following objectives: Describe the six basic ICS facilities;
Identify facilities that may be located together; and Identify facility map symbols.
- Common Responsibilities to include the following objectives: Describe common mobilization responsibilities; Describe common responsibilities at an incident; List individual accountability responsibilities; and Describe common demobilization responsibilities.
Training developed and conducted by Federal, state, local, and tribal agencies as well as private training vendors at the ICS-200 level must include at a minimum the following topical areas along with the specific objectives noted.
- Leadership and Management to include the following objectives: Describe chain of command and formal communication relationships; Identify common leadership responsibilities; Describe span of control and modular development; and Describe the use of position titles.
- Delegation of Authority and Management by Objectives to include the following objectives: Describe scope of authority; Describe delegation of authority process; and Describe and explain management by objectives.
- Functional Areas and Positions to include the following objectives: Identify the ICS tools to manage an incident; Demonstrate the function of organizational positions within ICS; and Demonstrate the use of an ICS 201 form.
- Briefings to include the following objectives: Give an Operational Briefing; and Describe components of field, staff and section briefings/meetings.
- Organizational Flexibility to include the following objectives: Explain how the modular organization expands and contracts; Given a scenario, complete a complexity analysis; Define the five types of incidents; and Describe the importance of preparedness plans and agreements.
- Transfer of Command to include the following objectives: List the essential elements of information involved in transfer of command; and Describe the process of a transfer of command.
The NIMS Integration Center recognizes that many operational aspects of NIMS, including ICS training, are available through state, local, and tribal agencies and private training vendors. It is not necessary that the training requirements be met through a federal source. The NIMS National Standard Curriculum Training Development Guidance (October, 2005) document provides stakeholders with an evaluation checklist for training content, which may be used to ensure that the ICS training offered by other agencies or vendors meets the standard “as taught by DHS.” Click here to access the NIMS National Standard Curriculum Training Development Guidance (October, 2005).
Emergency management/response personnel who have already been trained in ICS do not need retraining if their pervious training is consistent with DHS standards (to include ICS courses managed, administered, or delivered by the Emergency Management Institute, the National Fire Academy, FIRESCOPE, the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Environment Protection Agency, and the U.S. Coast Guard.)
Who should take ICS-100 and ICS-200 in FY 2006? As stated above all Federal, State, territorial, tribal, private sector and non-governmental personnel at the entry level, first line supervisor level, middle management level, and command and general staff level of emergency management operations must complete ICS-100 level training. All Federal, State, territorial, tribal, private sector and non-governmental personnel at the first line supervisor level, middle management level, and command and general staff level of emergency management operations must complete ICS-200 level training.
The following page contains additional guidelines to assist you in determining the type of individual by position or function that should take the ICS-100 and ICS-200 training.
NIMS Training Guidelines
Federal/State/Local/Tribal/Private Sector & Non-governmental personnel to include:
Entry level first responders & disaster workers
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Federal/State/Local/Tribal/Private Sector & Non-governmental personnel to include:
First line supervisors, single resource leaders, field supervisors, and other emergency management/response personnel that require a higher level of ICS/NIMS Training.
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Federal/State/Local/Tribal/Private Sector & Non-governmental personnel to include:
Middle management including strike team leaders, task force leaders, unit leaders, division/group supervisors, branch directors, and multi-agency coordination system/emergency operations center staff.
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(NRP), An Introduction*
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Federal/State/Local/Tribal/Private Sector & Non-governmental personnel to include:
Command and general staff, select department heads with multi-agency coordination system responsibilities, area commanders, emergency managers, and multi-agency coordination system/emergency operations center managers.
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(NRP), An Introduction*
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* Additional IS-800 Guidelines are provided earlier in this document ICS Equivalent Training: ICS-100, 200, 300, and 400 level training equivalencies can be met by following the guidance outlined in the NIMS National Standard Curriculum Training Development Guidance (October, 2005). As previously stated, it is not necessary that the training requirements be met through a federal source. ICS training developed by state, local, and tribal agencies and private training vendors can “qualify” as NIMS compliant training if the training meets or exceeds the ICS objectives outlined in the NIMS National Standard Curriculum Training Development Guidance (October, 2005) and is adopted for use by the sponsoring training organization (i.e. State Emergency Management Agency, State Fire Training Academy, etc). ICS-300 and ICS-400 training is not a required training element for FY 2006. However, emergency management personnel at the middle management and command and general staff levels are urged to take this training if needed. ICS-300 and ICS-400 training will be a FY 2007 NIMS compliance requirement. Note: Multi-agency Coordination System personnel include those persons who are charged with coordinating and supporting incident management activities. These emergency management personnel typically may function from an emergency operations center or similar facility.
ICS 100 & 200 Available Training The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the United States Fire Administration (USFA) and the Emergency Management Institute (EMI) in conjunction with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) and the United States Department of Agriculture has developed ICS 100 and 200 training. These courses are consistent with the NIMS National Standard Curriculum Training Development Guidance (October, 2005) and therefore meet the FY 2006 training compliance activities outlined by the NIMS Integration Center. The United State Fire Administration (USFA), through its National Fire Programs Office has the following web-based courses available at the ICS-100 and ICS-200 levels. The courses can be accessed at the following website: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/training/nfa/independent/
| ICS Level | Course Code | Course Title |
| ICS-100 | Q462 | Introduction to NIMS ICS for Operational First Responders |
| ICS-200 | Q463 | Basic All-Hazards NIMS ICS for Operational First Responders |
USFA also offers two direct delivery field courses, ICS for Fire Services (W/F-806) and ICS for Emergency Medical Services (W/F-163), which are equivalent to ICS-100 & ICS-200. These courses are offered regionally by states and at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland on weekends. The Emergency Management Institute has several ICS-100 and ICS-200 level courses that can be taken online as interactive Web-courses. These course materials may also be downloaded and used in a group or classroom setting. Answer sheets may be obtained from the Emergency Management Institute by calling the EMI Independent Study Office at 301-447-1256. To complete the courses or download the course materials go to http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/IS/crslist.asp
| Course | Course Code | Status Web-Based | Status Classroom |
| ICS-100 General | IS-100 | Completed on Web | Downloadable – no video |
| ICS-100 Law Enforcement | IS-100.LE | Completed on Web | Downloadable Guide |
| ICS-100 Public Works | IS-100.PW | Completed on Web | Downloadable Guide |
| ICS-100 Public Health | IS-100.PH | Under Development | Down loadable Guide |
| ICS-100 Hospital | IS-100.H | Under Development | Downloadable Guide |
| ICS-100 Federal Worker | IS-100.FW | Completed on Web | Downloadable |
| ICS-200 General | IS-200 | Completed on Web | Downloadable – no video |
| ICS-200 Law Enforcement | IS-200.LE | Under Development | Downloadable Guide |
| ICS-200 Public Works | IS-200.PW | Under Development | Downloadable Guide |
| ICS-200 Public Health | IS-200.PH | Under Development | Downloadable Guide |
| ICS-200 Hospital | IS-200.H | Under Development | Downloadable Guide |
| ICS-200 Federal Worker | IS-200.FW | Completed on Web | Downloadable |
When available, classroom materials for ICS-100 and ICS-200 courses can be downloaded from the website. Downloadable materials contain guides for teaching discipline specific versions of the programs (i.e. law enforcement, public works, etc). Due to the size of the documents only the text materials can be downloaded. Video contained in the materials can be obtained through the FEMA Publications Office. FEMA will post information about these courses at: http://www.training.fema.gov/emiweb/ All classroom materials for ICS-100, 200, 300, and 400 to include student materials, instructional guides, and classroom videos are available through the FEMA Publications Office on a CD. To order the CD you may call 1-800-480-2520 Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. You may also write to the following address: FEMA, PO Box 2012, Jessup, MD 20794-2012. ICS-300 and 400 course materials are state administered programs and are coded as G-300 and G400. For additional information on these courses please contact your state emergency management agency or Tom Marlowe (tom.marlowe@dhs.gov or 301-447-1060) at the Emergency Management Institute (EMI). In FY 2006 EMI will offer train-the-trainer courses for these programs across the country.
Summary of NIMS Implementation Schedule,
Requirements, and Certification Process
Fiscal Year |
Implementation Requirements |
Certification Process |
FY 2005 |
States and territories must meet minimum FY 05 NIMS implementation requirements;
Tribal and local governments encouraged to start implementing the NIMS |
At the end of FY 2005, States and Territories submit a self-certification form attesting that the state, taken as a whole 1, has met the minimum FY 2005 requirements.
State certification is required to receive FY 2006 preparedness funds. |
FY 2006 |
States, territories, tribes and local governments must meet the FY 06 NIMS implementation requirements
Refer to the attached FY 2006 NIMS Implementation Matrices for State and Local Governments |
At the end of FY 2006, States and Territories submit a self-certification form attesting that the State (including its tribal and local jurisdictions) has met the minimum FY 2006 requirements.
State certification is required to receive FY 2007 preparedness funds. |
FY 2007 and outyears |
Full NIMS compliance is required for all federal preparedness funds.
States, territories, tribes and local governments continue to implement the NIMS and meet any additional requirements as identified by the NIMS Integration Center to ensure the continued success of the NIMS. |
State certification of ongoing NIMS compliance requirements.
NIMS compliance continues to be required to receive federal preparedness funds. |
1 “Taken as a whole” recognizes that not every community or individual responder will have completed all of the requirements. The “taken as a whole” standard means that most have and that good faith efforts are underway to achieve full compliance.
State and Territorial Compliance Activities: Federal Fiscal Year 2006
(October 1, 2005-September 30, 2006)
In March 2004, the Secretary of Homeland Security, at the request of the President, released the National Incident Management System (NIMS). The NIMS is a comprehensive system that will improve response operations through the use of the Incident Command System (ICS) and other standard procedures and preparedness measures. It will also promote development of cross-jurisdictional, statewide and interstate regional mechanisms for coordinating incident management and obtaining assistance during large-scale or complex incidents.
The NIMS Integration Center (NIC) recognizes that the overwhelming majority of emergency incidents are handled on a daily basis by a single jurisdiction at the local level. However, it is critically important that all jurisdictions comply with the NIMS because the challenges we face as a nation are far greater than the capabilities of any one jurisdiction; they are not, however, greater than the sum of all of us working together through mutual support. Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 (HSPD- 5), Management of Domestic Incidents, requires all federal departments and agencies to adopt and implement the NIMS, and requires states, territories, tribes and local governments to implement the NIMS to receive federal preparedness funding.
States 1 play an important role in ensuring the effective implementation of the NIMS. They must ensure that the systems and processes are in place to communicate the NIMS requirements to local 2 jurisdictions and support them in implementing the NIMS. The NIMS implementation requirements for local jurisdictions are available in a separate matrix to support this communication and coordination between the States and local jurisdictions. States must also implement specific NIMS implementation actions as outlined in this matrix.
States should encourage and support a regional approach to NIMS implementation among its jurisdictions. In some instances smaller communities may not have the resources to implement all elements of NIMS on their own. However, by working together with other localities in their regions, they will be able to pool their resources to implement NIMS.
When NIMS is fully implemented, states and local jurisdictions will be able to:
- Ensure common and proven incident management doctrine, practices and principles are used to plan for, protect against, respond to and recover from emergency incidents and preplanned events;
- Maintain a response operation capable of expanding to meet an escalating situation and the ability to integrate resources and equipment from intrastate and interstate mutual aid agreements, state-provided assistance and federal government response;
- Order and track response assets using common resource typing and definitions, and draw on mutual aid agreements for additional assistance;
- Establish staging and allocation plans for the re-distribution of equipment, supplies and aid coming into the area from other localities, states or the federal government through mutual aid agreements;
- Conduct situational assessments and establish the appropriate ICS organizational structure to effectively manage the incident; and
- Establish communication processes, procedures and protocols that will ensure effective interoperable communications among emergency responders, 9-1-1 centers and multi-agency coordination systems such as Emergency Operations Centers (EOC).
In federal Fiscal Year 2005, the Secretary of Homeland Security provided guidance to each state, outlining initial actions that should be taken to implement the NIMS. The letter to the nation’s governors included a list of actions for States and territories to take towards NIMS compliance. A copy of this letter is posted on the NIMS webpage at: http://www.fema.gov/nims/nims_compliance.shtm. Minimum FY 2005 NIMS activities included:
- Incorporating NIMS into existing training programs and exercises;
- Ensuring that Federal preparedness funding (including DHS Homeland Security Grant Program, Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) funds) support NIMS implementation at the state and local levels (in accordance with the eligibility and allowable uses of the grants);
- Incorporating NIMS into Emergency Operations Plans (EOP);
- Promotion of intrastate mutual aid agreements;
- Coordinating and providing technical assistance to local entities regarding NIMS; and
- Institutionalizing the use of the Incident Command System (ICS).
To receive FY 2006 preparedness grant funds from any federal department or agency, states will have to self-certify that they have met the minimum FY 2005 requirements. A self-certification letter will be provided to each state and territory. Additional information is also available on the NIMS Web page at: www.fema.gov/nims.
In federal Fiscal Year 2006, states, territories, tribes and local communities will be required to complete several activities to comply with the NIMS. The attached implementation matrix describes the actions that states must take by the end of federal FY 2006 (September 30, 2006) to be compliant with NIMS. These implementation requirements are in addition to the FY 2005 NIMS requirements as established in the Sept. 8, 2004, letter to the governors. A copy of that letter is available on the NIMS Web page at: www.fema.gov/nims.
Beginning in FY 2007, which starts on October 1, 2006, all federal preparedness funding will be conditioned upon full compliance with the NIMS. By completing the FY 2005 activities as well as the FY2006 activities outlined in this matrix, states and territories will have achieved what is considered to be full NIMS implementation by FY 2007.
Completion of the FY 2006 actions will result in a statewide infrastructure that will support NIMS implementation among all state and territorial agencies as well as at the tribal and local levels. The effective and consistent implementation of the NIMS in every state and territory will result in a strengthened national capability to prepare for, respond to and recover from any type of incident. The matrix identifies activities that are underway by the NIMS Integration Center to support the effective implementation of NIMS as well as activities that will be required for NIMS implementation in future years.
The matrix also provides information on where to find technical assistance resources to support these compliance actions. For example, the National Incident Management Capability Assessment Support Tool (NIMCAST) is a product designed to assist communities in determining their current NIMS compliance baseline. The NIMS is much more than just a list of required elements; it is a new approach to the way we prepare for and manage incidents, one that will lead to a more effective utilization of resources and enhanced prevention, preparedness and response capabilities. Moreover, full NIMS implementation is a dynamic and multi-year phase-in process with important linkages to the National Response Plan (NRP), Homeland Security Presidential Directive - 8 (i.e. the “National Preparedness Goal”) and the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP). Future refinement to the NIMS will evolve as policy and technical issues are further developed and clarified at the national level. This may well result in additional requirements being issued by the NIC as to what will constitute continuous full NIMS compliance in FY2007 and beyond.
More information on NIMS and NIMS compliance, and answers to frequently asked questions are available on the NIMS Integration Center Web page (http://www.fema.gov/nims).
NIMS Implementation Matrix for States and Territories
FY 2006 Compliance Activities |
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|---|---|---|
Required State/Territorial Action for FY 2006 Compliance |
Guidance and Technical Assistance Resources |
Future Activities |
State Adoption and Infrastructure |
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Adopt NIMS at the state/ territorial level for all government departments and agencies; as well as promote and encourage NIMS adoption by associations, utilities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and private sector incident management and response organizations.
Monitor formal adoption of NIMS by all tribal and local jurisdictions.
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Establish a planning process to ensure the communication and implementation of NIMS requirements across the state, including local governments and tribes. This process must provide a means for measuring progress and facilitate reporting.
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Designate a single point of contact within the state government to serve as the principal coordinator for NIMS implementation statewide.
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To the extent permissible by law, ensure that federal preparedness funding to state and territorial agencies and tribal and local jurisdictions is linked to the satisfactory progress in meeting the requirements related to FY06 NIMS implementation requirements. |
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To the extent permissible by state and territorial law and regulations, audit agencies and review organizations should routinely include NIMS implementation requirements in all audits associated with federal preparedness grant funds. This process will validate the self-certification process for NIMS compliance.
|
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/assessments/hspd8.htm
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Command and Management |
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Incident Command System (ICS): Manage all emergency incidents and preplanned (recurring/special) events in accordance with ICS organizational structures, doctrine and procedures, as defined in NIMS. ICS implementation must include the consistent application of Incident Action Planning and Common Communications Plans.
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Multi-agency Coordination System: Coordinate and support emergency incident and event management through the development and use of integrated multi-agency coordination systems, i.e. - develop and maintain connectivity capability between local Incident Command Posts (ICP), local 911 Centers, local Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs), the state EOC and regional and/federal EOCs and /NRP organizational elements.
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Public Information System:
Institutionalize, within the framework of ICS, the Public Information System, comprising of the Joint Information System (JIS) and a Joint Information Center (JIC). The Public Information System will ensure an organized, integrated, and coordinated mechanism to perform critical emergency information, crisis communications and public affairs functions which is timely, accurate, and consistent. This includes training for designate participants from the Governor’s office and key state agencies |
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Preparedness: Planning |
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Establish the state’s NIMS baseline against the FY 2005 and FY 2006 implementation requirements
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Coordinate and leverage all federal preparedness funding to implement the NIMS.
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http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/assessments/hspd8.htm
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Revise and update plans and SOPs to incorporate NIMS and National Response Plan (NRP) components, principles and policies, to include planning, training, response, exercises, equipment, evaluation and corrective actions
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http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/assessments/hspd8.htm
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Promote intrastate and interagency mutual aid agreements, to include agreements with the private sector and non-governmental organizations. |
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Preparedness: Training |
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Leverage training facilities to coordinate and deliver NIMS training requirements in conformance with the NIMS National Standard Curriculum.
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Complete IS-700 NIMS: An Introduction
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Complete IS-800 NRP: An Introduction
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Complete ICS 100 and ICS 200 Training
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Preparedness: Exercises |
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Incorporate NIMS/ICS into all state and regional training and exercises.
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Participate in an all-hazard exercise program based on NIMS that involves responders from multiple disciplines and multiple jurisdictions. |
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/assessments/hspd8.htm
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Incorporate corrective actions into preparedness and response plans and procedures.
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Resource Management |
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Inventory state response assets to conform to homeland security resource typing standards.
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Develop state plans for the receipt and distribution of resources as outlined in the National Response Plan (NRP) Catastrophic Incident Annex and Catastrophic Incident Supplement |
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To the extent permissible by state and local law, ensure that relevant national standards and guidance to achieve equipment, communication and data interoperability are incorporated into state and local acquisition programs. |
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/assessments/hspd8.htm
|
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Communication & Information Management |
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Apply standardized and consistent terminology, including the establishment of plain English communications standards across public safety sector. |
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1
As defined in the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the term “State” means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any possession of the United States.” 6 U.S.C. 101 (14)
2
As defined in the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Section 2(10): the term “local government” means “(A) county, municipality, city, town, township, local public authority, school district, special district, intrastate district, council of governments… regional or interstate government entity, or agency or instrumentality of a local government: an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, or in Alaska a Native village or Alaska Regional Native Corporation; and a rural community, unincorporated town or village, or other public entity.” 6 U.S.C. 101(10)
Tribal Government And Local Jurisdiction Compliance Activities:
Federal Fiscal Year 2006 (October 1, 2005-September 30, 2006)
In March 2004, the Secretary of Homeland Security, at the request of the President, released the National Incident Management System (NIMS). The NIMS is a comprehensive system that improves tribal and local response operations through the use of the Incident Command System (ICS) and the application of standardized procedures and preparedness measures. It promotes development of cross-jurisdictional, statewide, and interstate regional mechanisms for coordinating response and obtaining assistance during a large-scale or complex incident.
Tribal and local authorities, not federal, have the primary responsibility for preventing, responding to, and recovering from emergencies and disasters. The overwhelming majority of emergency incidents are handled on a daily basis by a single jurisdiction at the local level. It is critically important that all jurisdictions comply with the NIMS because the challenges we face as a nation are far greater than the capabilities of any one jurisdiction; they are not, however, greater than the sum of all of us working together through mutual support. Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 (HSPD- 5), Management of Domestic Incidents, requires all federal departments and agencies to adopt and implement the NIMS, and requires state 1 and local 2 jurisdictions to implement the NIMS to receive federal preparedness funding.
NIMS compliance should be considered and undertaken as a community-wide effort. The benefit of NIMS is most evident at the local level, when a community as a whole prepares for and provides an integrated response to an incident. Incident response organizations (to include local public health, public works, emergency management, fire, emergency medical services, law enforcement, hazardous materials, private sector entities, non-governmental organizations, medical organizations, utilities, and others) must work together to comply with NIMS components, policies, and procedures. Implementation of the NIMS in every tribal and local jurisdiction establishes a baseline capability that once established nationwide, can be used as a foundation upon which more advanced homeland security capabilities can be built.
Small and/or rural jurisdictions will benefit from a regional approach. In many instances smaller communities may not have the resources to implement all elements of NIMS on their own. However, by working together with other localities in their regions, these jurisdictions will be able to pool their resources to implement NIMS.
When NIMS is fully implemented, your local community or jurisdiction will be able to:
- Ensure common and proven incident management doctrine, practices, and principles are used to plan for, protect against, respond to, and recover from emergency incidents and preplanned events;
- Maintain a response operation capable of expanding to meet an escalating situation and the ability to integrate resources and equipment from intrastate and interstate mutual aid agreements, state-provided assistance, and federal government response;
- Order and track response assets using common resource typing and definitions, and draw on mutual aid agreements for additional assistance;
- Establish staging and allocation plans for the re-distribution of equipment, supplies, and aid coming into the area from other localities, states, or the federal government through mutual aid agreements;
- Conduct situational assessments and establish the appropriate ICS organizational structure to effectively manage the incident; and
- Establish communication processes, procedures and protocols that will ensure effective interoperable communications among emergency responders, 9-1-1 centers, and multi-agency coordination systems (Emergency Operations Centers).
In federal Fiscal Year 2005, the Secretary of Homeland Security provided guidance to each state, outlining initial actions that should be taken to implement the NIMS. The letter to the nation’s governors included a list of recommended actions for tribal and local governments to help them work towards NIMS compliance. A copy of this letter is posted on the NIMS webpage at: http://www.fema.gov/nims/nims_compliance.shtm. Recommended FY 2005 NIMS activities included:
- Institutionalize the use of the Incident Command System;
- Complete the NIMS awareness course IS-700 NIMS: An Introduction;
- Formally recognize NIMS and adopt NIMS principles and policies;
- Establish a NIMS compliance baseline by determining the NIMS requirements that have already been met; and
- Develop a strategy and timeline for full NIMS implementation.
By completing these activities, communities will have made substantial progress toward full NIMS implementation by the start of Fiscal Year 2007 (i.e. October 1, 2006). In federal Fiscal Year 2006, tribes and local communities will be required to complete several activities to comply with the NIMS. The attached implementation matrix describes the actions that jurisdictions must take by September 30, 2006 to be compliant with NIMS.
Completion of these actions will position tribal and local communities to better manage prevention, response and recovery efforts. The matrix identifies activities that are underway by the NIMS Integration Center (NIC) to support the effective implementation of NIMS as well as activities that will be required for NIMS implementation in future years.
The matrix also provides information on where to find technical assistance resources to support these compliance actions. For example, the National Incident Management Capability Assessment Support Tool (NIMCAST) is an example of a product designed to assist communities in determining their current NIMS compliance baseline. The NIMS is much more than just a list of required elements; it is a new approach to the way we prepare for and manage incidents, one that will lead to a more effective utilization of resources and enhanced prevention, preparedness, and response capabilities. Moreover, full NIMS implementation is a dynamic and multi-year phase-in process with important linkages to the National Response Plan (NRP), the Homeland Security Presidential Directive - 8 (i.e. the “National Preparedness Goal”) and the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP). Future refinement to the NIMS will evolve as policy and technical issues are further developed and clarified at the national level. This may well result in additional requirements being issued by the NIC as to what will constitute continuous full NIMS compliance in FY2007 and beyond.
More information on NIMS, NIMS compliance, and answers to frequently asked questions are available on the NIMS Integration Center Web page (http://www.fema.gov/nims).
NIMS Implementation Matrix for Tribal and Local Jurisdictions
FY 2006 Compliance Activities |
||
|---|---|---|
Required Tribal/Local Jurisdiction Action for FY 2006 Compliance |
Guidance and Technical Assistance Resources |
Future Activities |
Community Adoption |
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Adopt NIMS at the community level for all government departments and agencies; as well as promote and encourage NIMS adoption by associations, utilities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and private sector incident management and response organizations.
|
|
|
Command and Management |
||
Incident Command System (ICS): Manage all emergency incidents and preplanned (recurring/special) events in accordance with ICS organizational structures, doctrine, and procedures, as defined in NIMS. ICS implementation must include the consistent application of Incident Action Planning and Common Communications Plans.
|
|
|
Multi-agency Coordination System: Coordinate and support emergency incident and event management through the development and use of integrated multi-agency coordination systems, i.e develop and maintain connectivity capability between local Incident Command Posts (ICPs, local 911 Centers, local Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) and state EOC.
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Public Information System: Implement processes, procedures, and/or plans to communicate timely, accurate information to the public during an incident through a Joint Information System and Joint Information Center. |
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Preparedness: Planning |
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Establish the community’s NIMS baseline against the FY 2005 and FY 2006 implementation requirements.
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Develop and implement a system to coordinate all federal preparedness funding to implement the NIMS across the community.
|
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/assessments/hspd8.htm
|
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Revise and update plans and SOPs to incorporate NIMS components, principles and policies, to include planning, training, response, exercises, equipment, evaluation, and corrective actions |
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/assessments/hspd8.htm
|
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Participate in and promote intrastate and interagency mutual aid agreements, to include agreements with the private sector and non-governmental organizations. |
|
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Preparedness: Training |
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Complete IS-700 NIMS: An Introduction
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Complete IS-800 NRP: An Introduction
|
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Complete ICS 100 and ICS 200 Training
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Preparedness: Exercises |
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Incorporate NIMS/ICS into all tribal, local and regional training and exercises.
|
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Participate in an all-hazard exercise program based on NIMS that involves responders from multiple disciplines and multiple jurisdictions. |
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/assessments/hspd8.htm
|
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Incorporate corrective actions into preparedness and response plans and procedures.
|
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Resource Management |
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Inventory community response assets to conform to homeland security resource typing standards.
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To the extent permissible by law, ensure that relevant national standards and guidance to achieve equipment, communication, and data interoperability are incorporated into tribal and local acquisition programs. |
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/assessments/hspd8.htm
|
|
Communication & Information Management |
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Apply standardized and consistent terminology, including the establishment of plain English communications standards across public safety sector. |
|
|
1
As defined in the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the term “State” means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any possession of the United States.” 6 U.S.C. 101 (14)
2
As defined in the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Section 2(10): the term “local government” means “(A) county, municipality, city, town, township, local public authority, school district, special district, intrastate district, council of governments… regional or interstate government entity, or agency or instrumentality of a local government: an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, or in Alaska a Native village or Alaska Regional Native Corporation; and a rural community, unincorporated town or village, or other public entity.” 6 U.S.C. 101(10)
NIMS Alert
August 23,2005
Concerning NIMS, ICS and Plain Language ...
It is critical that all local responders, as well as those coming into the impacted area from other jurisdictions and other states, know and utilize commonly established operational structures, terminology, policies and procedures. This is what NIMS and the Incident Command System (ICS) are all about. There are larger matters at stake here - achieving interoperability across jurisdictions and disciplines.
The
NIMS Alert
August 18,2005
NIMS Compliance and Day-to-Day Operations
The
Serving the National Incident Management System Community.
July 9, 2005
NIMSonline announces the launch of www.IS700.com and the relaunch of www.NIMSForum.com. Provided as a public service by EMAC International, LLC, www.IS700.com is a web-based independent study course which introduces NIMS and takes approximately three hours to complete. It explains the purpose, principles, key components and benefits of NIMS. NIMSForum.com is offered to serve as a national discussion forum for the National Incident Management System Community.
NIMS AND THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM
The NIMS Integration Center has received a number of questions recently concerning the relationship between the Hospital Emergency Incident Command System (HEICS) and NIMS. HEICS is an ICS-based crisis management plan for hospitals to use to coordinate their own response to emergencies or disasters. NIMS establishes standard protocols and procedures for incident managers and responders to work together to prepare for and respond to incidents of all kinds, including natural disasters and acts of terrorism.
Contrary to rumors and recent reports:
Hospitals do not have to replace HEICS with NIMS. The new HEICS needs to be NIMS compliant, not replaced by it. The NIMS Integration Center is working with California Emergency Medical System Authority to make sure HEICS IV is fully compatible. The current version of HEICS was issued before NIMS was released and there is no reason to stop using it now. Hopefully the revised HEICS will have what it takes to be NIMS compliant. Already it addresses the ICS component of NIMS.
The deadline for full compliance with NIMS is by the end of FY 2006. That means jurisdictions and emergency services organizations that receive federal preparedness funding have until Sept. 30, 2006, to achieve full compliance.
Everyone working in a hospital does not have to be NIMS trained. The NIMS Integration Center recommends that only those directly involved in emergency response activities take the NIMS introductory course offered by FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (IS-700 NIMS, An Introduction). It is just that, a three-hour introductory course intended to familiarize persons in the emergency preparedness and response community with NIMS; much of the course focuses on the ICS component of the NIMS. It is up to the state or county to decide who must take it in order for the jurisdiction to be compliant with NIMS.
Hospitals are an important component of the emergency response/services community. They do not operate in isolation from other responders involved in a major event. The NIMS Integration Center recognizes that HEICS is part of a larger emergency management program and they support current efforts to make it NIMS compliant. There are other hospital emergency management programs and NIMS Integration Center expects to work with them also.
NIMS Integration Center - May 13, 2005
On October 20, 2004, FEMA and the NIMS Integration Center (NIC) released the National Mutual Aid Glossary of Terms and Definitions and the Resource Typing Definitions for 120 different kinds of resources. The resource typing definitions were prepared by working groups consisting of subject matter experts and Federal, State, and local responders who would be “using” the definitions to inventory their assets and to support mutual aid requests. In addition to the persons directly involved in the working groups, there were over 300 corresponding members who reviewed working drafts and participated in the formation of these definitions. The Glossary and Resource Typed Definitions can be accessed at www.fema.gov/nims/mutual_aid.shtm.
Since the release of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the National Response Plan (NRP), there has been more intense focus on these definitions since resource typing and mutual aid are key components of NIMS. Some States and localities are looking at the resource typing definitions, concluding that there are differences and initiating new resource typing definitions that better reflect their needs. NIMS is based on the need for standard definitions and practices. Developing separate definitions will in effect negate the fundamental idea that all responders should be using common definitions when ordering or receiving assets though mutual aid. Systems that do not conform to these common definitions are not compliant with NIMS.
The NIMS Integration Center recognizes that in some instances changes need to be made to the current definitions and in other instances entire new definitions may be created. The NIMS Integration Center will facilitate this process to ensure that we maintain a consistent nationwide approach to resource typing and consistency across the nation.
Recommend changes or additions will be compiled and fed into the resource typing working groups for consideration on a quarterly basis. Working group membership will remain dynamic so that we can have leaders in these function areas either directly represented in the group or include a corresponding member(s).
RESOURCE TYPING FORM INSTRUCTIONS
Please complete the resource typing form in its entirety and submit
to NIMS-Integration-Center@dhs.gov to
be processed. It may be accessed from the NIMS Homepage, listed under “New
from the NIMS Integration Center.” Please note it is important
to list the names and contact information of individuals you recommend
the NIC should include when addressing your comment/recommendation.
If you have any questions or problems downloading the form, please
contact
NIMS-Integration-Center@dhs.gov.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY RELEASES INTERIM NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS GOAL
April 1, 2005
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced today the publication
of the Interim National Preparedness Goal (“Goal”). The Goal
will guide federal departments and agencies, state, territorial, local and
tribal officials, the private sector, non-government organizations and the
public in determining how to most effectively and efficiently strengthen
preparedness for terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies.
“In our complex free society, there is no perfect solution to address every security concern,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff. “But by working together collectively to analyze threats, understand our capabilities, and apply resources intelligently, we can manage risk. The National Preparedness Goal will help us meet this objective.”
The Goal establishes readiness priorities, targets, and metrics. It will enable the Nation to answer three key questions: “How prepared are we?”; “How prepared do we need to be?” and “How do we prioritize efforts to close the gap?” The emphasis is on developing appropriate levels of capabilities to address a wide range of terrorist attacks and disaster scenarios.
“The Goal is an overarching statement of strategic intent. It demonstrates our national will to work toward establishing overall readiness against current and future threats,” said Matt Mayer, Acting Executive Director of the Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness. “With unlimited resources, full preparedness would be less of a challenge, but we don’t have unlimited resources. We have to make tough choices, they have to be the right choices, and we have to be ready to come together as a single, integrated system when the need arises.”
The Goal includes seven priorities for national preparedness. The priorities fall into two categories: overarching priorities and priorities to build specific capabilities.
The overarching priorities are to:
- Implement the National Incident Management System and National Response Plan
- Expand regional collaboration and
- Implement the Interim National Infrastructure Protection Plan.
The priorities for specific capabilities are to:
- Strengthen information sharing and collaboration capabilities;
- Strengthen interoperable communications capabilities;
- Strengthen chemical, biological, radiation, nuclear, and explosive weapons (CBRNE); detection, response, and decontamination capabilities; and
- Strengthen medical surge and mass prophylaxis capabilities.
The Goal addresses a requirement of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8, National Preparedness, to define “standards for preparedness assessments and strategies, and a system for assessing the Nation’s overall preparedness to respond to major events, especially those involving acts of terrorism.” The directive requires submission of the first annual status report on preparedness to the President by March 31, 2006.
Interim
National Preparedness Goal (3-31-05).pdf
(422 KB) (37 pages)
NIMS Alert
FEMA RELEASES NIMS COMPLIANCE ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND TRIBAL AGENCIES
WASHINGTON - The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency and the NIMS Integration Center have released a Web-based self-assessment system that will allow federal, state, tribal and local departments and agencies evaluate their incident preparedness and response capabilities. The voluntary system, the National Incident Management Compliance Assessment Support Tool, or NIMCAST, will also help users determine what they need to do to comply with National Incident Management System (NIMS) requirements.
"NIMCAST is a valuable tool that will allow organizations to evaluate and monitor their progress in implementing NIMS," said Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response. "But it's more than just a technical assessment system. It also will help the federal government target NIMS improvement strategies in areas where there is the greatest need."
Although the NIMCAST is a permission-based system, anyone may access the site and use the NIMCAST "Demo Assessment" to work through topics, descriptions and questions associated with all of the primary NIMS categories. Users may also download the complete assessment tool, chapter by chapter, in pdf, "read-only" format. NIMS points-of-contact for each of the FEMA Regional Offices were trained on the use of the system in mid-January. They will in turn provide NIMCAST training to state contacts.
NIMCAST may be accessed via the NIMS home page at www.fema.gov/nims, or directly at www.fema.gov/nimcast. For more information about NIMS and NIMCAST e-mail the NIMS-Integration-Center@dhs.gov, or call 202-646-3850.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
NIMS Integration Center
Executive Order 13347—Individuals
With
Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness
January 24, 2005
This Presidential directive stipulates that the needs of persons with disabilities be considered in emergency preparedness planning at the federal level. The NIMS Integration Center urges that as departments and agencies at all levels make NIMS-related revisions to their emergency plans that they take into account the needs of persons with disabilities, including employees and the persons they serve.
 |
Executive
Order 13347—Individuals With |
NIMS Integration Center
Releases
Guidance Document for
NIMS Training
December 22, 2004
The NIMS
Integration Center is coordinating the development of a National
Standard Curriculum for NIMS, which will be built around available
federal training opportunities and course offerings that support
NIMS implementation. The curriculum also will serve to clarify training
that is necessary for NIMS-compliance and streamline the training
approval process for courses recognized by the curriculum.
Initially, the curriculum will be made up of NIMS awareness training and training
to support the Incident Command
System, (ICS). Eventually it will expand to include all NIMS training requirements
including training established to meet national credentialing standards. Presently,
this document only lists NIMS-related course offerings available through EMI, USFA and
the Noble Training Center.
However, the NIMS Integration Center will be meeting soon with all other DHS
training providers to determine which of their existing courses can be included
and featured as part of this curriculum. In the next year, we will reach out
to all federal training providers to include their NIMS-related courses.
As you know, NIMS implementation is on a fast track. Minimum training requirements
to be accomplished this year are listed in a memorandum from the DHS
Secretary to Governors. It is important that the minimum requirement be
met, while the comprehensive NIMS Curriculum is being developed.
The NIMS center recognizes that many operational aspects of the NIMS, including
ICS training, are available through, state, local and tribal training agencies
and private training vendors. It is not necessary that the training requirements
be met through a federal source. We will be developing and providing stakeholders
with an evaluation checklist for training content, which may be used to ensure
that the ICS training offered through vendors meets the standard “as
taught by DHS.”
Questions concerning NIMS and related training issues may be directed to NIMS-Integration-Center@dhs.gov.
NIMS Alert
NIMS ICS Position Paper Released
by the NIMS Integration Center
December 2, 2004
| WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of
Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
and the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Integration
Center have issued a paper on NIMS and the Incident Command System.
The paper, "NIMS and
the Incident Management System," reviews the development
of the various versions of the ICS and discusses the characteristics
of the NIMS ICS as the "standardized incident organizational
structure for the management of all [domestic] incidents."
"The National Incident Management System incorporates best practices that have been developed over the years and one of the most valuable of these practices is the Incident Command System," said Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary for Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response. The ICS provides a common organizational structure for the immediate response to emergencies and involves the coordination of personnel and equipment on-site at an incident. One of the FY 2005 NIMS implementation requirements is that federal, state, local and tribal governments institutionalize the use of ICS across their entire response systems. Although many agencies now use various forms of ICS, the intent of this paper is to explain how these systems can be integrated into a common ICS system as taught by DHS. "While the principles and concepts of the NIMS
ICS are the same as the FIRESCOPE and NIIMS ICS,
it's important to note that the NIMS ICS pulls the
most effective elements from the range of existing
incident command systems," said Gil Jamieson,
Acting Director of the NIMS Integration Center. "From
this point forward, there will be one single ICS
- the NIMS ICS." Excerpts from the Position Paper "One of the first steps for becoming compliant with the NIMS requires states and local governments to institutionalize the use of ICS (as taught by Homeland Security) across the entire response system. This means that ICS training must be consistent with the concepts, principles and characteristics of the ICS training offered by the various DHS training entities. ICS training courses need not be taught by a DHS employee or at a DHS facility, although they can be. Organizations that are developing ICS training courses should be sure to review their materials and revise them if they are not consistent with DHS concepts and principles." "Responders who have already been trained in ICS do not need retraining if their previous training is consistent with DHS standards. Since NIMS ICS is based on FIRESCOPE and NIIMS, any training developed or provided by FIRESCOPE and NIIMS is consistent with NIMS ICS." |
 Serving the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Community. |
||
| Contact us at: launched: October 1, 2004 |
This website is not officially affiliated with DHS, FEMA, or any other federal, state or local governmental agency. Opinions and statements expressed on this page are solely that of author/poster and do not reflect on the policies or official positions of any federal, state, or local regulatory or governmental agency. |
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