National Incident Management System(NIMS)

Curry Mayer, ChiefTraining Branch

California Emergency Management Agency

Topics to be Covered

• Scope and Benefits of NIMS

• NIMS Components

• Role of the National Integration Center (NIC)

• How do You fit in

NIMS

SEMS

ICS

Scope of NIMS• A national approach to managing incidents,

regardless of cause, size or complexity

• Based on best practices

• Applies to all levels of government

• Involves support from:– Private sector– Non-governmental organizations– Tribal governments

Legal Basis

NIMSHomeland Security Presidential Directive 5

(HSPD-5) Management of Domestic Incidents Adoption by States, tribes, etc. condition for

Federal preparedness assistance

Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8 (HSPD-8) National Preparedness

Benefits• Improves national incident coordination and

cooperation between public & private entities

• Provides guidance & certification standards for all resources used in incident management

• Provides for compatibility and interoperability among all involved organizations

• Standardized organizational structure

National Response Framework (NRF)

• Guide to how US conducts response to incidents

• Provides structure and mechanisms to ensure effective Federal support

• Builds on NIMS to align key roles and responsibilities

• Basic premise of NIMS and NRF is incidents are managed at local level (Just like SEMS)

Elected and Appointed Officials Need to…

• Understand and commit to NIMS• Support training on NIMS• Understand emergency

management, COOP/COG, response capabilities

• Encourage preparedness• Support mitigation• Maintain awareness

NIMS Components• Command and Management

• Preparedness

• Resource Management

• Communications and Information Management

• Supporting Technologies

• Ongoing Management and Maintenance

Let’s see what each component includes…

Use of ICS• Like SEMS NIMS uses ICS• The Incident Commander commands the

incidents using all of the same ICS guidelines– NIMS uses Unified Command and Area Command– Staff organization used Command and General

Staff positions– Plans for demobilization begin as soon as possible

to facilitate accountability– Incident Action Plans are utilized

Public Information SystemJoint Information System (JIS)The framework for organizing, integrating and coordinating the delivery of public information

Joint Information Center (JIC)

Where the coordination of information and resources to support incident management can take place

Preparedness• Actions required to establish and maintain

incident response capability • Includes efforts to coordinate between

public and private organizations• Planning• Training and Exercises• Personnel Qualification and

Certification• Equipment Certification

Planning

Plans describe how resources will be used. Plans outline how to:

•Set priorities

•Establish relationships and coordinate efforts between organizations

•Ensure support for all incident management activities

TrainingAllows practitioners to:

•Use concepts and principles

•Become more comfortable using NIMS & ICS

ExercisesCan improve performance and identify need for corrective action:•Multidisciplinary/multijurisdictional incidents

•Interact with private, nongovernmental organizations

•Cover aspects of preparedness plans

•Contain mechanism for incorporating corrective action and lessons learned

CredentialingEnsure consistent:

•Training

•Licensure

•Certification standards

•Competency or proficiency

Credentialing

Involves evaluation and documentation of:

•Certification, license or degree

•Training and experience

•Competence and proficiency

Resource Management• Advance Planning• Resource Identification and Ordering• Categorizing Resources• Use of Agreements• Effective Management of Resources • Management Information Systems• Ordering, Mobilization, Dispatching and

Demobilization Protocols

Resource Management (con’t.)• Identifying and Typing Resources• Certifying and Credentialing Personnel• Identifying Resource Requirements and

Inventorying Resources• Ordering and Acquiring Resources• Mobilizing and Tracking • Recovering Resources• Reimbursement

Resource Management

Communications and Information Management

• Need for a common operating picture that is accessible across jurisdictions and agencies

• Common communications and data standards are essential

• Use of common terminology is encouraged

Mutual Aid

Agreements which provide services, resources, and facilities, when jurisdictional resources are inadequate

•Allow jurisdictions to obtain assistance and resources quickly

•Without agreements, costs might need to be negotiated

Mitigation & Preparedness

• Reduce loss by avoiding/lessening impact of disaster

• Find the best safeguard solutions

• Impedes cycle of disaster damage

In Summary

• How might this be helpful to CERT Teams?