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National Incident Management System (NIMS)
On March 1st, 2004, then U. S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge approved the creation
of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), the Nation's first standardized management approach that unifies Federal, state, and
local lines of government for incident response. NIMS
establishes standardized incident management processes, protocols, and procedures that all responders -- Federal, state, tribal,
and local -- will use to coordinate and conduct response actions. With responders using the same standardized procedures,
they will all share a common focus, and will be able to place full emphasis on incident management when a homeland security
incident occurs -- whether terrorism or natural disaster. In addition, national preparedness and readiness in responding
to and recovering from an incident is enhanced since all of the Nation's emergency teams and authorities are using a common
language and set of procedures.
Advantages of NIMS NIMS incorporates incident management best
practices developed and proven by thousands of responders and authorities across America. These practices, coupled with consistency
and national standardization, will now be carried forward throughout all incident management processes: exercises, qualification
and certification, communications interoperability, doctrinal changes, training, and publications, public affairs, equipping,
evaluating, and incident management. All of these measures unify the response community as never before. NIMS was created and vetted by representatives across America including: Federal government, States, Territories, Cities, counties, and townships, Tribal officials, First responders.
Incident Command System (ICS) NIMS establishes ICS as a standard incident management organization with five functional
areas -- command, operations, planning, logistics, and finance/administration -- for management of all major incidents.
To ensure further coordination, and during incidents involving multiple jurisdictions or agencies, the principle of unified
command has been universally incorporated into NIMS. This unified command not only coordinates the efforts of many jurisdictions,
but provides for and assures joint decisions on objectives, strategies, plans, priorities, and public communications. Click
here to get the ICS document.
Communications
and Information Management Standardized communications during an incident are essential and NIMS prescribes interoperable communications
systems for both incident and information management. Responders and managers across all agencies and jurisdictions
must have a common operating picture for a more efficient and effective incident response.
Preparedness Preparedness incorporates a range of measures, actions, and processes accomplished before an incident
happens. NIMS preparedness measures including planning, training, exercises, qualification and certification, equipment
acquisition and certification, and publication management. All of these serve to ensure that pre-incident actions are
standardized and consistent with mutually-agreed doctrine. NIMS further places emphasis on mitigation activities to
enhance preparedness. Mitigation includes public education and outreach, structural modifications to lessen the loss
of life or destruction of property, code enforcement in support of zoning rules, land management, and building codes, and
flood insurance and property buy-out for frequently flooded areas.
Joint Information System (JIS) NIMS organizational measures enhance the
public communication effort. The Joint Information System provides the public with timely and accurate incident information
and unified public messages. This system employs Joint Information Centers (JIC) and brings incident communicators together
during an incident to develop, coordinate, and deliver a unified message. This will ensure that Federal, state, and
local levels of government are releasing the same information during an incident.
NIMS Integration Center (NIC). To ensure that NIMS remains
an accurate and effective management tool, the NIMS NIC will be established by the Secretary of Homeland Security to assess
proposed changes to NIMS, capture, and evaluate lessons learned, and employ best practices. The NIC will provide strategic
direction and oversight of the NIMS, supporting both routine maintenance and continuous refinement of the system and its components
over the long term. The NIC will develop and facilitate national standards for NIMS education and training, first responder
communications and equipment, typing of resources, qualification and credentialing of incident management and responder personnel,
and standardization of equipment maintenance and resources. The NIC will continue to use the collaborative process of
Federal, state, tribal, local, multi-discipline and private authorities to assess prospective changes and assure continuity
and accuracy. Click here to visit the NIC.
Download the NIMS Here Below.
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