# Presentation: 892424

## National Incident Management System

- Introduction and Overview

**NIMS**

**Notes:**
Instructor Notes

In February of 2003, President Bush issued Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 5.  This directive required that DHS develop and administer a National Incident Management System (NIMS).  The idea behind NIMS is to provide a consistent nationwide template to enable all organizations to work together during a domestic incident.  Until now, there have been no standards for domestic incident response that reached across every level of government and every response agency.

In addition to establishing NIMS, HSPD-5 requires federal departments and agencies to make the adoption of NIMS by state and local organizations a condition for federal preparedness assistance by FY2005.  The short-term way to comply is by adopting ICS.

## NIMS Concepts and Principles

- NIMS provides a **flexible **framework for everyone to work under
- NIMS provides a set of **standardized **organizational structures

**Notes:**
Instructor Notes

Reinforce with the class that NIMS provides a way for all government and private entities at all levels to work together to manage an incident, regardless of that incident’s cause, size, location, or complexity.

In addition, NIMS will provide requirements for processes, procedures, and systems aimed at improving agency interoperability.

## NIMS Components

- Command and management
- Preparedness
- Resource Management
- Communications and information management
- Supporting technologies
- Ongoing maintenance and management

**Notes:**
Instructor Notes

Let the participants know that the 6 components above form the basis of NIMS, and each will be reviewed in more detail in the following slides.

## Command and Management

- NIMS standard incident management structures are based on:
- Incident Command System (ICS)
- Multiagency Coordination Systems
- Public Information Systems

**Notes:**
Instructor Notes

No explanation should be needed for ICS, as that was the last block of instruction.  

Inform the class that Multiagency Coordination Systems provide the structure to support coordination for incident prioritization, critical resource allocation, communication systems integration, and information coordination.  Components of Multiagency Coordination Systems include facilities, equipment, emergency operation centers (EOCs), specific multiagency coordination entities (which we will discuss later), personnel, procedures, and communications.  These systems assist agencies and organizations to fully integrate the subsystems of NIMS.

Public Information Systems include the processes, procedures, and systems for communicating timely and accurate information to the public during emergency situations.

## Incident Command System

- ICS is proven to be effective for all types of management
- However, more coordination may be needed if:
- Multiple concurrent incidents occur
- Incidents are non-site specific
- Incidents are geographically dispersed
- Incidents evolve over time

**Notes:**
Instructor Notes

Point out to the class that acts of biological, chemical, radiological, and nuclear terrorism present challenges to the traditional ICS structure.  For example, a public health emergency brought about by an aerial dispersion of a biological contaminant may not be immediately recognized, could affect entire counties or an entire state, and may take awhile to fully develop based on a latency period.

## Incident Command System (con’t.)

- Unified Command

**Notes:**
Instructor Notes

A unified command may be established under ICS when an incident has more than one responding agency with responsibility, or when an incident crosses political jurisdictions.  

For example, in the diagram above, you can see that the role of Incident Commander has been replaced with a Unified Command consisting of fire, the DEP, and public works.  In this example, a hazardous material spill has contaminated a reservoir.  Since this incident has more than one responding agency with responsibility, a Unified Command has been established.

Under the Unified Command, agencies work together through the designated members of the Unified Command to manage an incident.  Unified command changes no other aspect of ICS.  It just allows all agencies with a responsibility in the incident to participate in the decisionmaking process.

## Incident Command System (con’t.)

- Area Command

**Planning**

**Logistics**

**Logistics**

**Section**

**Area Command**

**Notes:**
Instructor Notes

An Area Command is an organization that oversees the management of multiple incidents that are each being managed by an ICS organization, and to oversee the management of large incidents that cross jurisdictional boundaries.  Area commands are useful for incidents that are not site specific, not immediately identifiable, are geographically dispersed and evolve over time.

Area Commands have the responsibility for:
Setting overall strategy and priorities
Allocating critical resources according to priorities
Ensuring that incidents are properly managed
Ensuring that objectives are met
Ensuring that strategies are followed

An Area Command may become a Unified Area Command when incidents are multijurisdictional or involve multiple agencies.  As can be seen in the second diagram above, an Area Command is very similar to an ICS structure except that is lacks an Operations Section.  This is because operations are conducted on-scene.

## Multiagency Coordination Systems

- Depending on how large or wide-scale an emergency is, a Multiagency Coordination System may be needed
- 1.  What is it?
- 2.  What does it do?

**Notes:**
Instructor Notes

A Multiagency Coordination System is a general term used to describe the functions and activities of representatives of involved agencies and/or jurisdictions who come together to make decisions regarding the prioritizing of incidents and the sharing and use of critical resources.  Resources may include:
Facilities
Equipment
Personnel
Procedures
Communications

The primary functions of Multiagency Coordination Systems are to:
Support incident management policies and priorities
Facilitate logistics support and resource tracking
Make resource allocation decisions based on incident management priorities
Coordinate incident-related information
Coordinate interagency and intergovernmental issues 

Stress to the class that Multiagency Coordination Systems are not part of the on-scene ICS and do not develop incident strategy or tactics.

## Multiagency Coordination Systems (con’t.)

- Elements of a Multiagency Coordination System:
- Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs)
- Multiagency Coordination Entities

**Notes:**
Instructor Notes

EOCs are the locations from which the coordination of information and resources to support incident activities takes place.  They are usually established at the local and state levels.

Multiagency Coordination Entities typically consist of principals from organizations with direct incident management responsibilities or with significant incident management support or resource responsibilities.  These entities may be used to facilitate incident management and policy coordination.  It should be pointed out that although a Multiagency Coordination System is not part of the on-scene ICS, EOCs and Multiagency Coordination Entities are.  Examples of Multiagency Coordination Entities include the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the Multiagency Coordination Group (MAC).  You are probably familiar with MAC if you have ever been involved with fighting wildfires.

## Public Information Systems

- _Public Information Principles:_
- The Public Information Officer (PIO) advises Incident Command
- Public information functions must be coordinated and integrated across jurisdictions and across functional agencies

**Notes:**
Instructor Notes

Explain to the class that the PIO advises Incident Command on all public information matters related to the management of the incident, including media and public inquiries, emergency public information and warnings, rumor monitoring and control, media monitoring, and any other functions needed to disseminate accurate and timely incident information.

## Joint Information Systems (JIS)

**Notes:**
Instructor Notes

The above diagram is a visual representation of a Joint Information System (JIS).  The JIS provides an organized, integrated, and coordinated mechanism for providing information to the public.  It also spells out how information will be disseminated to the public through plans and protocols.  The JIS encompasses all public information related to an incident.

A Joint Information Center (JIC) is one way to ensure the coordination of public information.  The JIC can be used as a central location where information can be coordinated and integrated across jurisdictions and agencies, government partners, the private sector, and nongovernmental agencies.  One good way to keep the JIS and the JIC straight is to remember that the JIC is a physical location, whereas the JIS is a management concept.

JICs are established by Incident Commanders and/or Multiagency Coordination Entities.  JICs can also be established at various levels of government as in the example above.  All these JICs must communicate and coordinate with each other on an ongoing basis using established JIS protocols.

## Joint Information Centers (con’t.)

**Notes:**
Instructor Notes

Explain to the class that all JICs have several characteristics in common:
They all have representatives from all players in the response management
Each JIC must have procedures and protocols for communicating and coordinating with other JICs and with appropriate components of the ICS organization

Although a single JIC is preferable, the JIS should be flexible enough to accommodate multiple JICS when required.

In the diagram above, some typical components of JIC organization are shown.  Additional functions may be added as needed to meet the public information needs of the incident.

## Preparedness

- Effective incident management requires preparation which includes:
- Planning, training, and exercises
- Personnel qualification and certification standards
- Equipment acquisition and certification standards
- Publication management processes and activities
- Mutual Aid Agreements/Emergency Management Assistance Compacts

**Notes:**
Instructor Notes

Inform the class that a major objective of preparedness is to ensure mission integration and interoperability in response to emergent crises across functional and jurisdictional lines.

In the future, personnel certified for employment in support of an incident that transcends interstate jurisdictions through the Emergency Management Assistance Compacts System will need to meet national qualification and certification standards.

In addition, NIMS will institute national level equipment certification through the development of national standards and certification programs.  NIMS will also maintain lists of emergency responder equipment that meets national standards.

## Preparedness (con’t.)

- Preparedness is the responsibility of individual jurisdictions
- NIMS provides tools to help ensure and enhance preparedness including:
- Preparedness organizations and training programs
- Personnel qualification and certification
- Equipment certification
- Mutual aid
- Publication management

**Notes:**
Instructor Notes

Stress that it is the individual jurisdictions responsibility to be prepared for an emergency and to coordinate their activities among all preparedness stakeholders.  Each level of government is responsible for its preparedness.

In terms of personnel qualification and certification, national level preparedness standards related to NIMS will be developed through the NIMS Integration Center (NIC).  And as mentioned previously, jurisdictions who do not adopt and incorporate NIMS will not be eligible for federal funding beginning in FY05.

## Preparedness Plans

- Under NIMS, jurisdictions should develop several types of plans, including:
- Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs)
- Procedures
- Corrective Action or Mitigation Plans
- Recovery Plans

**Notes:**
Instructor Notes

Define the plan types to the participants.  Definitions are:

EOPs describe how a jurisdiction will respond to emergencies.

Procedures include overviews, standard operating procedures (SOPs), field operations guides, or other critical information needed for a response.

Preparedness Plans describe how training needs will be identified and met, how resources will be obtained through mutual aid agreements, and the facilities and equipment required for the hazards face by the jurisdiction.

Corrective Action or Mitigation Plans are designed to implement procedures based on lessons learned from actual incidents or training and exercises.

Recovery Plans describe the actions to be taken to facilitate long-term recovery, after actions for rapid damage assessment and immediate life support for victims have been taken.

Plans should be developed in conjunction with local and regional preparedness organizations.

## Training and Exercises

- Organizations and personnel must be trained
- Organizations and personnel
-    must also participate
-    in exercises

**Notes:**
Instructor Notes

Inform the class that the NIMS Integration Center (NIC) will assist jurisdictions in meeting the above requirements.  The NIC will:
Facilitate the development of and dissemination of national standards, guidelines, and protocols for incident management training
Facilitate the use of modeling and simulation in training and exercise programs
Define general training requirements and approved training courses for all NIMS users, including instructor qualifications and course completion documentation (i.e. record keeping)
Review and approve, with help from key stakeholders, discipline-specific training requirements and courses.

## Personnel Qualification and Certification

- Under NIMS, preparedness will be based on national standards
- Standards will include:
- Training
- Experience
- Credentialing
- Currency
- Physical and medical fitness

**Notes:**
Instructor Notes

Explain to the class that in this case, “currency” refers to how up-to-date someone’s training and certifications are and how up-to-date the materials used during training were.  In addition, it is worth mentioning that those personnel who are certified to support interstate incidents will be required to meet the national qualification and certification standards.

## Equipment Certification

- It is critical that emergency response equipment:
- Performs
- Is interoperable with equipment from other jurisdictions
- NIMS Integration Center (NIC) will:
- Facilitate, develop and/or publish national equipment standards
- Review and approve lists of emergency responder equipment that meets the national requirements

**Notes:**
Instructor Notes

Let the class know that one of the benefits of NIMS is that it will make purchasing and arranging for emergency response equipment much easier.  Jurisdictions will no longer have to determine if the equipment they are considering buying is appropriate and if it will work with the equipment of the county next door.

## Mutual Aid Agreements/Emergency Management Assistance Compacts

- Provide the means for jurisdictions to provide resources and other support to one another during an incident
- NIMS encourages these agreements with:
- Other jurisdictions
- Private sector and non-governmental groups
- Private organizations such as American Red Cross

**Notes:**
Instructor Notes

In anticipation of events that cover a wide geographic area, NIMS is encouraging states to enter into Mutual Aid Agreements or Emergency Assistance Compacts with one another.

## Publications Management

- The NIMS Integration Center (NIC) will:
- Naming and numbering convention
- Review and certification process of publications
- Methods for publication control
- Identification of sources and suppliers
- Management of publication distribution

**Notes:**
Instructor Notes

Let the participants know that NIC will be managing a wide range of publications from qualification information and training courses to computer programs and best practices.

## Resource Management

-    NIMS will define standardized mechanisms and establish requirements to describe, inventory, mobilize, dispatch, track, and recover resources over the life cycle of an incident.

**Notes:**
Instructor Notes

Describe to the class that there are four underlying concepts for resource management under NIMS:
To provide a uniform method to identify, acquire, allocate, and track resources
To classify kinds and types of resources required to support incident management
To use a credentialing system tied to uniform training and certification standards
To incorporate resources contributed by private sector and nongovernmental organizations

## Resource Management (con’t.)

- _The 5 key principles of resource management:_
- Advance planning
- Resource identification and ordering
- Resource categorization
- Use of agreements
- Effective management

**Notes:**
Instructor Notes

Through advance planning, preparedness organizations work together before an incident occurs to develop plans for managing and using resources.

Standard processes and methods are applied to identify, order, mobilize, dispatch, and track resources.

Resource categorization is done by size, capacity, capability, skill, or other characteristics to enhance efficiency.

Developing pre-incident agreements (like Mutual Aid) will probably be necessary to provide all required resources.

Validated practices should be used to perform key resource management tasks.

## Communications and Information Management

- _Management Principles:_
- A common operating picture, accessible to all jurisdictions and agencies, is necessary
- Common communications and data standards are fundamental

**Notes:**
Instructor Notes:

Interoperability standards in support of bullet two above will be developed with the following goals:
Incident notification and situation reports are needed to notify all levels of government and therefore must be standardized without allowing any individual agency to lose the ability to report unique data.
Status reporting will be standardized also.
Analytical data collected in the field will be done so through standardized collection procedures.
Geospatial information will be standardized in terms of display and collection.
Wireless Communications, both phone and computer, will be standardized across public safety organizations and to ensure their compatability with non-government organizations.
Identification and authentication procedures will be developed so that those individuals accessing the NIMS information management system (to get or give information) can be properly authenticated and certified for security purposes.
The NIMS Integration Center will develop a national database of incident reports that can be used to support incident management efforts.

## Supporting Technologies

- _Principles:_
- Interoperability and compatibility
- Technology support
- Technology standards
- Broad-based requirements
- Strategic planning and R&D

**Notes:**
Instructor Notes

The following information can be provided to expand upon the bulleted list above:
Interoperability and compatibility – systems must be able to work together.
Technology support – all organizations using NIMS will be able to enhance all aspects of incident management and emergency response, as technology support will facilitate incident operations and sustain Research & Development (R&D) programs.
Technology standards – as mentioned before, national standards will facilitate interoperability and compatibility of major systems.
Broad-based requirements – NIMS provides a mechanism for aggregating and prioritizing new technologies, procedures, protocols, and standards.
Strategic planning and R&D – The NIMS Integration Center will coordinate with DHS to create a national R&D agenda.

## Ongoing Management and Maintenance

- NIMS is a “living” system that will change and improve based on lessons learned
- Primarily the responsibility of the NIMS Integration Center (NIC) to update NIMS
- The NIC will have mechanisms to include direct participation/consultation with response agencies at all levels

**Notes:**
Instructor Notes

Mention to class participants that just like a water system’s Emergency Response Plan, NIMS will have to be updated and changed periodically as threat situations change or new information and technologies become available.  The NIC will have primary responsibility to do this, but local entities, states, regional entities, tribal entities, federal departments and agencies, private entities such as business and academia, and NIMS-related professional associations can propose corrective actions and revisions to NIMS directly to the NIC.

## For More Information:

- _[http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=3421](http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=3421)_
- NIMS fact sheet and the full NIMS document
- _[http://training.](http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/)__[fema](http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/)__[.](http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/)__[gov](http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/)__[/](http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/)__[EMIWeb](http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/)__[/](http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/)_
- Then click on “NETC Virtual Campus” or “Independent Study”