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NIMS

Press Release From NIMS Integration Center

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.

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