1. NIMS Nutshell in a NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (NIMS): AN INTRODUCTION 1-hour version, October 2011

2. Course Objectives Describe the key concepts and principles underlying NIMS Identify the benefits of using NIMS as a national response model Identify the benefits of using Incident Command System (ICS) as a national response model Continued… At the end of this course, you will be able to:

3. Identify the organizational structure of ICS Describe how NIMS affects the way resources are managed before, during and after an incident And… Course Objectives

4. Recognize that NIMS and ICS are filled with TLAs… Course Objectives

5. Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 Directed the development of the National Incident Management System

6. National Incident Management System (NIMS) “…a consistent nationwide approach for Federal, State, tribal, and local governments to work effectively and efficiently together to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size, or complexity… ” What is it?

7. Benefits of NIMS Applicable across jurisdictions & functions Provides a flexible framework that facilitates all levels working together Requires that responses to all domestic incidents use a common management structure: Incident Command System (ICS)

8. Discussion: Why do we need NIMS? Lessons learned have shown the need for: A coordinated response Standardization Interoperability

9. Preparedness Communications and Information Management Resource Management Command and Management Ongoing Management and Maintenance NIMS Components

10. Where does ICS fit in? NIMS = the House NIMS is the Structure, ICS is one piece of that building

11. Command & Management (ICS) Resource Management Preparedness Communications & Info Management Ongoing Maintenance Where does ICS fit in? ICS = A brick in the foundation

12. NIMS: Command & Management ICS Background ICS represents organizational “best practices” and has become the standard for incident management

13. What Is Incident Command System (ICS)? Standard, on-scene, all-hazard incident management Allows its users to adopt an integrated organizational structure Has considerable internal flexibility A proven management system based on successful business practices

14. Five Major Management Functions Logistics Section Finance/ Administration Section Operations Section Planning Section Incident Command Not your ‘day-to-day’ organizational chart

15. Expanding ICS Organization Incident Commander Planning Section Operations Section Logistics Section Fin/Admin Section Safety Officer Liaison Officer Information Officer Commander Command Staff General Staff

16. Expanding ICS Organization Incident Commander Planning Units Operations Branches Divisions/ Groups Logistics Units Finance/ Administration Units Information Officer Liaison Officer Safety Officer

17. ICS Features Common terminology Organizational resources Manageable span of control Organizational facilities Use of position titles Reliance on an Incident Action Plan Integrated communications Accountability

18. NIMS: Command & Management Incident commander: overall responsibility Span of control varies from 3-7 staff, optimal = 5 Standard terminology is used to help reduce confusion between day-to-day positions Incident action plans depend on management by objectives to accomplish response tactics

19. Unified Command (Representatives From Local Jurisdictions) Finance/ Administration Logistics Planning Operations Unified command – when more than one responding agency Unified command – when more than one responding agencyExamples: Hazardous material spill contaminates a nearby reservoir (fire/water/environmental) Hazardous material spill contaminates a nearby reservoir (fire/water/environmental) A flood devastates multiple communities A flood devastates multiple communities

20. Area Command Incident Command Post 1 Incident Command Post 2 Area commands are: not site specific – relevant to public health not site specific – relevant to public health organized similar to ICS but with no Operations Section organized similar to ICS but with no Operations Section Incident Command Post 3

21. When does public health use ICS? In response to: Bioterrorism threats or events Chemical, radiological, or nuclear incidents Disease outbreaks Hurricanes Floods Others?

22. Incident Scenario TB Outbreak in Mountainview, Virginia TB Outbreak in Mountainview, Virginia Over 1,000 people potentially infected Over 1,000 people potentially infected NIMS and ICS were used to respond to this incident NIMS and ICS were used to respond to this incident

23. Incident Scenario, Part 1 Hospital health care worker diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis Hospital health care worker diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis Had worked in cardiology/rehabilitation Had worked in cardiology/rehabilitation Potentially exposed over 1,500 patients Potentially exposed over 1,500 patients Decision to screen all close contacts for TB infection/active disease Decision to screen all close contacts for TB infection/active disease Mass screening clinic to administer PPDs Mass screening clinic to administer PPDs

24. Part 1 Discussion: What are the first steps that your team would take to organize this mass screening clinic? What additional information is needed before you can plan any further?

25. Incident Scenario, Part 2 ICS was put into place ICS was put into place All VDH staff had a role in ICS All VDH staff had a role in ICS Span of control for each chief was 5 Span of control for each chief was 5 Staff didn’t work with everyday supervisor Staff didn’t work with everyday supervisor Staff didn’t work with everyday job duties Staff didn’t work with everyday job duties

26. NIMS: Command & Management Multi-agency Coordination Systems – make resource allocation decisions The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) supports multi-agency coordination and joint information The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) supports multi-agency coordination and joint information Public Information Officer (PIO) works within parameters of the Joint Information System (JIS) Public Information Officer (PIO) works within parameters of the Joint Information System (JIS)

27. NIMS: Command & Management In cases of Unified Command, joint information personnel do not lose individual responsibilities All Joint Information Centers (JICs) communicate and coordinate with each other using Joint Information System Protocols All Joint Information Centers (JICs) communicate and coordinate with each other using Joint Information System Protocols

28. Preparedness Communications and Information Management Resource Management  Command and Management Ongoing management and Maintenance NIMS Components

29. NIMS: Preparedness Learn from conducting drills & exercises Learn from conducting drills & exercises All preparedness organizations follow NIMS standards and adopt protocols for resource management All preparedness organizations follow NIMS standards and adopt protocols for resource management NIMS related standards are maintained at the NIMS Integration Center (NIC) NIMS related standards are maintained at the NIMS Integration Center (NIC)

30. NIMS: Preparedness Develop corrective action plans based on lessons learned Develop corrective action plans based on lessons learned NIC reviews and approves lists of responder equipment that meets national requirements NIC reviews and approves lists of responder equipment that meets national requirements NIC defines training requirements and courses, including related documentation NIC defines training requirements and courses, including related documentation

31. NIMS: Preparedness Mutual aid agreements help get equipment needed during an incident

32.  Preparedness Communications and Information Management Resource Management  Command and Management Ongoing Management and Maintenance NIMS Components

33. NIMS: Communications and Information Management NIMS standards based on common operating picture to ensure consistency among all who respond Common communications and data standards are fundamental

34.  Preparedness  Communications and Information Management Resource Management  Command and Management Ongoing Management and Maintenance NIMS Components

35. NIMS: Resource Management Resource typing is categorizing resources based on performance Certification and credentialing ensure personnel have training, experience, capability

36. NIMS: Resource Management Resource typing during PH events: personnel, equipment, communications, ice, … Resource managers track from mobilization through demobilization Requests for items the IC can’t get locally are obtained through EOC or Multi-agency Coordination Entity

37.  Preparedness  Communications and Information Management  Resource Management  Command and Management Ongoing Management and Maintenance NIMS Components

38. Events of 9/11 showed us the importance of this component NIMS: Ongoing Management & Maintenance

39. A Review: Is this NIMS or ICS? Incident Commander Planning Section Operations Section Logistics Section Fin/Admin Section Safety Officer Liaison Officer Information Officer Commander Command Staff General Staff

40. A few other things to remember… You may someday be a “non-leader” placed into a position of leadership (you can do it!) You may be a “leader” placed into a position of non-leadership (remember: you can’t do everything yourself!) Try to apply NIMS concepts during your “every day” activities so you can be used to the terminology during an emergency

41. And of course you want to: Know what your individual responsibilities will be FOR ALL emergencies Prepare your “self” and family, too! (as Health Department employees, our personal preparedness is critical!)

43. For More NIMS/ICS Information: fema.gov/nims vaemergency.com/em-community-em-resources/nims Vafire.com/training/technical_services_branch/nimslinks.html https://va.train.org

44. Happy Endings