1. National Incident Management System (NIMS)
Good afternoon.
The information you are about to receive on the National Incident Management System will help you understand what NIMS compliancy is and provide a framework toward ensuring the continued flow of federal Homeland Security Dollars to your jurisdictions.
As much as we all love acronyms… NIMS (National Incident Management System) is not to be confused with NIIMS (National Interagency Incident Management System).
Jim Reardon
Michigan State Police
Emergency Management Division

2. Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)-5
Consistent nationwide approach for all levels of government to work effectively and efficiently.
Provide a comprehensive national approach to incident management at all jurisdictional levels and across functional disciplines.
NIMS is the nation’s first-ever standardized approach to incident management and response. It is applicable to Federal, State, Territorial, Tribal, and local governments to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size, or complexity. It establishes a uniform set of processes, protocols, and procedures that all emergency responders, at every level of government, will use to conduct response activities.
This is why you are here today. The medical field is one of those functional disciplines outlined by the Department of Homeland Security. You play a critical role in incident management and it is important for you to know what NIMS is all about.
This system is also meant to improve coordination and cooperation between public and private entities as well. Responders need to be able to work together, communicate with each other, and depend on each other.

3. Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)-5
Flexibility
Standardized
Processes
Procedures
Systems
Flexibility applies to all phases of incident management, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity. This is not a situation where the Federal Government or the State comes in and tells you how to run your show. This flexible framework facilitates government and private entities at all levels working together to manage domestic incidents.
This is designed to improve interoperability, so no one group is trying to manage something they may not be qualified or capable of dealing with. If we all adopt standardized processes, procedures, and systems, we are more able to address any incident that may arise.

4. NIMS Ideology
First responders have been practicing various methods in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from an incident over the years.
The best methods have been identified, gathered and placed into this one incident management system to be used consistently on a nation wide basis – NIMS.

5. NIMS Integration Center (NIC)
NIC was established to support
Routine maintenance
Continuous Refinement
Contacting NIC
Tx.: (202)
Web:
All Federal departments and agencies are required to adopt NIMS and use it in their individual domestic incident management activities.
To assist State and local government in adopting NIMS, the Department of Homeland Security created the NIMS Integration Center (NIC)
You will find the most current information on NIMS at this web site.
You will find various documents outlining NIMS, Evaluative tools, templates for planning and reporting, etc… A very useful place to become familiar with all the facets of NIMS.
While Incident Command is a component of NIMS, you will see there is much more to it. Let’s take a look at the components…

6. NIMS Components Command and management Preparedness
Resource management
Communications and information management
Supporting technologies
Ongoing management and maintenance
This is the national framework for preparing for, preventing, responding to, and recovering from domestic incidents.
Although these systems are still evolving, much is in place now.
I want to give you a brief overview of these components, then address your concerns about mandatory NIMS compliancy. As we go through each of these components, you will be able to identify areas where you are already well on your way to compliancy.

7. Command and Management
Incident Command System
Common terminology
Organizational resources
Manageable span of control
Organizational facilities
Position titles
Incident Action Planning
Integrated communications
Accountability
Incident Command is a proven, on-scene, all-hazard incident management concept. It is interdisciplinary and flexible to meet the needs of incidents of any size or level of complexity.
Here you see a list of features that make it well suited to managing any incident.
The ability to communicate is critical in any incident. Common terminology requires the use of clear text. Don’t use jargon, or codes. Speak in plain English
Recourses are “typed” with respect to capability to help avoid confusion and enhance interoperability.
Effective span of control may vary from three to seven, and a ratio of one supervisor to five reporting elements is recommended.
Common terminology is used to define incident facilities IE Command Post, Staging Areas, A Base, Camps, Etc…
There in only one Incident Commander and only that person is called Commander. You may also have sections with “Chiefs” over them. Learning and using standard terminology helps reduce confusion between the day-to-day position occupied by an individual and his or her position at the incident.
Incident Action Plans provide a coherent means to communicate the overall incident objectives. Incident Action Plans depend on management by objectives to accomplish response tactics. They are used to develop and issue assignments, plans, procedures, and protocols.
This is the hardware systems that transfer information. Plan for the use of all available communications frequencies and resources. Develop procedures and processes for transferring information internally and externally.
This is a huge issue. There must be an orderly chain of command, check-in for responders, and assigned to only one supervisor.
NIMS is much more than simply an Incident Command Model. Lets continue and look at the other components.

8. Preparedness Planning Training and equipping Exercising
Evaluating and taking corrective action
Preparedness plans describe how personnel, equipment, and other resources will be used to support incident management requirements. Planning provides mechanisms for: Setting priorities, Integrating multiple entities and functions, Establishing collaborative relationships, Ensuring that communications and other systems support the complete spectrum of incident management.
NIMS Integration Center will help facilitate the development and dissemination of national standards. They will define general training requirements and approve training courses.
The training will then be tested through exercise.
Finally, preparedness requires that any lessons learned from actual incidents or training and exercise be evaluated and improvements made to response and recovery plans.

9. Resource Management Establishing systems Activating those systems
Describing
Inventorying
Requesting
Tracking
Activating those systems
Dispatching resources
Recalling resources
This requires
advance planning
resource identification and ordering
resource categorization
Use of agreements
effective management
Don’t forget about your biggest resource – Personnel
Are they properly equipped?
Are they properly trained?
Are they physically fit?

10. Communications and Information Management
NIMS provides a common operating picture and interoperability for
Incident management communications
Information management
NIMS Integration Center will develop a national database for incident reports
Provide information from slide…

11. Layered Response Strategy
Capabilities and Resources
Federal Response
State Response
Regional / Mutual Response Systems
Local Response, Municipal and County
This diagram demonstrates how NIMS and incident management is intended to work.
Now let’s get into the stuff your really want to know.
Minimal Low Medium High Catastrophic
Increasing magnitude and severity

12. NIMS Compliancy FY 2005 – Start up year for NIMS
FY 2006 – Funding will be contingent on certifying 2005 NIMS requirements are met
FY 2007 – Full compliancy required for Federal assistance
Implementation of and compliance with NIMS is critical to ensuring full and robust preparedness across our nation. HSPD-5 established ambitious time lines for adoption and implementation of NIMS.
Please note: This slide indicates that compliancy benchmarks are measured by the FISCAL YEAR. Many of these grants have been running in two year cycles so there is overlap between the cut off and start up dates for each consecutive grant.
However, NIMS compliancy is being required to be met in specific FISCAL YEARS. October 1 thru September 30
State, tribal, and local entities need to begin efforts to implement NIMS, if such efforts are not already underway.
FULL COMPLIANCY IS NOT REQUIRED FOR YOU TO RECEIVE FY 2005 GRANT FUNDS. HOWEVER ALL ENTITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO ACHIEVE FULL NIMS IMPLEMENTATION DURING FY 2005.

13. FY 2005 NIMS Compliancy Requirements - State
Incorporate NIMS into existing training and exercise programs
Ensure Federal funding support NIMS implementation
Incorporate NIMS into Emergency Operations Plans
Promote Mutual Aid Agreements
Coordinate and provide assistance to local entities regarding NIMS
Institutionalizing the use of ICS
These are requirements the Department of Homeland Security has stated MUST be done at the State and Territory level.
We have already made a lot of progress toward these ends. We will be providing a lot more direction in the very near future as we digest exactly what is expected. We are here to help… Trust me… I’m from the government.
The next few slides outline the standards that the Department of Homeland Security say SHOULD be implemented by State, territorial, tribal, and local jurisdictions.

14. FY 2005 NIMS Compliancy Requirements - Local
Complete NIMS IS-700 awareness course
Adopt NIMS principles and policies
Determine requirements that have been met.
Develop a timeframe for full NIMS implementation by FY06.
Adopt and institutionalize the use of ICS.
(most important)

15. Formal Recognition of NIMS
Adopting NIMS principles and policies
Legislation
Executive orders
Resolutions
Ordinances
Formally recognizing NIMS by adopting its principles and policies through these means is one of the ways the Department of Homeland Security is recognizing compliancy.
The NIC will provide sample language and templates to assist you in formally adopting NIMS through these administrative means.

16. Establish a NIMS Baseline
Determine where you are compliant
Identify gaps
Develop strategies to address those gaps
NIC assistance
The NIMS Integration Center is developing a web-based self-assessment system that can be used to evaluate your incident response and management capabilities.
This tool was to be piloted in a couple of states earlier this year. I haven’t heard anything regarding where they are at in it’s development, but it is intended to be provided to users with voluntary access to the system.

17. To receive FY06 preparedness funds, applicants need to certify in their grant applications that they have fulfilled the FY05 NIMS requirements.

18. Draft implementation process
NIMS/NRP Training
IS-700 & IS-800 courses
Establish Legislation
Adoption as an official document
Develop Baseline
Local coordination & NIMCAST
Adopt ICS
Basic / advanced level of training
Incorporate NIMS into Plans
Begin to revise plans to incorporate NIMS
I have no bullets for you on this slide. The requirement speaks for it’s self.
To the extent that full implementation is not possible during FY 2005, Federal preparedness assistance must be leveraged to complete NIMS implementation by FY 2006… keeping in mind that Federal Preparedness Assistance will be conditioned by full compliance with NIMS by FY 2007.
We will be providing leadership to assist you with full NIMS implementation and a strategy for statewide compliance with NIMS. Our planning section is working fervently to provide you with timely information and assistance.
Seriously, As I’ve stated earlier, our state has made a lot of progress already toward meeting NIMS compliancy and we will be providing you with more detailed information in the near future.

19. NIMCAST
A self assessment tool in determining your capabilities and compliance with the requirements.
It identifies which components are lacking and what additional actions and resources are needed to effectively participate in the NIMS.

21. Resources NIMS Integration Center (202) 646-3850
Mark Wesley
MSP/Emergency Management Division
(517)
Dave Wood
(517)
Jim Reardon
(517)
Many of you were in Mark Wesley’s presentation this morning and he said he would help me with my presentation this afternoon, so I thought I would provide you all with his telephone numbers as well.