National Incident Management System (NIMS)
The National Incident Management System (NIMS) all started with Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)-5, where the President of the United States directed the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to develop and administer a National Incident Management System (NIMS) which would provide a consistent nationwide approach for federal, state, local, and tribal governments to work together in a more effective and efficient manner to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents regardless of cause, size, or complexity.
In November of 2005, Mayor Bill Purcell signed Executive Order No. 022 which orders Metro Nashville and Davidson County to use NIMS as the standard for incident management. It also orders NIMS to be incorporated into the CEMP and that OEM is to be responsible for monitoring NIMS compliance with other departments.
So to facilitate the most efficient and effective incident management, it is critical that federal, state, local, and tribal organizations utilize standardized terminology, standardized organizational structures, interoperable communications, consolidated action plans, unified command structures, uniform personnel qualification standards, uniform standards for planning, training, and exercising, comprehensive resource management, and designated incident facilities during emergencies or disasters. The NIMS sets forth standardized procedures for managing personnel, communications, facilities and resources that will enhance local and state agency readiness, maintain first responder safety, and streamline incident management processes.
In order for States and Local governments to continue receiving certain federal funding, ever since fiscal year 2005, they have been required to be in compliance with the standards and procedures set forth with the NIMS. Each federal fiscal year (starts in October, and ends in September) there are different levels of requirements, and includes the different areas of the NIMS program as earlier mentioned. Every September, NIMS compliance reports are sent to the State, then in turn submitted to the Federal government.
One of the biggest tasks associated with these requirements is making sure everyone is trained to the proper level. The standardized NIMS training includes the Independent Study classes on FEMA.gov: IS-100/Intro to ICS, IS-200/Basic ICS, IS-700/Intro to NIMS and IS-800/National Response Plan; and the classroom setting classes of ICS-300/Intermediate ICS, and ICS-400/Advanced ICS. Certain classes are required for different levels of emergency workers, so please check with your department training coordinator for more information on who has been identified as needing what training for NIMS in your department.
The NIMS is an evolving program, and there are enhancements constantly being created. Please continue to check here for more information on what Metro Nashville/Davidson County is doing to be in compliance.
If you have any questions on NIMS compliance, please contact the NIMS compliance coordinator for Nashville/Davidson County, Heidi Jordan.