National Incident Management System (NIMS) Working Group (IMWG) Bob Neamy, Chair Bob Anderson, Co-Chair

OVERVIEW NIMS Working Groups, Overall Activities IMWG, Priority Projects and Current Activities Discussion & Questions

NIMS Discipline-Specific Working Groups Members are practitioners; using experiences and best practices to make recommendations to FEMA on improving and implementing the NIMS. 9 Existing Working Groups 2009 Focus: Identify and develop personnel qualifications (required and recommended) Resource Typing (defining equipment and teams) Develop command/general staff and discipline-specific Position Task Books Develop Job Aids, Three Year Work Plans, and other tools Identify Outreach and Public Awareness Opportunities

NIMS Discipline-Specific Working Groups continued… DISCIPLINE-SPECIFIC GROUPS: Incident Management Fire and Hazardous Materials Law Enforcement Search and Rescue Public Works Medical and Public Health Mass Care EMS Animal Emergency Response (2) Supportive Groups: ICS Competencies Change Management Board (ICS CCMB) Project Support Team (PST) IMWG Liaisons: A member is assigned to each working group discipline to ensure consistency among efforts and products. 4 4

Incident Management Working Group Purpose Statement IMWG is established under the auspices of FEMA’s Incident Management Systems Integration Division (IMSID) -To provide consistency, oversight, and continued management of national incident management standards.” The [IMWG] Chair/Co-Chair have the responsibility to establish and oversee application of national standards to ensure effective leadership for a wide variety of potential emergency situations.” The IMWG concentrates on overall Incident Management and focuses on developing guidance and tools for the Command and General Staff Positions (generally above the Unit Leader level).

Incident Management Working Group continued… Active since December 2007 Approximately 20 members Sub-Groups: ICS Forms, MACS, Type 3 IMT Guide, 5 Year Training Plan 15+ initiatives underway Several documents are undergoing FEMA’s internal review and are expected to be posted to (Regulations.gov) for public comment. 6 6

IMWG Actions & Projects ACTIVITY / TASK ACTION Emergency Responder Field Operations Guide (ER-FOG) Pending FEMA review for public comment ICS Forms NIMS Guide: Incident Complexity Model - communicates the “complexity” of an incident or event using a scale of 1 – 5. Advancing the Qualifications of Emergency Responders: All Hazards, NIMS Position Titles and Process Guide - Explains how the “performance-based” process should work and provides the current listing of NIMS Job Titles and the qualification criteria for each position. All Hazard Position Task Books - Lists core competencies, behaviors and tasks for Command and General Staff Positions (11 total).

IMWG Actions & Projects ACTIVITY / TASK ACTION Area Command Guide & Forms Draft completed – Undergoing additional edits by the IMWG. Multi-Agency Coordination System (MACS) and Emergency Operations Center (EOC)Guide and Forms Draft completed – Undergoing additional editing by the IMWG. Incident Management Team Guide - Assists States, Tribal authorities, local jurisdictions and others in establishing and maintaining an IMT program (Currently for a Type 3 IMT). Draft completed: Courtesy copy will be sent to USFA and FEMA Region VIII Incident Management Positions: Type 1 & 2 Planned NIMS Guidance – ICS Position Endorsement Annex – Explains the purpose and process of the NIMS endorsement concept. Mutual Aid or Mobilization Guide Template - For mutual aid coordination and management within multi-agency coordination systems.

IMWG Actions & Projects ACTIVITY / TASK ACTION “Delegation of Authority” or “Letter of Expectations” Template - Includes models/best practice templates. Planned Command vs. Coordination Guide - Explains how command and coordination are integrated during on-scene incident response. Beta Testing – Pilot Projects Region VIII – IMT Guide Texas A&M Training – ICS Forms State of Oregon IMT – All guidance Ongoing Three Year Work Plan – Identifies the IMWG’s projects and priorities for the next three year timeframe. Includes document development, review processes, outreach opportunities, coordination with other working groups, and integration with federal partners.

Incident Command System (ICS) Forms In preparation for public comment FEMA’s internal review prior to release Electronic publication (some forms will be available via warehouse order) Public comments will be reviewed by the IMWG prior to publication. Timeline is dependent on multiple factors Opportunity to pilot the drafts among Texas A&M and State of Oregon IMT Program.

Emergency Responder - Field Operations Guide (ER-FOG) In preparation for public comment FEMA’s internal review prior to release Electronic publication (available by warehouse order) Public comments will be reviewed by the IMWG prior to publication. Timeline is dependent on multiple factors Effort underway to include discipline-specific annexes

Area Command, Multi-Agency Coordination System (MACS) and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Under development Guide Forms In preparation for public comment FEMA’s internal review prior to release Publication format considerations (Word, PDF, etc.) Public comments will be reviewed by the IMWG prior to publication. Timeline is dependent on multiple factors

Type 3 Incident Management Team (IMT) Guide Addresses topics of governance, deployment, mobilization, demobilization, funding, etc. Incorporates lessons learned and samples from existing state-level IMT Standard Operating Procedures. Changes in incidents do occur so this Type 3 Guide may be used for different incident complexities. Opportunity to pilot the draft guide among FEMA Region VIII.

QUESTIONS & CONTACTS Holly Mann, Project Manager FEMA Liaison: Cabezon Group, contract support for IMWG 240-786-9130 ext 71 Holly.Mann@CabezonGroup.com FEMA Liaison: Vanessa Burnett, Liaison to IMWG Incident Management Systems Integration (IMSI) Division 202-646-4072 Vanessa.Burnett@dhs.gov