1. National Incident Management System (NIMS)
Overview
Incident Management Systems Integration Division,
National Preparedness Directorate,
Federal Emergency Management Agency

2. Homeland Security Presidential Directive – 5
National Incident Management System (NIMS)
A consistent nationwide approach for all levels of government to work effectively and efficiently together to prepare for and respond to domestic incidents
Core set of concepts, principles and terminology for incident command and multi-agency coordination
Requires all Federal Departments and Agencies to adopt the NIMS
Requires State and local NIMS compliance as a condition for Federal preparedness funds
Homeland Security Presidential Directives are a form of executive order issued by the President of the United States with the advise and consent of the National Security Council. As a form of executive order, a presidential directive has the "full force and effect of law."[1]
HSPD-5 called for a national incident management system and identified steps for improved coordination of Federal, State, local, and private industry response to incidents and described the way these agencies will prepare for such a response.
Consistent application of NIMS lays the groundwork for efficient and effective responses, from a single agency fire response to a multiagency, multijurisdictional natural disaster or terrorism response.
NIMS allows for a common understanding of procedures and protocols governing the response, as well as the expectations for equipment and personnel.
NIMS provides commonality in preparedness and response efforts allowing if necessary, establish unified command during an incident.
Elected and appointed officials responsible for jurisdictional policy decisions must also have a clear understanding of their emergency management roles and responsibilities to better serve their constituency.
NIMS integrates best emergency management practices, procedures, and systems utilized by emergency management professionals across the nation into a national framework for incident response.
NIMS is based on a balance of flexibility and standardization … with its ultimate goal being to enable first responders, emergency workers, and disaster workers at all levels (Federal, State, Local, Tribal, Volunteer Organizations, Private Sector) to work together to manage any type of emergency event

3. NIMS Background Provides national standard for incident management
Based on the National Interagency Incident Management System (NIIMS) Incident Command System (ICS)
Originally published in March 2004
Revised and published in December 2008
The National Incident Management System or NIMS is our nation’s incident management system
The NIMS provides a systematic, proactive approach to guide departments and agencies at all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to work seamlessly to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity, in order to reduce the loss of life and property and harm to the environment.
NIMS works hand in hand with the National Response Framework (NRF). NIMS provides the template for the management of incidents, while the NRF provides the structure and mechanisms for national-level policy for incident management.
The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security announced the establishment of NIMS in March 2004.

4. NIMS: What it is and What its not
NIMS Is…
Comprehensive, nationwide, systematic approach to incident management
Set of preparedness concepts and principles for all hazards
Essential principles for a common operating picture and interoperability of communications and information management
Standardized resource management procedures for coordination among different jurisdictions/ organizations
Scalable and applicable for all incidents
NIMS Is Not…
A response plan
A communication plan
Something that is used only during large incidents
Only applicable to certain emergency responders
Only the Incident Command System or an organizational chart
A static system
NIMS provides the template for the management of incidents regardless of size, scope or cause
NIMS is applicable to State, tribal and local governments, private sector organizations, critical infrastructure owners and operators, nongovernmental organizations and other organizations with an active role in emergency management and incident response.
The NRF provides the structure and mechanisms for national level policy of incident response.
Together, the NIMS and the NRF form a seamless national framework for domestic incident response
integrate the capabilities and resources of various governmental jurisdictions, incident management and emergency response disciplines, non-governmental organizations, and the private-sector into a cohesive, coordinated, and

5. NIMS Components Preparedness Communications and Information Management
Resource Management
Command and Management
Incident Command System
Multi-agency Coordination Systems
Public Information Systems
Ongoing Management and Maintenance
NIMS Components link together and work in unison to form a comprehensive incident management system.
Preparedness: NIMS provides the mechanisms for emergency management/response personnel and their affiliated organizations to work collectively by offering a consistent and common approach to preparedness:
Planning
Training
Exercises
Communications and Information Management: Effective emergency management and incident response activities rely on flexible communications and information systems that provide a common operating picture to emergency management/response personnel and their affiliated organizations. Establishing and maintaining common operating picture and ensuring accessibility and interoperability are the principal goals of the Communications and Information Management component of NIMS. Properly planned, established, and applied communications enable the dissemination of information among command and support elements and, as appropriate, cooperating agencies and organizations.
Interoperability: Communications interoperability allows emergency management/response personnel and their affiliated organizations to communicate within and across agencies and jurisdictions via voice, data, or video in real time, when needed, and when authorized.
Resource Management: Emergency management and incident response activities require carefully managed resources (personnel, teams, facilities, equipment, and/or supplies) to meet incident needs. Utilization of the standardized resource management concepts such as typing, inventorying, organizing, and tracking will facilitate the dispatch, deployment, and recovery of resources before, during, and after an incident.
Resource management should be flexible and scalable in order to support any incident and be adaptable to changes. Efficient and effective deployment of resources requires that resource management concepts and principles be used in all phases of emergency management and incident response.
Command and Management: The NIMS Command and Management component is comprised of the following elements:
Incident Command System: The Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized, on-scene, all-hazards incident management approach that: Allows for the integration of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications operating within a common organizational structure. Enables a coordinated response among various jurisdictions and functional agencies, both public and private. Establishes common processes for planning and managing resources.
Multiagency Coordination Systems: Multiagency coordination is a process that allows all levels of government and all disciplines to work together more efficiently and effectively. Multiagency coordination occurs across the different disciplines involved in incident management, across jurisdictional lines, or across levels of government. Multiagency coordination can and does occur on a regular basis whenever personnel from different agencies interact in such activities as preparedness, prevention, response, recovery, and mitigation.
Public Information: Public Information consists of the processes, procedures, and systems to communicate timely, accurate, and accessible information on the incident’s cause, size, and current situation to the public, responders, and additional stakeholders (both directly affected and indirectly affected). Public information must be coordinated and integrated across jurisdictions, agencies, and organizations; among Federal, State, tribal, and local governments; and with NGOs and the private sector.
Taken together, these elements of Command and Management are the most visible aspects of incident management, typically executed with a sense of urgency.
Ongoing Management and Maintenance (IMSI/NIC)
Administration and Compliance
Developing and maintaining a national program for NIMS education and awareness.
Promoting compatibility between national-level standards for NIMS and those developed by other public, private, and professional groups.
Facilitating the establishment and maintenance of a documentation and database system related to qualification, certification, and credentialing of emergency management/response personnel and organizations.
Developing assessment criteria for the various components of NIMS, as well as compliance requirements and timelines.
Standards and Credentialing
Training and Exercise Support
Publication Management

6. NIMS Components--Preparedness
Preparedness is achieved and maintained through a
continuous cycle
Preparedness is essential for effective incident and emergency management and involves engaging in a continuous cycle of planning, organizing, training, equipping, exercising, evaluating, and taking corrective action to achieve and maintain readiness to respond to emergencies.
The NIMS Preparedness Component serves as a baseline concept that links all the NIMS Components. Preparedness spans jurisdictions, governments, agencies and organizations.
NIMS primarily discusses the preparedness role for governments, organizations geared specifically toward preparedness, elected and appointed officials, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector.

7. NIMS Components - Communications and Information Management
Common operating picture
Common communications and data standards to assure accessibility and interoperability
A common operating picture (COP) offers a standard overview of an incident, thereby providing incident information that enables the Incident Commander/Unified
Command and any supporting agencies and organizations to make effective, consistent, and timely decisions.
Compiling data from multiple sources and disseminating the COP ensures that all responding entities have the same understanding and awareness of incident status and information when conducting operations.
Interoperability
Communications interoperability promotes communication within and across agencies and jurisdictions via voice, data, or video-on-demand, in real-time, when needed, and when authorized - this includes equipment and the ability to communicate.
Physical communications systems that are able to directly communicate are considered to be interoperable. This can be a function of the actual system or the frequency on which the system operates.

8. NIMS Components - Resource Management
Establishing systems for describing, inventorying, requesting, and tracking resources
Activating those systems prior to, during, and after an incident
Dispatching resources prior to, during, and after an incident
Deactivating or recalling resources during or after incidents
Resource management involves the coordination, oversight, and processes necessary to provide timely and appropriate resources during an incident.
Utilization of the standardized resource management concepts such as the typing, inventorying, ordering, and tracking of resources facilitates dispatch, deployment, and recovery before, during, and after an incident.

9. NIMS Resource Management
164 Job titles with knowledge, skills, and abilities
56 ICS Positions – Core Competencies
120 Typed Resources
NIMS Guide 0001 on Resource Typing
NIMS Guide 0002 on Credentialing
All positions and resource type definitions are maintained on the NIMS Resource Center at
NIMS Guide 0001: Communicates the criteria that were used to define and identify the current typed 120 NIMS national resource requirements typing definitions requirements. In addition, the same criteria will serve as the basis for future national resource typing definitions requirements. This NIMS alert augments the DHS-FEMA NIMS #501, Chapter 4, Resource Management - dated March 24, The NIMS Integration Center recognizes that the NIMS is a evolving process, especially as new capabilities are identified to enhance the nation’s ability to manage all-hazard incidents (i.e. including Incidents of National Significance and National Special Security Events)
NIMS Guide 0002: Establishes a standard definition and criteria for credentialing requirements as they relate to personnel ordered as single resources or personnel assigned to teams, and crew assigned to equipment, listed within the “Tier One” NIMS national resource typing definitions as posted by the NIMS Integration Center. This NIMS Guide augments the DHS-FEMA NIMS #501, Chapter 4, Resource Management - dated March 24, This document is also intended as an accompaniment to the NIMS Guide (NG 0001) titled “National Resource Typing Criteria” dated March 27, 2007.

10. NIMS Components-Command & Management
Incident Command System
Multiagency Coordination Systems
Public Information Systems
Incident Command System
These fundamental elements provide standardization through consistent terminology and established organizational structures.
Enables effective and efficient incident management and coordination by providing a flexible, standardized incident management structure.
MACS
Primary function of MACS is to coordinate activities above field level and to prioritize the incident demands for critical or competing resources, assisting the coordination of the operations in the field
Public Information
Public information must be coordinated and integrated across jurisdictions and organizations involved in the incident to include, Federal, State, tribal, and local governments, private sector entities and NGOs.

11. Incident Command System (ICS)
ICS is a standardized, on-scene, all-hazard incident management concept
ICS allows its users to adopt an integrated organizational structure to match the complexities and demands of single or multiple incidents without being hindered by jurisdictional boundaries
NIMS requires the use of ICS for all domestic responses
ICS
Fundamental form of management established in a standard format, enabling incident managers to identify the key concerns associated with the incident—often under urgent conditions—without sacrificing attention to any component of the command system.
provides a flexible, yet standardized core mechanism for coordinated and collaborative incident management, whether for incidents where additional resources are required or are provided from different organizations within a single jurisdiction or outside the jurisdiction, or for complex incidents with national implications.
Direct tactical and operational responsibility for conducting incident management activities rests with the Incident Command/Unified Command/Area Command.
Benefits:
Interdisciplinary and organizationally flexible--Meet the needs of incidents of any kind or size.
Allow personnel from a variety of agencies to meld rapidly into a common management structure.
Provide logistical and administrative support to operational staff.
Be cost effective by avoiding duplication of efforts.
Consists of procedures for controlling personnel, facilities, equipment, and communications.

12. ICS Command and General Staff Titles
As incidents grow, the Incident Commander may delegate authority for performance of certain activities to the Command Staff and the General Staff.
The Incident Commander will add positions only as needed

13. Multiagency Coordination: A System Not a Facility
On-Scene Command
Multiagency Coordination
Emergency Ops Centers/ Dispatch
MACS
Coordination and support of Incident Command/Area Command rests with the emergency operations center and other elements of the multiagency coordination system.
Multiagency coordination can and does occur on a regular basis whenever personnel from different agencies interact in such activities as preparedness, prevention, response, recovery, and mitigation.
Primary function of MACS is to coordinate activities above field level and to prioritize the incident demands for critical or competing resources, assisting the coordination of the operations in the field.  MACS consists of a combination of elements: personnel, procedures, protocols, business practices, and communications integrated into a common system.
Resource Coordination Centers
Coordination Groups/Department Operations Centers

14. Public Information
Consists of the processes, procedures, and systems to communicate timely, accurate, and accessible information on the incidents cause, size, and current situation to the public, responders, and additional stakeholders (both directly and indirectly affected).
Integrates three major systems/components:
Public Information Officers (PIOs)
Joint Information System (JIS)
Joint Information Center (JIC)
In order to facilitate that process, Public Information includes three major systems/components - Public Information Officers (PIOs), the Joint Information System (JIS), and the Joint Information Center (JIC).
Public information could be either pre-prepared materials such as evacuation routes, what to do in a tornado-watches/warnings and crisis information is information that is designed to provide the citizenry with instruction of actions they should take based on the current situation.
The Public Information Officer gathers, verifies, coordinates, and disseminates accurate, accessible, and timely information on the incident’s cause, size, and current situation; resources committed; and other matters of general interest for both internal and external use

15. NIMS Components—Ongoing Management and Maintenance
National Integration Center
Concepts & Principles
NIMS Revision Process
NIC Responsibilities
Supporting Technologies
Concepts and Principles
Supporting Incident Management with Science & Technology
The National Integration Center (NIC) Incident Management Systems Integration (IMSI) Division
The Secretary of Homeland Security, through the National Integration Center (NIC), Incident Management Systems Integration Division (formerly known as the NIMS Integration Center), is responsible for:
Administration and Compliance: To manage ongoing administration and implementation of NIMS, including specification of compliance measures, the NIC is responsible for working toward the following:
Developing and maintaining a national program for NIMS education and awareness.
Promoting compatibility between national-level standards for NIMS and those developed by other public, private, and professional groups.
Facilitating the establishment and maintenance of a documentation and database system related to qualification, certification, and credentialing of emergency management/response personnel and organizations.
Developing assessment criteria for the various components of NIMS, as well as compliance requirements and timelines.
Standards and Credentialing: The NIC works with appropriate standards development organizations to ensure the adoption of common national standards and credentialing systems that are compatible and aligned with the implementation of NIMS. The standards apply to the identification, adoption, and development of common standards and credentialing programs.
Training and Exercise Support: The NIC leads the development of training and exercises that further appropriate agencies’ and organizations’ knowledge, adoption, and implementation of NIMS.
Publication Management: Publication management for NIMS includes the development of naming and numbering conventions, the review and certification of publications, development of methods for publications control, identification of sources and suppliers for publications and related services, management of publication distribution, and assurance of product accessibility.

16. NIMS Training IS-700, IS-800, IS-100, IS-200 ICS-300 Intermediate
Base line training for all personnel with a direct role in emergency preparedness, incident management, or response
ICS-300 Intermediate
All Federal, State, territorial, tribal, local, private sector and non-governmental personnel at the middle management level, and command and general staff level of emergency management operations
ICS-400 Advanced
All Federal, State, territorial, tribal, local, private sector and non-governmental personnel at the command and general staff level of emergency management operations
Additional NIMS Training
Training available for all audiences in the following areas: NIMS Multi-agency Coordination Systems, Public Information Systems, Communications and Information Management, Resource Management, Resource Typing, Mutual Aid, and NIMS Preparedness
ICS-Position Specific Training
Training opportunities for ICS Command and General Staff positions: Incident Commander, Safety Office, Liaison Officer, Public Information Officer, Operations Section Chief, Planning Section Chief, Logistics Section Chief, and Finance/Admin Section Chief
ICS Position Specific Training is not required. It is geared towards individuals who are going to serve on incident management teams and may become a requirement in the future.

17. Summary
Incidents typically begin and end locally and are managed on a daily basis at the lowest possible geographical, organizational, and jurisdictional level
Successful incident management operations may depend on the involvement of multiple jurisdictions, levels of government, functional agencies, and/or emergency responder disciplines
Such incidents require effective and efficient coordination across this broad spectrum of organizations and activities
NIMS enhances interoperability through use of a systematic approach to integrating the best existing processes and methods into a unified national framework for incident management
NIMS does this through a core set of concepts, principles, procedures, organizational processes, terminology, and standards requirements applicable to a broad community of NIMS users

18. Incident Management Systems Integration Division National Integration Center
NIMS Resource Center:
Contacts:

19. National Response Framework
Questions?