National Incident

Management System

Break-Out Session

Al Fluman, Acting Director

Incident Management Systems Division (IMSD), National Integration Center

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

NIMS: Key Concepts

NIMS is based on the premise that the utilization of a common incident management framework will give emergency management/response personnel a flexible yet standardized system for emergency management and incident response activities.

NIMS is flexible because the system components can be utilized to develop plans, processes, procedures, agreements, and roles for all types of incidents and is applicable to any incident regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity.

Additionally, NIMS provides an organized set of standardized operational structures which is critical in allowing disparate organizations and agencies to work together in a predictable, coordinated manner.

NIMS Components

PreparednessPreparedness

Involves an integrated combination of planning, training, exercises, personnel qualification and certification standards, equipment acquisition and certification standards, and publications management processes well in advance of any potential incident.

Resource Resource ManagementManagement

This component under NIMS defines standardized mechanisms and establishes requirements for processes to describe, inventory, mobilize, dispatch, track, and recover resources over the cycle of the incident.

Communications Communications and Information and Information

ManagementManagement

This component under NIMS identifies the requirement for a standardized framework for communications, information management (collection, analysis, and dissemination), and information-sharing at all levels of incident management.

NIMS Components

Command Command and and

ManagementManagement

Incident Command System

ICS defines the operating characteristics, interactive management components, and structure of incident management and emergency response organizations engaged throughout the life cycle of an incident.

Multiagency Coordination SystemThe MACS ties together all the support and coordination structures utilized in an incident. The primary function of the MACS is to support and coordinate incident management policies and priorities.

Public Information

Public Information includes processes and procedures for communicatingtimely and accurate information to the public during crisis.

All levels of government, along with volunteer organizations and private industry, must have the ability to gather public information, verify public information, coordinate public information, and disseminate public information during a disaster.

NIMS Components

Ongoing Ongoing Management and Management and

MaintenanceMaintenance

This component of NIMS establishes an activity to provide strategic direction for an oversight of the NIMS, supporting both routine and continuous refinement of the system and its components over the long term along with

Supporting Technology.

NIMS – Command & Management Lessons Learned

Incident Command System (ICS) Positive – Some form of ICS used at all levels of government

during incident (Local, State, and Federal)

Continued use of ICS requires significant additional training and exercises

Need to standardize ICS forms and reporting in general for use by everyone

Officials at all levels need to understand ICS, NIMS, and NRP and the use of Incident Actions Plans (IAPs)

Need to standardize IAP formats between Joint Field Offices and practice incident action planning

NIMS – Command & Management Lessons Learned (Continued)

Incident Command System (ICS) IAP Issues: If done properly most of the questions asked by the

White House, DHS, FEMA HQ can be answered from the IAP!

IAP Issues: Need to use IAP’s and operational reporting periods to answer requests

IAP Issues: More time needs to be spent at all levels developing strategies and tactics that support incident objectives. Objectives, strategies and tactics need to support field objectives. Bottom up not top down!

Strike teams and liaison functions at all levels need to be formalized

NIMS – PreparednessLessons Learned

Must figure out a way to balance the emphasis between natural hazard and terrorism preparedness activities

Need to continue to build Federal, state, and local capability (i.e. evacuation plans, distribution plans, purchasing plans, etc.)

Additional planning, training and exercising necessary – Feds, States, Locals need to train and exercise together

NIMS – PreparednessLessons Learned (Continued)

Nationwide credentialing system needs to continue to be a priority

Need to build our response capability by “growing” our personnel to fill positions

All positions need to be “typed” and trained to

Need to pre-designate Incident Management Teams (IMT’s) along with strike teams and liaison personnel

Involve personnel from all Federal agencies in the response when disaster positions are identified and typed

NIMS – Resource Management Lessons Learned

Need compatible resource management systems at all levels of government so what when help arrives “systems” can be utilized

Local jurisdictions need appropriate resource management tools and systems in place prior to the event. Resources need to be typed. Local government needs assistance is meeting resource typing requirements.

Need to promote/educate all on mutual aid and the benefits of Emergency Management Assistance Compacts (EMAC)

NIMS – Resource Management Lessons Learned (Continued)

Pre-incident contracts should be established for commonly used resources (i.e. water, food, tents, tarps, generators, etc.)

At all levels of government need to develop a better way to track resources from start to finish

Field personnel needs “visibility” on all resources requests (i.e. status of request, status of resource, location, arrival time, etc)

NIMS – Communications and Information Management Lessons Learned

Still need to emphasize the need for a common operating picture (and the tools to facilitate its development) for disasters

Still need to emphasize the need for redundant communications at all levels of government

Communications equipment must arrive at scene with arriving units

Communications equipment must either be pre-positioned closer to disaster scenes or be made more mobile

Longer-Term NIMS Implementation

• Evaluating/Measuring NIMS Implementation among all NIMS Components – All components must “fit” together!

• NIMS components are “linked”. All components of NIMS need to be integrated together under a cohesive system.

• Failures in one component will impact the effectiveness of the entire incident management system.

• Exercises can test entire system if designed properly.

Measuring NIMS “Linkages”

Plans incorporating the use of standing MAC groups. (Links Preparedness and Command & Management)

New metric that can be incorporated under the FY08 MACS compliance requirement

Interoperability of communications equipment used for response. (Links Communications & Information Management and Command & Management)

New metric that can be incorporated under the FY08 ICS compliance requirement

Mutual aid agreements and/or assistance agreements in place to acquire resources to fill any gaps identified in the resource asset inventory. (Links Preparedness to Resource Management)

New metric that can be incorporated under the FY08 RM compliance requirement (inventory response assets to conform to typing standards)

Measuring NIMS “Linkages” (Continued)

Develop a Training Plan to train emergency management/response personnel. (Links Preparedness to Command & Management) Recommended- New compliance requirement in Prep/Training section

Train and exercise Unified Command. (Links Preparedness to Command & Management) New metrics that can be incorporated under the FY08 all-hazards exercise

program requirement

Training/briefing of Elected/Appointed Officials so they know their roles in an incident. (Links Preparedness to Command & Management) Recommended- New compliance requirement in Prep/Training section

Measuring NIMS “Linkages” (Continued)

Assistance agreements specify the communication systems and platforms through which jurisdictions/agencies agree to utilize or share information during an incident. (Links Preparedness to Communications & Information Management)

New metric that can be incorporated under the FY08 communications requirement (common operating picture)

Protocols in place to prevent jurisdictions/agencies assets/resources from (Links Resource Management to Command & Management)

spontaneous deployment; and/or

responding to a request that bypassed official resource coordination process (i.e., resources requested through improper channels).

Recommended- New compliance requirement in RM or C&M section

Measuring NIMS “Linkages” (Continued)

Mechanisms (systems, tools) in place to gather resource availability information during an incident. (Relates Communications & Information Management to Resource Management) New metric that can be incorporated under the FY08 communications

requirement (common operating picture)

National Integration CenterIncident Management Systems

NIMS Website Information

http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims

Contact the NIC

Email: FEMA-NIMS@dhs.gov

Phone: 202-646-3534