National Incident

Management System

An Overview

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

Homeland Security Presidential Directive – 5 (Continued)

Requires all Federal Departments and Agencies to adopt the NIMS and the NRP

Requires state and local NIMS compliance as a condition for Federal preparedness assistance

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: Key Concepts

Framework for interoperability and compatibility

Flexibility Consistent, flexible, and adjustable national framework

Applicable regardless of incident cause, size, location, or complexity.

Standardization Standard organizational structures

Key to interoperability

Ongoing support: National Integration Center

Overview of NIMS

What NIMS is:

A comprehensive, nationwide, systematic approach to incident management, including the Incident Command System, Multiagency Coordination Systems, and Public Information

A 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 that enable coordination among different jurisdictions or organizations

Scalable so it may be used for all incidents (from day-to-day to large-scale)

A dynamic system that promotes ongoing management and maintenance

What NIMS is NOT:

A response plan

Only used during Incidents of National Significance

A communication plan

Only applicable to certain emergency responders

Only the Incident Command System or an organizational chart

A static system

NIMS Components

Preparedness

Communications and Information

Management

Resource Management

Command and Management Incident Command System

Multi-agency Coordination Systems

Public Information

Ongoing Management and Maintenance

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.

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.

Mutual Aid and Assistance Agreements

Mutual aid and assistance agreements are written or oral agreements between and among agencies/organizations and/or jurisdictions that provide a mechanism to quickly obtain emergency assistance in the form of personnel, equipment, materials, and other associated services.

The primary objective is to facilitate rapid, short−term deployment of emergency support prior to, during, and/or after an incident.

Mutual Aid – A Key Preparedness Element

Resource Management During an Incident

Flow of Resource Requests

Common Operating Picture A common operating picture is established and maintained by the

gathering, collating, synthesizing, and disseminating of incident information to all appropriate parties involved in an incident.

Achieving a common operating picture allows on-scene and off-scene personnel (e.g., those at the Incident Command Post, an Emergency Operations Center, and within a multiagency coordination group) to have the same information about the incident, including the availability and location of resources, personnel, and the status of requests for assistance.

Common Operating Picture – A Key Communicationand Information Management Element

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.

Management Characteristics of ICS

Incident FacilitiesAnd Locations

ComprehensiveResource Management

ManagementBy Objectives

IncidentAction

Planning

ManageableSpan-of-Control

Common Terminology

Modular organization

Management Characteristics of ICS

Chain of Commandand Unity of Command

Information andIntelligence Management

UnifiedCommandStructure

AccountabilityDispatch/

Deployment

Integrated Communications

Establishment andTransfer of Command

ICS Command and General Staff Titles

Incident Incident CommanderCommander

Operations Operations Section ChiefSection Chief

Planning Planning Section ChiefSection Chief

Logistics Logistics Section ChiefSection Chief

Finance/Adm Finance/Adm Section ChiefSection Chief

Safety Safety OfficerOfficer

Public Public InformationInformation

OfficerOfficer

Liaison Liaison OfficerOfficer

Command Staff:The Command Staff

provides Information, Safety, and Liaison services for the entire organization.

General Staff:The General Staff are

assigned functional authority for Operations, Planning,

Logistics, and Finance/Administration.

Multiagency Coordination Systems

Facilities Equipment Personnel

Procedures Communications

A System . . . Not a Facility

Coordination Groups/Department Operations Centers

On-Scene Command

Emergency Ops Centers/

Dispatch

Resource Coordination

Centers

Multiagency CoordinationMultiagency Coordination

Command vs. Coordination

Direct tactical and operational responsibility for conducting incident management activities rests with the Incident Command/Unified Command/Area Command.

Command vs. Coordination

Coordination and Support of Incident Command/Area Command rests with the Emergency Operations Center and other elements of the multi-agency coordination system.

ICS and EOC Issues

Determine “make-up” of Multi-Agency Coordination System for the Incident

Establish Clear Line of Communications with Dispatch, EOC, and other elements of the system

Establish Direct Line to Chief Elected and Appointed Officials

Establish Procedures for the Gathering, Verification, Coordination, and Dissemination of Public Information

Establish Procedures for Resource Management

Public Information

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.

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.

The NIC recommends that State and local governments voluntarily adopt the following National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards: NFPA 1600: “Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs,” 2007 Edition; and NFPA 1561: “Standard on Emergency Services Incident Management System,” 2005 Edition. These standards, if adopted by the jurisdiction, can assist in the implementation of NIMS. For more information about these standards, please visit the NIMS guidance section of the NIC Web site. Other standards may be issued periodically by the NIC and recommended for voluntary adoption.

Summary Incidents typically begin and end locally and are managed on a daily basis at

the lowest possible geographical, organizational, and jurisdictional level.

However, there are instances in which successful incident management operations depend on the involvement of multiple jurisdictions, levels of government, functional agencies, and/or emergency responder disciplines.

These instances require effective and efficient coordination across this broad spectrum of organizations and activities.

NIMS uses a systematic approach to integrate the best existing processes and methods into a unified national framework for incident management.

This framework forms the basis for interoperability and compatibility that will, in turn, enable a diverse set of public and private organizations to conduct well−integrated and effective emergency management and incident response operations.

It does this through a core set of concepts, principles, procedures, organizational processes, terminology, and standards requirements applicable to a broad community of NIMS users

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