Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
compatibility among Federal, State, and local capabilities, the NIMS
will include a core set of concepts, principles, terminology, and technol-
ogies covering the incident command system; multiagency coordination
systems; unified command; training; identification and management of
resources (including systems for classifying types of resources); qualifi-
cations and certification; and the collection, tracking and reporting of
incident information and incident resources.*
To provide the framework for interoperability and compatibility, the NIMS is
based on the appropriate balance of flexibility and standardization in order to allow
for consistent integration of multiple internal and external agencies during incident
management. The major components of NIMS are
◾
Command and Management
—Mandates consistent use of the Incident
Command System (ICS), Multiagency Coordination Systems, and Public
Information Systems.
◾
Preparedness
—Requires standardized planning, training, and exercises;
consistent methods for qualification and certification of emergency person-
nel; uniform response and recovery equipment acquisition and certification;
and publication management.
◾
Resource Management
—Deines uniform mechanisms for inventorying,
mobilizing, dispatching, tracking, and recovering resources over the life cycle
of an incident.
◾
Communications and Information Management
—Identiies the require-
ment for standardized communications, information management (collec-
tion, analysis, and dissemination), and information sharing at all levels of
incident management.
◾
Supporting Technologies
—Includes identification and acquisition of tech-
nology and technological systems that support capabilities that are essential
to implementing and continuously refining the NIMS. These include voice
and data communications systems, information management systems, and
data display systems.
◾
Ongoing Management and Maintenance
—Establishes activities to provide
strategic direction for oversight of the NIMS. This includes routine review
and refinement of the system.
Since the establishment of the NIMS, the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security has issued requirements that local, state, and federal governments are to
meet annually in order to be compliant with the NIMS for each respective year.
These requirements cover each of the elements described above. Many of the
*
United States. Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5: Management of Domestic Inci-
dents. Washington, DC: White House, 2003. Print.
