Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Have I supported the emergency management agency and response agencies
by providing what they need to get the job done? Have I participated in “kick
off” training and exercises to show my support?
Have I taken steps to ensure that the public is educated about the threats
facing the community?
Do citizens know what they need to do to protect
themselves? Do they know what they can do to help prevent emergencies
from occurring or to reduce the damage they cause? Do they know what they
can do to help first responders?
Have I supported measures to mitigate the risk of damage from high-risk
hazards?
Are zoning requirements, building ordinances, and other measures
in place to minimize the risk of physical and environmental damage from
high-risk hazards?
If the answer to any of these questions is “No,” you are not doing enough to protect
your community from high-risk hazards.
Federal Expectations for Response
to Domestic Incidents
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has overall responsibility
for coordinating the federal response to disasters and acts of terror within the
United States, has recognized the need to improve domestic incident response at all
levels of government. As such, DHS has developed and implemented the National
Incident Management System (NIMS). Among the initiatives promulgated by
NIMS are
◾
The requirement for governments at all levels to adopt the Incident Command
System (ICS) as the model for managing all types of incidents, regardless of
type, size, or complexity.
◾
The establishment of systems to ensure coordination among government enti-
ties and agencies.
◾
The establishment of standards for training and exercises for response personnel.
◾
The requirement that equipment be typed according to capability.
◾
The establishment of interoperability interoperability requirements, to be
facilitated by the NIMS Integration Center, which will publish lists of equip-
ment meeting established requirements.
To be compliant with NIMS initially, governments at all levels were required to
adopt ICS not later than October 1, 2004, or risk being ineligible for prepared-
ness funding. Timeframes for compliance with other NIMS requirements will be
determined at a later date.
