National Incident Management System

Developed and implemented by the United States Department of Homeland Security, the National Incident Management System (NIMS) outlines a comprehensive national approach to emergency management. It enables federal, state, and local government entities along with private sector organizations to respond to emergency incidents together in order reduce

This manual, the Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA National Incident Management System Third Edition October 2017, provides a common, nationwide approach to enable the whole community to work together to manage all threats and hazards. NIMS applies to all incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity. Communities across the Nation experience a diverse set of threats, hazards, and events. The size, frequency, complexity, and scope of these incidents1 vary, but all involve a range of personnel and organizations to coordinate efforts to save lives, stabilize the incident, and protect property and the environment. Every day, jurisdictions and organizations work together to share resources, integrate tactics, and act collaboratively. Whether these organizations are nearby or are supporting each other from across the country, their success depends on a common, interoperable approach to sharing resources, coordinating and managing incidents, and communicating information. The National Incident Management System (NIMS) defines this comprehensive approach. NIMS guides all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations (NGO), and the private sector to work together to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from incidents. NIMS provides stakeholders across the whole community2 with the shared vocabulary, systems, and processes to successfully deliver the capabilities described in the National Preparedness System.3 NIMS defines operational systems, including the Incident Command System (ICS), Emergency Operations Center (EOC) structures, and Multiagency Coordination Groups (MAC Groups) that guide how personnel work together during incidents. NIMS applies to all incidents, from traffic accidents to major disasters. The jurisdictions and organizations involved in managing incidents vary in their authorities, management structures, communication capabilities and protocols, and many other factors. NIMS provides a common framework to integrate these diverse capabilities and achieve common goals. The guidance contained in this document incorporates solutions developed over decades of experience by incident personnel across the Nation.

The National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System (ICS) Forms Booklet, FEMA 502-2, is designed to assist emergency response personnel in the use of ICS and corresponding documentation during incident operations. This booklet is a companion document to the NIMS ICS Field Operations Guide (FOG), FEMA 502-1, which provides general guidance to emergency responders on implementing ICS. This booklet is meant to complement existing incident management programs and does not replace relevant emergency operations plans, laws, and ordinances. These forms are designed for use within the Incident Command System, and are not targeted for use in Area Command or in multiagency coordination systems. These forms are intended for use as tools for the creation of Incident Action Plans (IAPs), for other incident management activities, and for support and documentation of ICS activities. Personnel using the forms should have a basic understanding of NIMS, including ICS, through training and/or experience to ensure they can effectively use and understand these forms. These ICS Forms represent an all-hazards approach and update to previously used ICS Forms. While the layout and specific blocks may have been updated, the functionality of the forms remains the same. It is recommended that all users familiarize themselves with the updated forms and instructions. These forms are designed to include the essential data elements for the ICS process they address. The use of these standardized ICS Forms is encouraged to promote consistency in the management and documentation of incidents in the spirit of NIMS, and to facilitate effective use of mutual aid. In many cases, additional pages can be added to the existing ICS Forms when needed, and several forms are set up with this specific provision.

The second edition was to be written in order to keep both reader and student current in incident management. This was grounded in the fact that incident management systems are continually developing. These updates are needed to ensure the most recent and relevant information is provided to the reader. While the overall theme of the book will remain the same of the first edition, research and research-based case studies will be used to support the need for utilizing emergency incident management systems. Contemporary research in the use (and non-use) of an incident management system provides clear and convincing evidence of successes and failures in managing emergencies. This research provides areas where first responders have misunderstood the scope and use of an emergency incident management system and what the outcomes were. Contemporary and historical (research-based) case studies in the United States and around the globe have shown the consequences of not using emergency incident management systems, including some that led to increased suffering and death rates. Research-based case studies from major incidents will be used to show the detrimental effects of not using or misunderstanding these principles. One of the more interesting chapters in the new edition is what incident management is used around the world.

Beyond Initial Response - Second Edition was written to fill a significant gap in ICS training. Responders have to be ready to carry out their ICS position-specific responsibilities, and to be effective they have to know how to operate as part of an ICS organization. This book provides readers with the confidence, knowledge and assurance required to participate successfully as part of an incident management team. This second edition builds upon the original version that was put through its paces by the greatest critics - first responders and students of emergency management. The second edition provides three new chapters: The Area Command, written from the perspective of an Area Commander; a chapter on multi-agency coordination that provides an overview of how multi-agency coordination works from various viewpoints, and new chapter titled Emerging Communications, which introduces the topic of New Media and its potential challenges and benefits to incident management teams. In addition to the new chapters, the section of the book that covers the Safety Officer has been significantly expanded, concentrating on hazard analysis. You will also find some new ''tools'' in the appendixes of the book. These include: Managing Risk, Best Briefing Practices, Sample Instructions to the Field Observer, and Delegation of Authority.

The National Incident Management System (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. On February 28, 2003, the President issued Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 (HSPD-5), "Management of Domestic Incidents," which directed the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and administer a National Incident Management System (NIMS). This system provides a consistent nationwide template to enable Federal, State, tribal, and local governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector to work together to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity. This consistency provides the foundation for utilization of NIMS for all incidents, ranging from daily occurrences to incidents requiring a coordinated Federal response. NIMS represents a core set of doctrines, concepts, principles, terminology, and organizational processes that enables effective, efficient, and collaborative incident management. HSPD-5 requires all Federal departments and agencies to adopt NIMS and to use it in their individual incident management programs and activities, as well as in support of all actions taken to assist State, tribal, and local governments. The directive requires Federal departments and agencies to make adoption of NIMS by State, tribal, and local organizations a condition for Federal preparedness assistance (through grants, contracts, and other activities). NIMS recognizes the role that NGOs and the private sector have in preparedness and activities to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of incidents. Building on the foundation provided by existing emergency management and incident response systems used by jurisdictions, organizations, and functional disciplines at all levels, NIMS integrates best practices into a comprehensive framework for use nationwide by emergency management/response personnel in an all-hazards context. These best practices lay the groundwork for the components of NIMS and provide the mechanisms for the further development and refinement of supporting national standards, guidelines, protocols, systems, and technologies. NIMS fosters the development of specialized technologies that facilitate emergency management and incident response activities, and allows for the adoption of new approaches that will enable continuous refinement of the system over time. The Secretary of Homeland Security, through the National Integration Center (NIC), Incident Management Systems Integration Division (formerly known as the NIMS Integration Center), publishes the standards, guidelines, and compliance protocols for determining whether a Federal, State, tribal, or local government has implemented NIMS.Additionally, the Secretary, through the NIC, manages publication and collaboratively, with other departments and agencies, develops standards, guidelines, compliance procedures, and protocols for all aspects of NIMS. This document was developed through a collaborative intergovernmental partnership with significant input from the incident management functional disciplines, NGOs, and the private sector.

In March 2004, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security implemented the National Incident Management System (NIMS), the country's first-ever standardized approach to incident management and response. Response agencies nationwide will need to become NIMS compliant in 2005.National Incident Management System: Principles and Practice translates the goals of the original NIMS document from concepts into capabilities, and provides responders with a step-by-step process to understanding and implementing NIMS. Through the use of case studies, readers will gain valuable insight on how to incorporate NIMS effectively into their departments or jurisdictions. As responders are faced with the tasks of reforming training curricula and incorporating NIMS into Standard Operating Procedures, it is essential that they have a practical resource to guide them through the nation's homeland security strategies, as well as to assist them with NIMS implementation in their own locality.

A "street smart" look atincident management in all its permutations Incident Management Systems (IMS) provide the means by which to coordinate the efforts of individual agencies in order to stabilize an incident and protect life, property, and the environment. Born from the FireScope project of the late 1960s, which was developed in response to the major wildfires that regularly plagued Southern California, these systems have evolved with many similarities and certain fundamental differences. Emergency Incident Management Systems: Fundamentals and Applications contrasts the major forms of Incident Management/Incident Command Systems. The author illuminates these differences and offers a fresh perspective on the concepts on which these systems are founded in order to make them more accessible and user-friendly. Without suggesting major changes in the systems, he bridges the gap between their theoretical and academic foundations and their real-world applications, and makes them more applicable to the professional's daily needs. Timely features of the book include: * An "in the field" point of view * Coverage of incidents of mass destruction * Filled-out sample forms designed to aid professionals in completing reports In post-9/11 America, where incident management has become a national priority-one that must be easilyunderstood and applicable across all emergency systems-this book provides a useful tool for helping today's emergency workers be more informed and more prepared than ever.