The Structure of the National Incident Management System (NMIS)
Mentioned that the National Incident Management System is focused on its agenda on national preparedness and response, it is vital to understand the structure of the said system. The people who are involved, the different agencies which interact with the said system, its importance as a whole and it operations will be discussed to have an image of the whole structure of NMIS.
Who is involved?
The different authority figures of the National Incident Management System and the different agencies join forces to be able to prepare the nation for unnecessary incidents. At the same time, they are also responsible of devising different approaches toward such kind of happenings. Stakeholders, on the other hand, are the receptors of all the efforts of the management system. Therefore, it is safe to say that all people in a certain nation is involved in the activities and plans of the National Incident Management System.
The Different Agencies Interacting with NIMS
Browsing through the National Incident Management System through the Federal Emergency Management Authority (FEMA), the directory of the different regions of the nation can be simply found. FEMA is one of the agencies working with NIMS to further achieve their goal which is solely focused on national preparedness and response. Also, mentioning that the different regional authorities have provided their contact numbers imply how willing they are in helping NMIS and the other agencies in bringing betterment in the society.
The Importance of the National Incident Management System
The existence of the National Incident Management System is important simply because their goals make sense in making the nation a better place. Observing the increasing rate of incidence occurrence shows how a nation put much effort in searching for a system that would provide mechanisms to solve the problem regarding incidences. As NIMS provides a flexible yet standard approaches to incidences, it simply means that this system would fit in the varieties of societies existing in a single nation per say.
They play a very vital role in the nation because they have the potential to help the nation get to its way towards success. It is governed by their own set rules and principles but they are all in line with the rules and regulations provided by other higher governing bodies. Therefore, it can be concluded that NIMS makes sure that all their acts are for the goodness of the nation and that all their policies are synchronized and not overlapping with the government.
How the National Incident Management System Works
The National Incident Management System works through establishing partnerships with agencies and regional authorities. These partners are obliged to adapt the different policies, principles and jurisdictions that are provided by NIMS for a more synchronized collaboration. In that way, all the actions subject to implementation are assessed and agreed upon by the whole team. All policies are consulted to the mass bases and to the partner agencies and institutions. That is how the National Incident Management System works.
student two post :Assignment 2 asks us to examine and discuss the concept of the National Incident Management System, or NIMS, as it is more commonly referred, and explain how it works, who is involved, and what is required to begin the NIMS protocol at a scene.
First, let’s look at what the National Incident Management System is. It was developed by the Department of Homeland Security in 2004, as a way to establish a common set of processes and procedures that allow multiple agencies to respond seamlessly (nh.gov). It was recognized that one of the biggest problems with the response to large scale response what the fact that multiple agencies were required, and all have a different set of protocols or processes for completing tasks. NIMS creates a way for all of these agencies to work together by incorporating the common practices to create a standardized framework for an all hazards approach.
NIMS consists of several components that we will discuss further including, command structure, preparedness, resource management, communications, supporting technologies, and ongoing maintenance (usda.gov). The first and probably most important concept of NIMS is that of the command structure. We all know what happens when multiple agencies show up on a scene and they all think that they are in charge. It severely hampers the response effort. By establishing a structured command through the Incident Command System, or ICS, as it is more commonly referred, the response effort is greatly expedited. By following this structure, there is no going back and forth among agencies, in an attempt to establish who is in charge of the incident and also who reports to who.
Preparedness is another concept that NIMS specifies in its protocol. Agencies are required to make sure that their responders are properly trained in NIMS and the ICS protocol in order to obtain access to federal funds. Preparedness also deals with equipment acquisition and pre-existing mutual aid agreements among neighboring agencies. Another concept of NIMS is that of communication. It seems simple, but communication during an emergency response, just like most other times in life, is key to problem solving. When various agencies from different levels become involved in an emergency response, it is easy to become confused by the communication process, as different agencies utilize different terminology. This can greatly hamper the response process. When common terminology is used, everyone instantly becomes on the same page as to what they are being asked to do and how to do it. NIMS also dictates the use of titles that are specific to the Incident Command System as part of the organization structure during an incident response. Command is taken by the Incident Commander, which is the only position within the Incident Command System that is always filled. The other positions are filled as needed and can be expanded or scaled back as the situation warrants.
This is a very brief description to the NIMS and ICS, but there is no way to detail the ins and outs in 500 words. In simplest terms, NIMS is designed to alleviate some of the most common problems associated with multi agency response, and it does so effectively. Having used NIMS on numerous occasions, I can attest to the effectiveness of its concepts. It is not perfect, but it is a good start in streamlining the response process.
STUDENT THREE POST :National Incident Management System (NIMS) is the standardized approach to incident response and management, developed by the Department of Homeland Security, and released in March 2004 to provide a unified system for federal government interaction with state, tribal, local governments, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for the prevention of incidents, preparedness to handle possible outbreak, response to an occurred incident, and recovery activities in the face of an incident. On February 28, 2008 the president of the United States of America issued Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-5) on management of domestic incidents, directing the secretary of homeland security to develop and administer NIMS.
As described by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), “the sole purpose of NIMS is to provide a standard and common way for every level of government in dealing with incidents by setting up uniform processes and procedures for emergency responders in conducting response operations”. All federal and state response agencies, as well as other agencies that receives federal funding, are mandated to comply with NIMS guidance and must work towards educating and training their respective organizations in becoming NIMS compliant. With the presence of NIMS, the federal government has expanded the definitions of “first responder” agencies beyond the traditional Fire, HAZMAT, Police, EMS to include public works, public health, emergency communications, emergency management, and other agencies involved in disaster preparedness, prevention, response and recovery activities. This integrated system establishes a uniform set of processes, protocols, and procedures that all emergency responders, at every level of government will use to conduct response actions.
Myriads of emergency situations requiring responses arises daily, however, the analysis of past responses indicate that the most common cause of response failure is poor management; confusion about who is in charge of what and when, together with unclear lines of authority, have been the greatest contributors to poor response. Be it from different departments within the same jurisdiction, from mutual aid partners, or from state and federal agencies, responders need to be able to work together, communicate with each other, and depend on each other. Until 2004, there was no standards for domestic incident response that is integrative. The September 11 attack on World Trade center by al-Qaeda underscored the need for and the importance of national standards for incident operations, incident communications, personnel qualifications, resource management, and information management and supporting technology.
HSPD-5 required federal departments and agencies to make the adoption of NIMS by state and local organizations a condition for federal preparedness assistance (grants, contracts, and other activities) by fiscal year of 2005. Though jurisdictions can comply in the short term by adopting the Incident Command System, other aspects of NIMS require additional development and refinement to enable compliance at a future date.
STUDENT FOUR POST : The National Incident Management System “is a systematic, proactive approach to guide departments and agencies at all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to work together seamlessly and manage incidents involving all threats and hazards…” (FEMA, 2014). NIMS coordinates relief efforts by local, state, and federal agencies as well as non-profit agencies to aid in times of disaster. The National Mutual Aid System integrates these agencies to ensure that incident response is completed (FEMA, 2014).
Agencies that interact under NIMS are local, state, territorial, tribal, and federal agencies (FEMA, 2014). In Arkansas, this would include the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, the City of Little Rock’s Emergency Management department, Pulaski County Sheriff’s office, and FEMA, as well as Red Cross and any other non-governmental agency such as a church, homeless shelter, or soup kitchen that may offer assistance.
NIMS matters because it ensures that all aspects of relief efforts are covered and that no efforts are duplicated. It would not serve the community well to have six agencies providing meals and no agencies providing temporary housing. In the recent tornadoes in Vilonia and Mayflower, there were many agencies offering donated clothing for residents but the residents had no place to store such items after they were donated. It also takes some of the extra burden off of local law enforcement, firefighters, and EMS by allowing them to concentrate on their main jobs and not have to set up shelters or food lines—those tasks can be done by other agencies tasked to perform those functions.
NIMS operates by setting a template for disaster response in an area. It ensures that all relief efforts are covered in a standardized way (FEMA, 2014). It does not take away authority from local officials or agencies but allows them to get help if needed and to do their jobs more effectively (FEMA, 2014).
To explain “what triggers what,” NIMS states that “incidents typically begin and end locally, and they are managed daily at the lowest possible geographical, organizational, and jurisdictional level” (FEMA, 2014). This means that local governments must request aid under NIMS. Local governments must have a NIMS plan in place in order to receive federal aid for preparedness (FEMA, 2014). When a disaster happens, NIMS implements an Incident Command System which integrates local and outside agencies under a common structure and under unified command (FEMA, 2014). This facilitates smooth operation of recovery efforts and helps agencies work together under standard procedures. This eliminates confusion and also keeps agencies informed of the scope of recovery efforts under one central contact point. The National Incident Management System is a coordination system that enables recovery efforts to run smoothly in the event of a disaster. It promotes cooperation from state, local, and federal governments as well as nongovernmental agencies during recovery efforts. It establishes a standardized protocol for disaster response so that efforts are not duplicated and all needs of assistance are met. Local governments remain empowered in recovery efforts and get the help they need from federal and state agencies. This ensures reduction in loss of property and life for citizens and businesses.
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