Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management

Crisis and Emergency Management

Newsletter Website
return to mainpage

March 2006                                                                            Volume 10 - Number 2

Perspectives...

Update on NIMS
By Nick Shapiro

In March 2004, the Secretary of Homeland Security, at the request of the President, released the National Incident Management System (NIMS).  

The NIMS is a comprehensive system that seeks to improve response operations through the use of the Incident Command System (ICS) and other standard procedures and preparedness measures.  NIMS also seeks to promote development of cross-jurisdictional, statewide and interstate regional mechanisms for coordinating incident management and obtaining assistance during large-scale or complex incidents.

Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 (HSPD- 5), Management of Domestic Incidents, requires all federal departments and agencies to adopt and implement the NIMS, and requires states, territories, tribes and local governments to implement the NIMS to receive federal preparedness funding.  

In federal Fiscal Year 2005, the Secretary of Homeland Security provided guidance to each state, outlining initial actions that should be taken to implement the NIMS.  The letter to the nation’s governors included a list of actions for States and territories to take towards NIMS compliance.  A copy of this letter is posted on the NIMS webpage at:   http://www.fema.gov/nims/nims_compliance.shtm.  

Minimum FY 2005 NIMS activities included:
Incorporating NIMS into existing training programs and exercises;
Ensuring that Federal preparedness funding (including DHS Homeland Security Grant Program, Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) funds) support NIMS implementation at the state and local levels (in accordance with the eligibility and allowable uses of the grants);
Incorporating NIMS into Emergency Operations Plans (EOP);
Promotion of intrastate mutual aid agreements;
Coordinating and providing technical assistance to local entities regarding NIMS; and
Institutionalizing the use of the Incident Command System (ICS).

To receive FY 2006 preparedness grant funds from any federal department or agency, states have to self-certify that they have met the minimum FY 2005 requirements.  A self-certification letter was provided to each state and territory.  

In federal Fiscal Year 2006, states, territories, tribes and local communities are required to complete several activities by the end of federal FY 2006 (September 30, 2006) to be considered to be compliant with NIMS. These implementation requirements are in addition to the FY 2005 NIMS requirements as established in the Sept. 8, 2004, letter to the governors.  A copy of that letter as well as the list of FY 2006 compliance activities are both available on the NIMS Web page at: www.fema.gov/nims.  

Beginning in FY 2007, which starts on October 1, 2006, all federal preparedness funding will be conditioned upon full compliance with the NIMS.  By completing the FY 2005 activities as well as the FY2006 activities, states and territories will have achieved what is considered to be full NIMS implementation by FY 2007.  

More information on NIMS and NIMS compliance, and answers to frequently asked questions are available on the NIMS Integration Center Web page (http://www.fema.gov/nims). Also included on the Web page are the NIMS Training Guidelines for FY2006, the NIMS State and Territory Compliance Activities and the NIMS Tribal Government and Local Jurisdiction Compliance Activities.