Command and Management is the incident
command system for the NIMS. An incident command system
is a common set of terminology and command structure that
is used on an incident scene to provide effective management
of all the resources involved in resolving the incident.
The NIMS provides a national framework that will enable
responders from throughout the Nation to work together
on large scale or complex incidents.
The NIMS Command and Management is centered
on three main areas, the Incident Command System (ICS),
Multiagency Coordination Systems and Public Information
Systems. NIMS ICS is based upon the National Wildfire
Coordinating Group/FIRESCOPE ICS, which is the same system
that has been used in New Jersey for over ten years. The
NIMS ICS places higher emphasis on the incorporation of
Intelligence and Information Sharing as a component of
the Incident Command structure, either as liaison to the
Incident Commander or at the field operations level.
NIMS Multiagency Coordination Systems
(MACS) are a combination of facilities, equipment, personnel,
procedures, and communications integrated into a common
system with responsibility for coordinating and supporting
domestic incident management activities. NIMS MACS will
often be the local or State Emergency Operations Center.
NIMS Public Information Systems are Systems
and protocols for communicating timely and accurate information
to the public during crisis or emergency situations. The
Public Information System may consist of a single Public
Information Officer within the command structure or a
larger Joint Information Center to support the information
needs of the incident commander or unified command.
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NIMS Preparedness involves actions to
establish and sustain prescribed levels of capability
necessary to execute a full range of incident management
operations. The NIMS envisions a unified approach to preparedness,
integrating all levels of government and the private sector.
NIMS Preparedness is implemented through a continuous
cycle of planning, training, equipping, exercising, evaluating,
and taking action to correct and mitigate.
The cornerstone of NIMS Preparedness
is the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) that defines the
scope of preparedness and incident management activities
necessary for that jurisdiction. Based upon the EOP each
organization covered by the EOP should develop procedures
that translate the tasking to that organization into specific
action oriented checklists for use during incident management
operations, including how the organization will accomplish
its assigned tasks. This is accomplished through the development
of four standard levels of procedural documents: Overview;
Standard Operating Procedures; Field Operations Guides;
and Job Aids. Additional planning will coordinate corrective
action, mitigation and recovery.
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The NIMS provides only basic concepts
and principles for Resource Management. The NIMS document
promises the basic foundation for resource management
provided in this chapter will be expanded and refined
over time in a collaborative cross jurisdictional, cross
disciplinary effort led by the NIMS Integration Center
discussed in Chapter VII.
The basic NIMS Resource Management concept
is:
Resource management involves coordinating
and overseeing the application of tools, processes, and
systems that provide incident managers with timely and
appropriate resources during an incident. Resources include
personnel, teams, facilities, equipment, and supplies.
Generally, resource management coordination activities
take place within EOCs.
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NIMS Communications and Information Management
is another area under development, as additional progress
toward common communications and data standards and systems
interoperability will be accomplished over time through
a sustained collaborative effort facilitated by the NIMS
Integration Center. The basic concept of NIMS Communications
and Information Management is to develop a common operating
picture for communications and systems interoperability.
Upon full development of this section, full communications
and systems interoperability may be required of local
jurisdictions.
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NIMS Supporting Technology is intended
to provide scientific and technological solutions to support
ongoing NIMS integration. This will include the fostering
of research and development along with the adoption of
national standards.
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NIMS Ongoing Management and Maintenance
will be accomplished by the NIMS Integration Center (NIC)
through a multijurisdictional and multidisciplinary collaborative
process. Already the NIC has issued guidance and technical
assistance documents for the implementation of NIMS.
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