Comment period ending May 9 #NIMS #AltusOK

FEMA Seeks Comments on the Refreshed National Incident Management System

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is seeking input into the National Incident Management System (NIMS) refresh. Files can befound on the FEMA website. The 30-day National Engagement Period for NIMS will conclude at 5:00 pm EDT May 9, 2016. 

FEMA supports the mission of strengthening the security and resilience of the nation by working to improve the ability of all to manage incidents, events and emergencies.

NIMS provides a consistent and common approach and vocabulary to enable the whole community to work together seamlessly and manage all threats and hazards. NIMS applies to all incidents, regardless of cause, size, location or complexity.  

The draft NIMS:

•  Reiterates the concepts and principles of the original 2004 version and the updated 2008 version;
• Reflects and incorporates lessons learned from exercises and real world incidents and policy updates, such as the National Preparedness System and the 2013 NIMS Intelligence/Investigation Function Guidance and Field Operations Guide;
• Reflects progress in resource typing and mutual aid and builds a foundation for the development of a national qualification system;
• Clarifies that NIMS is more than just the Incident Command System (ICS) and that it applies to all stakeholders with roles in incident management across all five mission areas (Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response and Recovery);
•  Provides guidance on a common structure and activation levels for operations and coordination centers, including Emergency Operations Centers (EOC), through new Center Management System (CMS) guidance;
  --(Note that while we will continue to track NIMS implementation, the adoption of CMS is not mandatory as part of preparedness grants);
• Explains the relationship among ICS, CMS, and Multiagency Coordination Groups; and
• Enhances guidance on information management processes to improve data collection plans, social media integration and the use of geographic information systems.

To review the draft of the refreshed NIMS and for additional webinar information, visit: https://www.fema.gov/national-incident-management-system/national-engagement. To provide comments on the draft, complete the feedback form and submit it to FEMA-NIMS@fema.dhs.gov.