National Incident Management System (NIMS) Updates

Download these two documents in MS Word

March 5th - NIMS Alert - Click here
February 7th - NIMS Integration Center Responds - Click here

Who Needs IS-700 Training?

See what other States are telling local entities
about "Who should take the IS-700" courses - click here

NIMS Alert: Correction

In the March 5, 2005, NIMS Alert, we provided an erroneous date for full NIMS compliance. Full NIMS compliance is required by the end of FY 2006 - September 30, 2006.

The NIMS Integration Center

March 7, 2005

From: NIMS-Integration-Center
Date: 2005/03/04 Fri PM 01:17:26 CST

Subject: Who Needs to Take IS-700

NIMS Alert

Last September when the Secretary of Homeland Security sent a letter to the nation's governors, he outlined a series of steps that must be taken and actions that should be taken in FY 2005 to become compliant with the National Incident Management System (NIMS). Specifically the letter said that state, territorial, tribal and local level jurisdictions should support NIMS implementation by completing the NIMS awareness course National Incident Management System, An Introduction - IS 700. This independent study course explains the purpose, principles, key components and benefits of NIMS.

The Secretary clearly intended to provide discretion to state, territorial, tribal and local governments in deciding who should take the course. As further guidance, the NIMS Integration Center encourages all emergency personnel with a direct role in emergency preparedness, incident management or response to take the NIMS course by Oct. 1, 2005.

It is offered free-of-charge through the Emergency Management Institute at http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/crslist.asp.

Executive Level - Political and government leaders, agency and organization administrators and department heads; personnel that fill ICS roles as Unified Commanders, Incident Commanders, Command Staff, General Staff in either Area Command or single incidents; senior level Multi-Agency Coordination System personnel; senior emergency managers; and Emergency Operations Center Command or General Staff.

Managerial Level - Agency and organization management between the executive level and first level supervision; personnel who fill ICS roles as Branch Directors, Division/Group Supervisors, Unit Leaders, technical specialists, strike team and task force leaders, single resource leaders and field supervisors; midlevel Multi-Agency Coordination System personnel; EOC Section Chiefs, Branch Directors, Unit Leaders; and other emergency management/response personnel who require a higher level of ICS/NIMS Training.

Responder Level - Emergency response providers and disaster workers, entry level to managerial level including Emergency Medical Service personnel; firefighters; medical personnel; police officers; public health personnel; public works/utility personnel; and other emergency management response personnel.

The NIMS introductory course very likely will be required in FY'06 for state, territorial, tribal and local personnel who have emergency assignments at any level of government. Full NIMS compliance is required by Oct. 1, 2007.

NOTE: We recognize that some online independent study participants are experiencing delays in gaining access to the IS-700 course. The Emergency Management Institute is addressing this and the problem will be alleviated.

The NIMS Integration Center
March 5, 2005

NIMS Integration Center Responds 02-07-2005

That list looks good.

For "government administrative", I would say that includes elected officials who might be making emergency management related decisions in an emergency response, agency administrators, and select department heads with multi-agency coordination system responsibilities. If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Billy Haley
Nims-Integration-Center@dhs.gov
NIMS Integration Center

Information that can be used to answer the question “Who needs IS-700 training?” as of Feb 7, 2005

All emergency response groups and agencies along with any private non governmental organization (NGO) individuals from industry or companies that may be required to play a role in the response or assist an incident commander in mitigating the incident. More details will follow soon on who will need the IS-700 course along with other “I” series courses.

Ten Emergency Response Disciplines

emergency management,
emergency medical service,
fire service,
government administrative, (includes elected officials who might be making emergency management related decisions in an emergency response. Agency administrators, and select department heads with multi-agency coordination system responsibilities.)
hazardous materials,
health care,
law enforcement,
public communications,
public health, and
public works.

Frequently Asked Questions About Training

February 10, 2005
From: Warren Jorgenson [mailto:wrjorgen@tds.net]
Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2005 12:21 PM
To: NIC - Billy Haley NIMS-Integration-Center

Subject: Question - Volunteers and compliance

Hi Billy;

I have three questions for NIC in reference to Volunteers and compliance.

QUESTION: 1.) If a community is in the midst of a flood and this incident becomes a Federal Declared Disaster, do the non-credentialed volunteer colleges students and other civilians that are filling sand bags need leave because they have not taken IS-700 or any other NIMS required training?

ANSWER: People volunteering to fill sand bags don't need to have NIMS training because that is not a credentialed position. Firefighters, police officers, public works personnel, etc operating in emergency situations will need to have NIMS training.

QUESTION: 2.) If a community choose NOT to participate in NIMS at this time an does not comply with the 2005 deadline or 2006 or 2007 deadlines, how does that city get back into compliance if they change their minds and want to comply with NIMS in the future?

ANSWER: If a community chooses not to be NIMS compliant now, but decides later on down the road that they want to be NIMS compliant, they would just have to meet all the requirements that they ignored in the past. It would be silly for them not to comply with the NIMS now though, because this is when all the technical assistance for NIMS compliance is available.

QUESTION: 3.) If a community choose NOT to participate in NIMS at this time, can the local fire department which is a division of city government choose to comply so they can continue to receive grants from the Federal Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program (AFGP) under the Staford Act?

ANSWER:

wrjorgenGWDT