NIMS

1. NIMS Angela R. Shute Kelley, Scritsmier & Byrne, P.C. North Platte, Nebraska

2. 2012: The End of the World is Nigh Four Horseman of the Apocalypse by Viktor Vasnetsov (1887)

3. Overview of NIMS • National Incident Management System • Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 (HSPD-5) • “A consistent nationwide approach for Federal, State, and local governments to work effectively and efficiently together to prepare for, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size, or complexity” • Works with National Response Framework (NRF)

4. Concepts of NIMS • Flexibility • Standardization

5. NIMS Components • Preparedness • Communications and Information Management • Resource Management • Command and Management • Ongoing Management and Maintenance

6. Preparedness • Planning and organizing • Procedures and protocols • Training and exercises • Personnel qualifications, licensure, and certification • Equipment and resources • Mitigation

7. Communication and Information Management • Allow personnel from different areas to communicate with each other during an incident • Establish and maintain a common operating picture of the incident • Communication systems should be - • Interoperable • Reliable • Scalable • Portable • Resilient • Redundant

8. Resource Management • Identify, categorize, manage, and acquire resources • Maintenance of resources • Procedures for use of resources during an incident

9. Command and Management • Incident Command System • Multiagency Coordination System • Public Information System

10. Incident Command System • Standard management hierarchy and chain of command structure for incidents of any size • Single incident commander or unified command • Additional command staff

11. Incident Command System

12. Incident Commander • Often the first responder on the scene and the individual who establishes the ICS • Responsible for incident management until a more qualified person arrives or authority is delegated to another person • Role of Incident Commander should always be filled

13. Public Information Officer • Individual who gathers, verifies, coordinates, and disseminates timely and accurate information during an incident • Sole person responsible for making communications

14. Ongoing Management and Maintenance • Provided by National Integration Center (NIC) • Training and exercises, approved courses • Personnel qualification and certification • Equipment certification • Continuous refinement of NIMS and its components

15. School Districts and NIMS • School districts are included in the definition of “local government” • School districts receiving certain federal preparedness grants (i.e., REMS grants) are required to comply with NIMS • School-based incidents • School resources may be used during an incident response

16. REMS Grants • Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools grants from the Department of Education • REMS grants provide funds for local education agencies to improve and strengthen their emergency management plans and address all four phases of emergency management • Prevention-Mitigation • Preparedness • Response • Recovery

17. NIMS Implementation Activities for School Districts • Adopt NIMS at the school level • Develop emergency management plans that incorporate NIMS and reflect the NRF • Participate in mutual aid agreements • Identify “key personnel” and complete training • Participate in training exercises • Establish plain language communication standards • Maintain an inventory of school response assets (equipment, resources, and supplies) • Ensure proper credentialing of response personneland volunteers • Use ICS and MACS • Establish a Public Information System

18. Key Personnel • Executive Leaders - individuals who are generally responsible for making financial, administrative, and managerial decisions • Superintendent • Principals

19. Key Personnel • General Personnel - individuals with any role in emergency preparedness, incident management, or response • Emergency management or ICS team members • Nurses and health officials • School resource officers • School security officers • Counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists • Technology specialists • Bus drivers, facilities staff, food preparation staff • Administrators • Educators or faculty, coaches, resource staff, paraprofessionals, and support personnel

20. Key Personnel • Command Staff – individuals assigned to lead any school emergency management effort • Individuals with a specific role in the ICS • Administrators • Security staff • Public Information Officer • Safety Officer • Liaison Officer • Facilities staff, food preparation staff • Individuals who have a role in the operations, planning, logistics, or finance/administration sections of ICS team

21. Key Personnel • Incident Managers – individuals with a leadership role in command • Administrators • Director or chief of school security • School police chief • Any school official who may have a more advanced ICS role if necessary

22. Hypotheticals Hazardous Waste Spill Hostage Situation • Incident Command System • Coordination with other agencies – law enforcement, fire department, emergency medical services • Evacuation, if near school • Information to parents and public • What if the school’s facilities are needed? • Incident Command System • Coordination with other agencies – law enforcement, emergency medical services, mental health care professionals • Evacuation, if possible • Information to parents and public