National Incident Management Systems

1. National Incident Management Systems Session 23 Slide Deck Session 23

2. Session Objective • Discuss Reviews and Assessments of NIMS Session 23

3. Topics • Federal Grants • Emergency Response Operations under a Unified Command • NIMS Implementation and Upgrades • Working with the media and the Joint Information Center • Unified Command • Politics of disasters • Language and NIMS • GIS and NIMS Session 23

4. Federal Grants • NIMS has and continues to enhance State preparedness • NIMS requirements should be fully funded • “What is compliant?” • Turnover of personnel and training results in few organizations being 100% compliant in NIMS • A resource management tool should be developed before attempting to type resources • Routine response equipment may not need classification nor warrant the time to classify and maintain the database • NIMS should have graduated requirements for small communities • An overarching recommendation is slow down, think strategically, and build the system from the bottom up. Session 23

5. Emergency Response Operations under a Unified Command • Evaluating Agency Emergency Planning Organizations – NIMS compliance a good indication of agency capabilities Session 23

6. LLISand TOPOFF 3General Analysis • Poor integration between the off-site UCP and activities at the incident scene • Challenges for integrating the UC with other emergency response organizations and operating centers • Concern over the lack of alignment between the National Oil and Hazardous Materials Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) and the National Response Framework (NRF), which plays out most significantly at the UC • Limited understanding of the scope of UC responsibilities Session 23

7. LLISand TOPOFF 3General Recommendations • Defining the roles and responsibilities of the UC • Developing standard operating procedures • External information flow processes Session 23

8. LLISand TOPOFF 3Understanding Scope of Responsibilities /Recommendations • Expand NIMS to include more detail on the UC • Develop standard operating procedures for the UC, which detail the transition from a single incident command, determination of membership, coordinating functions, avenues for conflict resolution among members, determination of its location, and scope of its responsibilities Session 23

9. LLIS and TOPOFF 3Integration between the UC Post and the Incident/Recommendations • Provide full-time representation in the UCP. • Processes for regular sharing of information with personnel • Develop standard operating procedures for the UC, which detail the transition from a single incident command, determination of membership, coordinating functions, avenues for conflict resolution among members, determination of its location, and scope of its responsibilities. Session 23

10. NIMS Implementation and UpgradesResource Management • Resource typing • Rules to ensure the continuity and cohesion • Significant progress but more to do • Integral component of emergency preparedness and a prerequisite to overall operational success in future emergencies Session 23

11. NIMS Upgrades • Stakeholder Group review • Roles and activities of elected and appointed officials • Content, format, and design Session 23

12. NIMS Four Years Later • NIMS has had major impact on emergency management • Not a One and Done Proposition • Proposed Change 1: Revise current training programs to reflect the reality that personnel turnovers • Proposed Change 2: Develop and implement a long-term plan for maintenance of the minimum levels of proficiency Session 23

13. Working with the Media / JIC Washington Post article: • Access denied photographers and reporters • BP calling the shots – Coast Guard and BP deny allegation • Proprietary information • FAA Cite security concerns • Safety parameters • Bad images Session 23

14. Working with the Media / JIC New York Times Article • Journalists turned away from public areas • Filtering what the public sees • Information trickle • Transparency and public scrutiny • Access without compromising response and clean-up • Media and federal officials together • Civilian flights over spill area Session 23

15. Unified Command • Non-existent unified command • Disregard for local knowledge and expertise • No action allowed without unified command approval • Taking matters in their own hands • Should have tapped local knowledge and capabilities Session 23

16. UC and the State-Federal Response to Katrina in Mississippi • NIMS in the field • Modifications in Mississippi • Joint Section chiefs / Joint supervisors co-located • Communication of objectives • Span of control • Unresolved issues • Objectives and methods for achieving objectives • FCO and Federal responsibilities • Conclusions • Training critical • Doctrine for large scale disasters • Reform the National Response Plan Session 23

17. Politics of Disasters • Criticism by elected officials • First responder decisions • Who has the authority to make decisions • Pair NIMS structure with parallel political structure • NIMS decision making capabilities • Elected officials decision making capabilities Session 23

18. Politics of Disasters • Adoption of NIMS • NIMS and the NRP • Who is in charge? • NIMS and Mutual Aid – not just “paper” agreements • Coordination and Exercising Session 23

19. Language and NIMS • Common language a challenge • Not all first responders speak the same language • Major changes for first responders • Health workers and police • How to create a common language Session 23

20. GIS and NIMS • Sharing GIS information • GIS critical to disaster response • BP spill-related GIS products not shared • Not NIMS compliant Session 23