| The Department
of Homeland Security (DHS) has developed a National Incident Management
System (NIMS) under Homeland Security Presidential Directive
(HSPD) – 5, Management of Domestic Incidents .
DHS will phase in NIMS over time. As a result of this directive,
all federal departments, agencies, state, local, and tribal governments
are required to fully comply with NIMS by FY 2007 (October 1, 2006)
in order to be eligible to apply for federal preparedness assistance.
BY FY 2007, Federal preparedness assistance will be conditioned
by full compliance with the NIMS.
NIMS is similar to California's Standardized Emergency Management
System (SEMS), which was adopted through legislation and regulation
in the 1990s. This similarity is most evident in the NIMS version
of the Incident Command System (ICS) and adoption of the concept
of mutual aid. The final version of NIMS was released on March
1, 2004.
Details on NIMS can be found on the FEMA website: www.fema.gov/nims
The NIMS implementation steps include formal recognition of NIMS,
assessment of existing capabilities and shortfalls, and identification
of a process to comply with NIMS. POST is working closely with
the Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), training presenters,
and subject matter experts to identify training needs for law enforcement
to meet the requirements of NIMS while maintaining compliance with
SEMS.
A copy of Secretary Tom Ridge's letter explains
the NIMS and provides details on the federal timelines and requirements
for implementation. Additional details on NIMS issues will be posted
on the OES webpage: www.oes.ca.gov and
on the POST webpage: www.post.ca.gov.
POST will be developing a NIMS Instructor Training Course to be
delivered statewide. The course will train instructors on the SEMS/NIMS/ICS
requirements and provide each instructor with a complete training
package to train personnel in their respective agencies or in a
regional training center.
For further information and questions about NIMS please contact
Ken Whitman, Special Consultant, 916.227.5561, Ken.Whitman@post.ca.gov.
Linked to this overview are the following documents:
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