NYC-ARECS Statement of
Commitment to Compliance
with the FEMA National Incident
Management System (NIMS)
"NIMS is much
more than a Federal mandate…It is the right
thing to do and it
can save lives if taken seriously and
implemented appropriately."
-- New York State Preparedness
Steering Committee
Background
The
US Department of Homeland Security / FEMA's (DHS/FEMA)
National Incident Management System (NIMS)
provides a systematic, proactive approach to guide
departments and agencies at all levels of government,
nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector
to work seamlessly to prevent, protect against,
respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of
incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or
complexity, in order to reduce the loss of life and
property and harm to the environment.
Implementation
The
NIMS was developed after attacks of September 11, 2001
which demonstrated there was a need for a unified
incident command system. On March 1, 2004, the
DHS/FEMA issued the NIMS to provide a comprehensive
national approach to incident management, applicable
at all jurisdictional levels and across functional
disciplines. As of that year, organizations and
agencies have been required to adopt the NIMS and use
it in their individual domestic incident management
and emergency prevention, preparedness, response,
recovery, and mitigation activities. Beginning in FY
2006, federal grant funding to organizations with
programs related to emergency preparedness and
response have been mandated to be in compliance with
the NIMS. Additionally, any independent agency that is
not part of a municipality -- (including a non-profit
organization) -- yet receives funding from a
municipality that is mandated to be compliant, must
also be compliant.(1)
It is important to note that Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
(RACES) is supported under FEMA, and thus, requires
the NIMS training for all leaders and staff that
participate in the RACES program.
NYC-ARECS
Commitment to Compliance
Since
2005, the DHS/FEMA recommended the promotion and
encouragement of the NIMS adoption by associations,
utilities, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and
private sector emergency management and incident
response organizations.(2)
This includes, and has become the standard of
practice, among other organizations providing amateur
radio emergency support during an emergency.(3)
NYC-ARECS
is therefore committed to being NIMS compliant like
all other NGOs across the United States. In order to
be NIMS compliant NYC-ARECS members participating in
emergency assistance to government or private
agencies, as well as in day-to-day training - which
includes operating at a Public Service Events, will
need to complete all four FEMA courses (IS-100, 200,
700 & 800).
NYC-ARECS
Identification Cards are issued to team Members who
are compliant with the NIMS training.
Educational
Fulfillment & Support for Compliance
The
DHS / FEMA provides an online educational program on
NIMS which is available to help with implementation
and initial compliance with the NIMS,(4) and that will
ensure full and robust preparedness for all who
participate in the program.(5)
These classes can be taken as individuals or as a
group. All of the study materials and testing is 100%
free. Further, materials are available from the New
York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency
Services which is committed to providing the
appropriate guidance and information necessary to
assist entities in achieving compliance with the NIMS.
1)
NY State Dept. of Health, National Incident
Management System (NIMS) Policy Statement # 06-05
www.health.ny.gov/nysdoh/ems/policy/06-05.htm
2)
FY 2009 NIMS Implementation Objectives
fema.gov/pdf/emergency/nims/FY2009_NIMS_Implementation_Chart.pdf
3)
Organizations such as the American Red Cross, Civil
Air Patrol, CERT, NDMS DMATs, REACT, Salvation Army,
and amateur radio communication organizations have
all developed national and local policies to comply
with the NIMS.
4)
fema.gov/emergency/nims/
5)
FY05 NIMS Compliance Package / NIMS Implementation
letter to Federal Departments and Agencies
fema.gov/txt/emergency/nims/nrp_Fed_let_090904.txt
