NIMS Resources

Goal #4 of the 2004-05 WFCA Strategic Plan reads “Facilitate the integration of regional incident management resources”. Incorporated within this goal the WFCA embraces and advocates for a common standard for credentialing and deployment of personnel serving in an incident management role.

On February 28, 2003, President Bush issued Homeland Security Presidential Directive -5. HSPD-5 directed the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and administer a National Incident Management System. NIMS provides a consistent nationwide template to enable all government, private sector, and nongovernmental organizations to work together during domestic incidents.

Under NIMS, preparedness is based on national standards for qualification and certification of emergency response personnel. Managed by the NIMS Integration Center, standards will help ensure that the participating agencies’ and organizations’ field personnel possess the minimum knowledge, skills, and experience to perform activities safely and effectively.

Standards will include training, experience, credentialing, currency, and physical and medical fitness. Personnel who are certified to support interstate incidents will be required to meet national qualification and certification standards.

The benefits of the NIMS system will be significant;

• Standardize organizational structures, processes and procedures;
• Standards for planning, training and exercising, and personnel qualification standards;
• Equipment acquisition and certification standards;
• Interoperable communications processes, procedures and systems;
• Information management systems; and
• Supporting technologies – voice and data communications processes, information systems, data display systems and specialized technologies.

The WFCA Board of Directors encourages all of its member agencies to formally adopt and institutionalize the National Incident Management System (NIMS). We have included the following documents to assist you in your adoption process.

1. Sample resolution for formal adoption NIMS;
2. A list of NIMS compliance activities to be achieved during FY 2005;
3. A head-to-head comparison of NIIMS vs. NIMS; and
4. Summary document of NIMS and the Incident Command System (ICS).

Sincerely,

Jeff Johnson
WFCA President