Incident and Command System and National One

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Table of Contents

Introduction
NIMS
ICS
Conclusion
References

Introduction

After a Homeland Presidential Directive, the agency embarked on the development of National Incident Control System (NIMS). It provided ways to effectively combat incidents while incorporating ICS without any regard to the size or complexity, location or cause (FEMA, 2006).

NIMS

NIMS is made up of several major components as explained below.

Management and Command

The standard command structures are as per three systems. Incident Command System provides means of coordinating, commanding and controlling situations of emergency. Multiagency Coordination System on the other hand defines the characteristics of operation of various organizations involved.

Preparedness

This includes a list of activities that ought to be done non-stop before an incident. This component involves planning and training, exercising standards of vetting personnel qualification and acquisition of equipment

Management of Resources

For efficient management of incidents, a system is needed for identification of resources available at all the different jurisdictions thus ensuring fast and unrestricted access. It also encompasses protocols of mobilization of resources and use of different teams from different jurisdictions.

Communication and Information Management

To ensure inter-agency support across various jurisdictions, NIMS requires the respective organization to verify that information management and information processes are interoperable. There is thus a standardized communication, proper management on collecting, analyzing and dissemination of information with proper sharing of information.

Supporting Technologies

To ensure continuous refinement of NIMS, technological systems will have to continually provide some services. These services include provision of systems of communication both data based and voice based. This is important more so in situations requiring unique technological capabilities.

Ongoing Management and Maintenance

The component is for establishing activity for providing directions for NIMS’ oversight. This means that it supports the continuous system enhancement. This is also possible over long periods of time. In addition, it also supports routine review.

ICS

ICS can be said to be a tactical level in NIMS. It’s majorly used to manage the scene of incident and also offer activities of support (Gil, 2005). Its 6 key components are:

Command Unity

Individuals in the control of an incident report to a one and only one specific supervisor. Conflicting orders from different supervisors is eliminated. Freelancing is thus prevented with an increase in accountability and improvement in information flow.

Common terminology

Previously, agencies developed their own protocols and thus a potential source of confusion because of the different meaning a word might generate to the different agencies. Thus, to ensure communication and consistency, a common modus operandi for terminology is essential.

Management by objective

With the first step being the outline of strategies, management of incident is aimed at specific objectives which are prioritized and ranked. These objectives ought to be specific, attainable and with a time-frame of its achievement.

Flexible modular organization

ICS structure of organization enables it to easily contract and expand as need be. A top-down procedure is employed and ensures prioritization of establishment of key positions of authority e.g. the first unit to arrive establishes command. Positions are developed only as needed.

Span of Control

In the ICS system, this component limits responsibilities that are managed by a single individual. This is usually ranges from three to 7. If one is managing more than 7, then they ought to delegate some duties. This expansion helps to avoid overload of work to one person.

Logistics

To ensure that a certain function is not replicated all over again, all logistics ought to be synchronized. This will further ensure that dispatch arrives at its intended destinations and where it is most needed.

Conclusion

NIMS are a representation of several key components. Being as described, for it to achieve its objective of successfully mitigating an incident especially if there are multiple jurisdictions being involved it ought to be followed to the later. The ICS within the NIMS also should be carefully followed. In other words the effectiveness of NIMS is only successfully as the individual components being executed successfully on the ground.

References

Gil, J. (2005). The police chief. NIMS and the Incident Command System, 72(3):68-78.

FEMA. (2006). NIMS Basics. New York: FEMA Publication Warehouse.

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