A. Policy

The National Incident Management System (NIMS) is the standard across the country for emergency incident response by government, private-sector, and non-governmental organizations. NIMS provides stakeholders with the shared vocabulary, systems, and processes to successfully deliver the capabilities described in the National Preparedness System. The Lakewood Police Department supports the interoperability and compatibility goals of the system and will conform to the concepts and principles of NIMS.

The NIMS is grouped into three major components, including:

1. Resource Management

2. Command and Coordination

3. Communications and Information Management

B. Procedure

1. The success of NIMS is credited to three guiding principles that ensure consistency in the response to an emergency event. They include:

a. Flexibility – NIMS components are adaptable to any situation, from planned special events to routine local incidents to incidents involving interstate mutual aid or Federal assistance. Some incidents need multiagency, multijurisdictional, and/or multidisciplinary coordination. Flexibility allows NIMS to be scalable and, therefore, applicable for incidents that vary widely in terms of hazard, geography, demographics, climate, cultural, and organizational authorities.

b. Standardization – Standardization is essential to interoperability among multiple organizations in incident response. NIMS defines standard organizational structures that improve integration and connectivity among jurisdictions and organizations. NIMS defines standard practices that allow incident personnel to work together effectively and foster cohesion among the various organizations involved. NIMS also includes common terminology, which enables effective communication.

c. Unity of Effort – Unity of effort means coordinating activities among various organizations to achieve common objectives. Unity of effort enables organizations with specific jurisdictional responsibilities to support each other while maintaining their own authorities.

2. The resource management process during an incident includes standardized methods to identify, order, mobilize, and track resources. NIMS defines these mechanisms and establishes requirements for resource management over the life of an incident. This process is outlined in the graphic below.

3. The Command and Coordination component of NIMS describes the systems, principles, and structures that provide a standard, national framework for incident management. NIMS Command and Coordination structures are based on the following organizational systems and concepts:

a. The Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized approach to the command, control, and coordination of on-scene incident management that provides a common hierarchy within which personnel from multiple organizations can be effective.

b. Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is the location where staff from multiple agencies typically come together to address imminent threats and hazards and to provide coordinated support and consequence management to incident command, on-scene personnel, and/or other EOCs.

c. Multi-agency Coordination Group (MAC Group) is the policy-level body tasked with making cooperative multiagency decisions and supporting resource prioritization and allocation. MAC groups do not direct tactical and operational responsibilities.

d. A Joint Information Systems (JIS) is the method by which dissemination of timely, accurate, accessible, and actionable information to the public is accomplished. The JIS integrates incident information and public affairs into a cohesive organization to provide coordinated and complete information before, during, and after incidents. This includes the utilization of Public Information Officers and a single Joint Information Center.

4. The Communications and Information Management function in NIMS focuses on interoperable communication systems that are reliable, scalable, and portable. It also includes the ability to create and maintain situational awareness through the use of Situation Reports, Status Reports, Incident Action Plans, and other data collection processes.

5. In advance of any potential incident, preparedness activities are conducted that involve a combination of:

a. Planning, training, and exercises.

b. Personnel qualification and certification standards.

c. Equipment acquisition and certification standards.

d. Publication management processes and activities.

e. Mutual aid agreements and Emergency Management Assistance Compacts.

6. Additional important concepts outlined in NIMS include:

a. Ongoing management and maintenance of incident management systems will involve routine review and refinement of the system and its components.

b. Unified Command is the shared responsibility for overall incident management as a result of a multi-jurisdictional or multi-agency incident. In the event of conflicting priorities or goals-or where resources are scarce-there must be a clear line of authority for decision-making. The agencies work together to analyze intelligence information and establish a common set of objectives and strategies. This is used in:

Single-jurisdiction, multiple-agency incidents.
Multi-jurisdictional incidents.
Individuals representing involved agencies or jurisdictions share command responsibility.

c. Area Command is established to oversee multiple concurrent incidents or a very complex incident that requires the establishment of multiple ICS organizations.

d. Mutual aid involves sharing resources and services between jurisdictions or organizations. Mutual aid occurs routinely to meet the resource needs identified by the requesting organization. This assistance can include the daily dispatch of law enforcement, emergency medical services (EMS), and fire service resources between local communities, as well as the movement of resources within a state or across state lines when larger-scale incidents occur. Mutual aid can provide essential assistance to fill mission needs.

NEXT: PP-4903 - Incident Command System