04. Resolution 5430 - National Incident Management System (NIMS)KALISPELL FIRE DEPARTMENT
PC Box 1997
Daniel Diehl — Fire Chief 312 First Avenue East
Dave Dedman — Assistant Chief c_ Kalispell, Montana 59901
Cec Lee — Executive Secretary _ -- - Phone: (406) 758-7760
FAQ{: (406) 758-7777
TO: The Honorable Mayor Tammi Fisher and City Council
FROM: Dan Diehl, Fire Chief
Jane Howington, City Manager
RE: National Incident Management System (NIMS)
MEETING DATE: May 17, 2010
BACKGROUND:
The Kalispell Fire Department has been working with Flathead County to develop a county -wide
Emergency Management Plan. The plan requires each of the cities and the county to adopt the
National Incident Management System (NIMS). This system is used to prepare for, respond to, and
recover from major disasters. This adoption also helps the City of Kalispell receive grants and if
required, assistance from Federal, State or local agencies.
RECOMMENDATION:
Council approves this resolution to adopt the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
of11 e ,
Dan Diehl
Fire Chief
le Howington
City Manager
"Protecting our community with the highest level of professionalism."
A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT A PRE -DISASTER MITIGATION PLAN PURSUANT T_V.
THE NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (NIMS) AND I
CONJUNCTION WITH FLATHEAD COUNTY.
WHEREAS, it is the declared policy of the Department of Homeland Security that in order to
prepare for, respond to, and to recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters and
other emergencies that the United States Government shall establish a single
comprehensive approach to domestic incident management with the objective of
ensuring that all levels of government across the nation have the capability to
work efficiently and effectively together; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Homeland Security has promulgated the National Incident
Management System (NIMS) for this purpose; and
WHEREAS, A.S, all State and local governmental entities and agencies must adopt the NIMS
protocol to receive Federal preparedness assistance; and
WHEREAS, Flathead County has previously adopted the NIMS protocol through Flathead
County Resolution No. 1741; and
WHEREAS, the Kalispell City Council finds that it would be prudent for the City to use the
same emergency protocol as Flathead County.
NOW THEREFORE, BE 1T RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
I ALISPELL AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. That the City of Kalispell hereby adopts the National Incident
Management System as currently promulgated by the Department of
Homeland Security or as the same may be hereafter amended.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND SIGNED BY THE MAYOR OF
THE CITY OF KALISPELL., THIS 17TH DAY OF MAY, 2010.
Tarn.rra.i Fisher
Mayor
ATTEST:
Theresa white
City Clerk
To:
FROM*
DATE.
SUBJECT:
Tel 406.758.7708
Fax 406.758.7771
charball@kalispell.com
lxlj:���__O._:�7�I;Win
Kalispell City Council
Jane Howington, City Manager
Charles Harball, City Attorney
May 13, 2010
.Additional Information regarding the National Incident Management
System. (NIMS)
"`ire Chief Dan Diehl provided the following Internet Link for the Council and the
public to explore for further information regarding the National Incident
Management System (NIMS): http://www.nimsonline.com/what-is-the-national-
aincident-m.ana ement-S stem.htm.l. I have copied below some basic information.
about DIMS from this site.
"The National Incident Management System (AIMS) is an emergency response system that is
designed to improve preparation, coordination, and incident management in the event of a crisis.
The system is designed to coordinate emergency response teams in the federal, state, and local
agency levels. The NIMS is a system that was designed and implemented into the United States
after the events of the terrorist attacks at the world Trade Center and the Pentagon in 2001. It is
designed to improve preparation, response, and prevention of a similar attach or an equally
devastating disaster. This new system would improve communication between private and public
entities in their efforts to respond to a many different domestic emergency management services.
Possible disasters can include an act of terrorism, an urban fire, floods, nuclear disasters,
earthquakes, power storms such as hurricanes and typhoons, war -related incidents, etc.
According to Homeland Security Presidential Directive, (HSPD)-5, "This system will provide a
consistent nationwide approach for Federal State, and local governments to work effectively and
efficiently together to prepare for respond to, and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of
cause, size, or complexity. To provide for Interoperability and compatibility among Federal,
State, and local capabilities, the NIMS will include a core set of concepts, principles,
terminology, and technologies covering the incident command system.".
Most incidents are handled and contained by local authorities, but there are certain instances that
require multiple jurisdictions to help handle the management systems of a domestic disaster. The
NIMS was designed to use the best and most effective processes available in currently existing
protocols and to integrate them into a nationwide system that maximized Interoperability. For the
first time, both public and private organizations will be able to conduct a incident management
National Incident Management System (NIMS) Information
May 13, 2010
Page - 2
system that is both organized and coordinated to ensure effectiveness and efficiency in the event
of an emergency. The NIMS does this through a core set of principles and procedures.
Principles and Protocol:
To integrate an emergency response system that works effectively, a firm balance has been
established in the NIMS system of both flexibility and standardization. while it is important to
have a standard code of conduct when dealing with a dangerous and time -sensitive situation so
that procedures are carried out properly, flexibility should also be established. Every situation is
different, and if a unique emergency situation arises without room for flexibility, the standard
code would be of no use.
Flexibility:
The NIMS provides a flexible and adjustable national structure that encompasses both
government organizations and private entities at all levels. They are able to have an open line of
communication so that they are able to work together in a domestic incident of any complexity,
size, or location. This is necessary in all phases of a disaster or national emergency in
preparation, response, and recovery.
Standardization:
NIMS integrates several tiers of protocol and emergency response systems. One of them is called
the Incident Corn nand System. (ICS). There are multiagency coordination systems and public
information systems for the purpose of establishing useful and reliable mediums of
communication; one of the most important factors in any disaster. The standardization
procedures also improve interoperabi ity and coordination between many disciplines, including
training, resource management, personnel qualification and certification, communication
management, technology support, etc.
Conponents of the NIMS:
The National Incident Management System has been divided into several conponents designed to
work in conjunction with each other in a fully integrated system. Each provides pieces to a
framework to help prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from a variety of incidents, both
big and small, and both natural or caused by roan.
Command and Management:
The command and management side involves the integration of several key organizational
systems:
The Incident Command System:
The /CS defines the operating characteristics, management, structure components incident
management, and emergency response characteristics of organizations throughout the entire span
of an emergency situation.
Office of City Attorney
City of Kalispell
National Incident Management System (NIMS) Information
May 13, 2010
Page - 3
The ICS is designed to be widely applicable for situations in the near -term and over the course of
the long-term, whether they are small incidents or complex disasters. It is a system of the NIMS
used to ensure that agencies on the macro and micro level, including Federal, State, and local
agencies can tale advantage of the tools the ICS provides. In addition, the ICS is provided for
private -sector and nongovernmental organizations. Overall, ICS is designed to facilitate activities
in five different areas of function, including command, operations, planning, logistics, and
finance and administration.
Untested and modem forms of disasters, such as radiological, biological, chemical and nuclear
terrorism provide challenges, even for the modern ICS effort for disaster prevention and relief.
Incidents on such a large scale are required to have unparalleled levels of coordination between
Federal, State, local, tribal, private -sector, and nongovernmental organizations. ICS provides
management so such incidents can be properly handled.
The ICS is designed to be:
* Effective in operations in a single jurisdiction or agency or rraultiagency involvement;
* Accepted by all of its users across the country;
* ]easily updated with new improvements in technology;
* .Adaptable to any type of emergency-,
* Flexible to organize itself to any structure based on the seriousness of the emergency situation.
Multiagency Coordination Systems:
This subsystem. in NIMS involves mutual -aid agreements and assistance arrangements between
all organizations at the Federal, State, local, tribal, and regional levels. It also defines the
operating characteristics, interactive management, and organization of entities involved in
disaster response and relief.
The definition of a multiagency coordination system is a combination of facilities, equipment,
personnel, procedures, and communications provided with the responsibility to coordinate a plan
of action and support for a domestic incident through adequate management and proper use of
command. Incident command, an integral area in the coordination systems is responsible for
direct tactical integration and operations.
Multiagency Coordination Systems with the National Incident Management System may contain
EOCs (which stands for emergency operations center). This is generally referred to as the
physical location in which coordination of information, management of resources, and similar
activities take place.
FQCs may be run and commanded by several leaders from many different jurisdictions and
functional disciplines. If there was a bloterrorlsm incident, a local FOC may be established
consisting of several members of law enforcement, emergency management, medical response
teams, public health experts, etc. F4Cs can serve either for permanent purposes or for temporary
Incident -specific purposes. Also, the size of the FOC, including the number of employees and
amount of resources depends on the size of the jurisdiction from which it was established.
Office of City Attorney
City of Kalispell
National Incident Management System (NIMS) Information
May 13, 2010
Page - 4
Multiagency coordination entities may be established for cross disciplinary purposes during
complex incident management situations. These help facilitate incident management and
coordination. The primary functions of multiagency coordination entities include the following:
* Ensuring that correct situational awareness and status information is given by each agency
tasked with responding to a disaster scenario;
The ordering of priorities between incidents and/or Area Commands;
Acquiring resources and allocating them in the most optimal possible manner required by
incident management personnel;
* Predicting and identifying needs for resources in the near future depending on the situation
circumstances;
* Resolving any issues or problems that may arise during operations;
* Giving strategic coordination as needed.
Public Information Systems:
During an incident or disaster, information systems established in the event of an emergency will
pass valuable communication to the public. This information is vital to help save lives.
Inuring an emergency situation, the general public receives information from a variety of
available sources. The Joint Information Center (JIC) is a system that ensures that all information
is timely, accurate, easily understandable, and consistent with all other sources of information.
The JIC in the NIMS system contains representatives from each agency involved in an
emergency situation. JICs are also established in different levels of the government in complex
situations requiring a great deal of medical and public health resources.
Multiagency entities are also responsible for the management of JICs, including the means by
which public communications are cleared and handled. All agencies that contribute to the general
database of knowledge of a specific situationare identified individually.
A joint information system. (JIS) provides an overall organized, integrated, and properly
coordinated means to deliver accurate, easy -to -understand, timely, and consistent information to
the public in a time of crisis. The JIS uses plans, procedures, and functional structures to deliver
this important information. The JIS is designed to be flexible and easily adaptable; to support
management with key information for making decisions, and have the resources to develop
timely messages.
Preparedness:
Without preparation, incidents cannot be approached with an effective response nor would the
resources be available to help provide aid and disaster relief. Preparation activities in the NIMS
system are conducted on a"steady-state" basis, well before a disaster even occurs. Preparation is
an integrated combination of planning, training, exercises, proper and equipment standards.
When improving preparedness programs within the ITS guidelines, management officials
should take advantage of and leverage pre-existing preparation programs in the best way
possible.
Office of City .Attorney
City of Kalispell
National Incident Management System (NIMS) Information
May 13, 2010
Page - 5
Preparedness in NIMS requires a never-ending cycle of planning, training, exercise simulation,
and equipment checking.
Planning:
Plans are essentially created in the NIMS system as a system of setting priorities, integrating a
variety of functions for each person or thing involved in a system, and an integrated support
spectrum.
Training:
Involves education, including coursework for procedures and protocols, multiagency command
and communication, incident management, and organizational structure.
Exercises:
Exercises include the use of simulations that are realistic enough so that personnel will be
Knowledgeable of what to expect if a disaster does occur. This includes multidisciplinary and
multi jurisdictional exercises that attempt to coordinate the efforts of all individuals who would
aid in every aspect of an emergency situation. The exercises improve integration,
interoperability, and optimize coordination efforts and utilization.
Equipment Standards:
Emergency response agencies, on both the management and field levels always rely on
equipment to carry out important tasks in an emergency situation. Preparedness involves the
readily available equipment that meet general standards for optimal use and effectiveness. They
are sometimes designed to be interoperable with similar equipment used by other jurisdictions.
In order for preparedness in the NIMS to be useful, all aspects in preparation efforts should be
unified in their approach. This includes interoperability across jurisdictional boundaries and
between public and private organizations.
Mitigation procedures are important in the preparation process for a number of critical reasons. It
covers all levels of the incident management system process during a crisis, from preventing a
crisis to the recovery. Examples of mitigation include:
Public education that is designed to reduce the loss of life in the event of a crisis;
Obtaining flood insurance for properties that are prone to floods.
What does it take to reach a proper level of preparation? The National Incident Management
System is designed to help all organizations and the general public by providing the necessary
tools and Knowledge to do so.
Preparedness organizations:
A jurisdiction has authority over the organizations and the activities they practice within a certain
region. They are responsible for coordinating their efforts to ensure an adequate level of
preparedness. Preparedness organizations is the terns used to describe committees, planning
Office of City Attorney
City of Kalispell
National Incident Management System (NIMS) Information
May 13, 2010
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groups and other groups that meet at regular intervals to engage in discussions about proper
planning, training, equipping, and other elements of preparation across the jurisdiction.
Preparedness Programs:
Preparedness programs are designed to give a step by step process by which preparation can be
achieved under National Incident Management System guidelines. They contain mechanisms for
establishing priorities in a time --sensitive emergency situation, integrating proper functions,
coordinating with other parties, and ensuring that means of communication are readily available
for giving and receiving vital information.
An emergency operations plan (EOP) is a program for preparedness that outlines all the activities
that are vital in an incident for a particular jurisdiction. It is necessary for an EOP to describe
organizational structures, responsibilities for each person within that organization, policies for
running the organization, and protocols for that organization to provide support to those who
need it.
Resource Management:
NIMS provide a system of inventory management and allocation, dispatch, track, recording, and
recovering over the entire duration of an incident. Resources can include personnel, teams,
facilities, equipment, and supplies, such as food and medical items. In general, resource
management coordination and all of the activities that go along with it occur within EOCs.
There are four primary tasks in resource management that are vital in an NIMS effort:
Creating a system of describing, recording, requesting, and keeping tabs on resources;
* Implementing this system in the event of a disaster;
* Providing resources to those who need it during an incident;
* Recalling resources during an incident.
The National Incident Management System ensures that the protocol involved with resource
management is a universal structure used by all organizations in all jurisdictions. This ensures
that resources move quickly and efficiently and properly assist emergency responders and
emergency management teams.
Communications and Information Management:
The NIMS system was designed with the need for a standard communication. network in mind so
that information management and sharing can be more useful and conducted properly.
Communications During an Incident:
NIMS provides an organized system of communication for effective communication processes,
procedures, and systems across all agencies, regardless of location or jurisdiction.
Information Management:
The management in the NIiUIS system is important for processes, procedures, and systems so that
Office of City Attorney
City of Kalispell
National Incident Management System (NIMS) Information
May 13, 2010
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information flows throughout agencies in various locations and jurisdictions, both quickly and
efficiently. This enhances incident management and nv nimizes response time.
Supporting Technologies:
The rational Incident Management System constantly updates with technological advances for
implementation and refinement of all aspects of ITS systems. This includes voice and
communication system technology, information storing, retrieval and management systems, and
display systems. Technologies can also facilitate continuing operations during the event of an
incident, especially those that require specific and unique technological capabilities.
The main concern is that all technologies used in all jurisdictions in the event of a crisis are
compatible with each other and do not interfere with one another neither. Standards for
technological use to ensure compatibility and interoperabiity are reached by tools similar to
achieving communication standards— in that all digital data formats should be universally used,
along with equipment and design standards.
Continued Management and Maintenance:
This aspect of the NAM system refers to the direction the incident management system takes in
the future, including system checks to meet standards of effectiveness and reliability. Also,
consistent refinement of the NIMS and its components over the course of many years.
The preparedness organizations assist communications and informational management teams so
that they provide effective services and support the complete structure of incident management
activities. They do this through the following guidelines:
Individual Jurisdictions:
Each jurisdiction system of information and communication is developed by using interoperable
standards established by the NIMS structure.
Incident Communications (IC):
ICs manage communications in the event of an incident, using a communications plan and a
communications center specifically designed to be used in an emergency situation. The NIMS
structure ensures that all ICs use common terminology when using communications."
Respectfully submitted,
Charles-Iarball, City Attorney
Office of City Attorney
City of Kalispell