National Incident Management System (NIMS)

With the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, many changes have come into being. One of these was the creation of a standard Incident Management System, known as the National Incident Management System (NIMS). NIMS has become a highly debated topic of great importance to a wide variety of agencies across the United States.

The adoption of NIMS by all agencies in the United States is important for two reasons. First, all agencies need to be utilizing the same system. Second, the adoption and use of NIMS will soon be a requirement to be a recipient of any federal grant.
 

Local Government

The following actions are the recommended steps for the cities in Okanogan County:
  • Adopt NIMS, by resolution, as the official Incident Management System for your city/town.
  • Have your elected officials, city executives, and other staff complete the online NIMS courses identified below.  The online courses are available at FEMA Training.
  • Update any city/town codes or plans that refer to the Incident Command System to reflect the change to NIMS.
  • Create a file to keep copies of the NIMS certificates your employees receive.
     
Special Purpose Districts

The following actions are the recommended steps for Special Purpose Districts in Okanogan County:

  • Update your operating plans to reflect the change from the Incident Command System, to NIMS.

  • Have your staff complete the online NIMS courses identified below. The online courses are available at FEMA Training.

  • Maintain copies of your employees' NIMS certificates in their training files.
Emergency Worker Volunteers

The following actions are the recommended steps for Emergency Worker Volunteers in Okanogan County:

  • Complete ICS-100a, Introduction to the Incident Command System and IS-700a, NIMS, An Introduction.  The online courses are available at FEMA Training.

  • Submit a copy of your NIMS certificate to the following location by mail or fax:

Emergency Worker Coordinator
Okanogan County Emergency Management
123 5th Ave. N. - Room 200
Okanogan, WA 98840
(509) 422-7206
 

 NIMS Training Guidelines

Audience Required Training

Federal/State/Local/Tribal/Private Sector & Non-governmental personnel to include:

Entry level first responders & disaster workers

 • Emergency Medical Service personnel

 • Firefighters

 • Hospital staff

 • Law Enforcement personnel

 • Public Health personnel

 • Public Works/Utility personnel

 • Skilled Support Personnel

 • Other emergency management response, support, volunteer personnel at all levels

 

 

• ICS-100a: Introduction to ICS or equivalent

• FEMA IS-700a: NIMS, An Introduction

 

Federal/State/Local/Tribal/Private Sector & Non-governmental personnel to include:

First line supervisors, single resource leaders, field supervisors, and other emergency management/response personnel that require a higher level of ICS/NIMS Training.

 

• ICS-100a: Introduction to ICS or equivalent

• ICS-200a:  ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action or equivalent  

• FEMA IS-700a: NIMS, An Introduction

 

Federal/State/Local/Tribal/Private Sector & Nongovernmental personnel to include:

Required: Mid-level management including strike team leaders, task force leaders, unit leaders, division/group supervisors, branch directors, and;

Recommended: Emergency operations center staff.

 

• ICS-100a: Introduction to ICS or equivalent

• ICS-200a: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action or equivalent

• ICS-300: Intermediate ICS or equivalent. (Not available on lines, classroom instruction only.)

• FEMA IS-700a: NIMS, An Introduction

• FEMA IS-800B: National Response Framework (NRF), An Introduction

 

Federal/State/Local/Tribal/Private Sector & Nongovernmental

personnel to include:

Required: Command and general staff, select department heads with multi-agency coordination system responsibilities, area commanders, emergency managers, and;

Recommended: Emergency operations center managers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Online course available at FEMA Training. 

 

 

• ICS-100a: Introduction to ICS or equivalent

• ICS-200a: Basic ICS or equivalent

• ICS-300: Intermediate ICS or equivalent
(Not available on lines, classroom instruction only.)

• ICS-400: Advanced ICS or equivalent
(Not available on lines, classroom instruction only.)

• FEMA IS-700:a NIMS, An Introduction

• FEMA IS-800B: National Response Framework  (NRF), An Introduction