Townships to be NIMS certified by September
Is your township NIMS ready?
NIMS is the National Incident Management System that was created in February 2003 by President Bush. NIMS is a program that is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

NIMS will integrate effective practices of emergency preparedness, and response, into a comprehensive framework for incident management. It will enable responders at all levels to work together more effectively to manage domestic incidents no matter what the cause, size or complexity.

Lower Southampton Township has begun an Emergency Management program to ensure that the township is well prepared in case of any emergency.

This program includes the use of the NIMS and an all-hazards mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery program. The program incorporates volunteers, local emergency services, local businesses, community groups, volunteer agencies, and township, county, state, and federal resources

The place includes memos of understanding with local businesses outlining what the township would ask if an emergency happened, such as providing equipment, supplies or staging areas for volunteers.

“This plan will ensure that the township will be able to provide the residents with the help they need when they need it,” Lower Southampton Township Manager Sue McKeon said. “The goal behind this new program is to organize the township to respond to a major disaster that would stretch the resources of the township.”

All agencies within the Commonwealth, including all state, county and local governments, agencies, elected officials, career and volunteer fire, EMS and/or emergency response organizations, law enforcement, public utilities and any other organizations involved in, and supporting preparation, response, recovery and mitigation of all-hazards incidents, need to complete the following items by September 30, 2005:

• IS-700 National Incident Command System Awareness course.
• Formally recognizing the NIMS and adopting the NIMS principles and policies.
• Institutionalize the use of the Incident Command System.
• Identify plans, policies and procedures that need to be modified to incorporate the NIMS.
• Establish a timeframe and develop a strategy for full NIMS implementation.
• Establish a NIMS baseline by determining which NIMS requirements you already meet (Completing the NIMCAST will establish a NIMS compliance baseline which will help you establish your timeline).
  Requirements to be completed by September 30, 2006:
• Incorporating NIMS into existing training programs and exercises.
• Ensuring that Federal preparedness funding (including DHS Homeland Security Grant Program, Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) funds) support NIMS implementation at the State and local levels (in accordance with the eligibility and allowable uses of the grants).
• Incorporating NIMS into Emergency Operations Plans (EOP).
• Promotion of intrastate mutual aid agreements (MAA).
• Coordinating with, and providing technical assistance to, local entities regarding NIMS implementation.

According to PEMA through planning and scheduling, everyone will have the opportunity to complete the training and other requirements; “as a whole”, the minimum requirements for FY’05 have been met and the FY’06 requirements can be met provided everyone puts forth an honest effort and in good faith completes all the NIMS requirements and the required training.

For example, say you have 50 people in your organization and 37 have completed the IS700 NIMS Awareness course requirement, and the other 13 are scheduled to attend the IS700 NIMS Awareness course, then your organization may be considered as meeting that NIMS requirement; Keeping in mind that in good faith the other 13 people will complete the IS700 NIMS Awareness course.

It is expected, at a minimum, that all state, county and local governments, agencies and departments, elected officials, career and volunteer emergency response organizations, law enforcement, public utilities and any other organizations involved in, and supporting preparation, response, recovery and mitigation of all-hazards incidents have completed the minimum NIMS compliance requirements and are progressing toward full NIMS compliance. In order to avoid the possibility of federal funding being altered, the above mentioned specific actions must be completed by September 30, 2006.

If there are any inquiries, questions, concerns and/or assistance required, contact PEMA’s NIMS Information Center at: 1-866-471-7262 or email: RAEMNIMS@state.pa.us. You are welcome to visit our website www.pema.state.pa.us and click on the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for more information on the NIMS.