How to Become NIMS Compliant


In the present day climate of anti terrorism across the United States, the government is working heard and steadfast to secure the country in case of any domestic terrorist attack. There is an official system of rules and guidelines being legislated that will help ensure the safety of citizens called the NIMS (National Incident Management System). The NIMS system helps protect against future attack in the event that they happen. However, all facts and evidences imply that a terrorist attack on this country is likely and in time will happen. Here is a brief explanation of the National Incident Management system.

What is the National Incident Management System?

The NIMS or National Incident Management System is a series of instructions and guidelines created by the Department of Homeland Security. The Commander in Chief, or the President of the United States of America, over sees the National Incident Management System’s implementation and pre approved elements and structure. The National Incident Management System is meant to prepare and direct the users in an event of a state of emergency. NIMS rules and regulations will ensure that each State and City, regardless of population, can operate under the same security efforts in case of an attack. This will allow all government to follow the same procedures in the event of a future terrorist attack instead of operating under individual emergency agendas. The NIMS unifies all safety procedure actions of every level of government across the country.

How do I become compliant with the National Incident Management System?

Emergency response centers should obtain an official copy of the National Incident Management System guidelines. This is important to do. The guidelines suggest different procedures listed depending on departments. The guidelines will often time vary depending on department and skill set of the people who run those departments. Pay close attention to these variations so that you implement the guidelines properly if and when the need arises.

Those people who are in a managerial position or head of a department should schedule a meeting with your superiors and go over your current security policies. Determine which areas are the weak points of your emergency response center. Those weak points are the areas you should focus on the most. The team will have to decide how these areas can be strengthened and what means need to be implied to get the emergency response center up to code and standard. In the case of any emergency you want to ensure every department is fully equipped and prepared to run at optimum levels in case of an attack.

The second vital aspect of becoming compliant is staff training. Set up mock drills on how to apply the regulations to determine what areas need to be improved upon.

After you’ve revised, improved and practiced the policies contained in the NIMS manual schedule for someone from the Department of Homeland Security to come out to your emergency center and observe your reactions and compliance. They will qualify how well you respond to practice disaster scenarios. Your score has to prove that your center exceeds readiness standards in case of live disasters.

Filed Under: Work & Careers

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About the Author: Vanessa Page works a career counselor in one of the leading firms in Los Angeles. She is also a blogger and gives tips on how people can tackle their work and career issues. She has 8 years of experience in this field.

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