New York City Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Service

NYC-ARECS Statement of Commitment to Compliance
with the FEMA National Incident Management System (NIMS)

"NIMS is much more than a Federal mandate…It is the right thing to do and it
can save lives if taken seriously and implemented appropriately."

-- New York State Preparedness Steering Committee

Background

The US Department of Homeland Security / FEMA's (DHS/FEMA) National Incident Management System (NIMS) provides a systematic, proactive approach to guide departments and agencies at all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to work seamlessly to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity, in order to reduce the loss of life and property and harm to the environment.

Implementation

The NIMS was developed after attacks of September 11, 2001 which demonstrated there was a need for a unified incident command system. On March 1, 2004, the DHS/FEMA issued the NIMS to provide a comprehensive national approach to incident management, applicable at all jurisdictional levels and across functional disciplines. As of that year, organizations and agencies have been required to adopt the NIMS and use it in their individual domestic incident management and emergency prevention, preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation activities. Beginning in FY 2006, federal grant funding to organizations with programs related to emergency preparedness and response have been mandated to be in compliance with the NIMS. Additionally, any independent agency that is not part of a municipality -- (including a non-profit organization) -- yet receives funding from a municipality that is mandated to be compliant, must also be compliant.(1) It is important to note that Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is supported under FEMA, and thus, requires the NIMS training for all leaders and staff that participate in the RACES program.

NYC-ARECS Commitment to Compliance

Since 2005, the DHS/FEMA recommended the promotion and encouragement of the NIMS adoption by associations, utilities, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and private sector emergency management and incident response organizations.(2) This includes, and has become the standard of practice, among other organizations providing amateur radio emergency support during an emergency.(3)

NYC-ARECS is therefore committed to being NIMS compliant like all other NGOs across the United States. In order to be NIMS compliant NYC-ARECS members participating in emergency assistance to government or private agencies, as well as in day-to-day training - which includes operating at a Public Service Events, will need to complete all four FEMA courses (IS-100, 200, 700 & 800).

NYC-ARECS Identification Cards are issued to team Members who are compliant with the NIMS training.

Educational Fulfillment & Support for Compliance

The DHS / FEMA provides an online educational program on NIMS which is available to help with implementation and initial compliance with the NIMS,(4) and that will ensure full and robust preparedness for all who participate in the program.(5) These classes can be taken as individuals or as a group. All of the study materials and testing is 100% free. Further, materials are available from the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services which is committed to providing the appropriate guidance and information necessary to assist entities in achieving compliance with the NIMS.


1) NY State Dept. of Health, National Incident Management System (NIMS) Policy Statement # 06-05 www.health.ny.gov/nysdoh/ems/policy/06-05.htm

2) FY 2009 NIMS Implementation Objectives fema.gov/pdf/emergency/nims/FY2009_NIMS_Implementation_Chart.pdf

3) Organizations such as the American Red Cross, Civil Air Patrol, CERT, NDMS DMATs, REACT, Salvation Army, and amateur radio communication organizations have all developed national and local policies to comply with the NIMS.

4) fema.gov/emergency/nims/

5) FY05 NIMS Compliance Package / NIMS Implementation letter to Federal Departments and Agencies fema.gov/txt/emergency/nims/nrp_Fed_let_090904.txt


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