HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005.01.24_City Council_Memorandum
MEMORANDUM
TO:
HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL
CITYOFOWASSO
FROM:
LARRY WHITE
SUPPORT SERVICES DIRECTOR
SUBJECT:
TWO LEGISLATIVE BILLS REGARDING
STATE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND
STATEWIDE MUTUAL AID
DATE:
JANUARY 24,2005
BACKGROUND:
Title 63 O.S. 2003, Section 683.2 is presently in the process of being amended. Once this
bill passes, it will establish that a standard statewide system for handling both disasters
and emergencies occurring in Oklahoma.
This system will be known as "THE NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM (NIMS)".
The amended Section will read as follows:
"The National Incident Management System (NIMS) shall be the standard for
incident management in the State of Oklahoma. All on-scene management of
disasters and emergencies shall be conducted using the Incident Command System
(ICS)."
There is a big push by the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management to get this
bill passed and signed into law and it should pass in 2005. All cities and towns will have
to comply with this system or else they will not be eligible for future federal funding.
Although compliance will be mandatory, it may be 2006 before it all falls into place and a
city must comply.
This is "federalizing" the incident command system that is already established. The
federal govemment wants this national system to be in place in the entire United States so
that all govemmental agencies are on the same page when dealing with a disaster
situation. It allows for any agency that assists, aids, takes over jurisdiction, etc to know
how the management of the event will happen. While many agencies or cities use the
incident command system already, many do not or only use it in a major event. With the
federalizing of this system everyone will know "Who" is in charge of the event as there
will only be "One" Incident Commander. The Incident Commander will change as the
event changes insofar as which department or agency has the primary responsibility for
the scene as the event develops.
STATE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
There is now a National Requirement to use the National Incident Management System
(NIMS).
State and territory level efforts to implement the NIMS must include the following:
@ 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
@ Incorporating NIMS into Emergency Operations Plans (EOP)
ill Promotion of intrastate mutual aid agreements
ill Coordinating and providing technical assistance to local entities regarding NIMS
ill Institutionalizing the use of the Incident Command System (ICS)
State, territorial, tribal, and local levels jurisdictions should support NIMS implementation
by:
@ Completing the NIMS Awareness Course: "National Incident Management
System (NIMS), An Introduction" (IS 700)
ill Formally recognizing the NIMS and adopting the NIMS principles and policies
ill Establishing a NIMS baseline by determining which NIMS requirements are
already met
@ Establishing a timeframe and developing a strategy for full NIMS implementation
@ Institutionalizing the use of the Incident Command System (ICS)
The State Department of Emergency Management is implementing an overview awareness
course (approximately 2-3 hours in length) designed for top officials of the cities and
towns in the state. The required overview course mentioned above is a 3 hour course,
consisting of a 2 Yz hour PowerPoint presentation with a 30 to 45 minute test. This course
is designed for all elected officials, city managers, department directors and their deputy
directors, etc. The State will provide this course free of charge. If desired, the course
could possibly be completed at a City Council Work Session
In addition to the overview course it would be recommended all department directors and
department supervisors attend Incident Management Training (if they are not already
celiified in it or have not taken the course that the federal govemment has celiified).
Additional training would include the first responders. The state is working on what
training will be mandated for first responders and it should be determined soon.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff would recommend that all city councilors, city manager, assistant city manager, all
department directors and any deputy directors or chiefs attend the overview awareness
course.
ATTACHMENT:
1. Letter from Albert Ashwood, Director of Oklahoma's Department of Emergency
Management, dated October 29,2004
ALBERT ASHWOOD
STATE DIRECTOR
BRAD HENRY
GOVERNOR
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
October 29,2004
To aU Local Emergency Managers. First Responders and State Liaison Officers
Subject: National Requirement to use the National Incident Management System (NIMS)
Homeland Security (HLS) Secretary Tom Ridge provided guidance in his September 8, 2004
letter (attached) to all states, tribes and local govemments on how to adopt the National Incident
Management Systel11 (NIMS) per the Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)-5.
The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) met with State officials from the
Department of Public Safety (DPS), Depmiment of Health (DOH), Oklahoma Office of
Homeland Security (OKOHS) and Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training Center
(OSU-FST) to determine how best to accomplish the Presidential requirements.
DOH, thru its Tenorism Preparedness and Response program, has trained numerous first
responders throughout the state in the Incident Command System (ICS) and NIMS. DPS is
working to provide both ICS and NIMS in the CLEET program and localized law enforcement
training. OSU-FST is introducing NIMS training as part of the existing ICS cuniculum and
plans to offer expanded web based training along with existing localized training. OKOHS is
working on issues to better inform the public ofthe NIMS requirement.
OEM will provide assistance in several ways.
First, we encourage all emergency managers and first responders to take the FEMA web based
Independent Study Courses listed below. All full time employees at OEM are required to take
the training.
IS-700 National Incident Management System (NIMS)
http://tra ining. fema .goY/EM IW ebll S/is 700 .asQ
IS-1 Introduction to the Incident Command System
http://training~is100.asQ
IS-195 Basic Incident Command System
!J11p:/ltrainingJema.goY/EM IW ebllS/is 1 95.asQ
IS-200 Basic Incident Command System
http://train ing. fema .goY/EM IW ebll 8/is200 .asp
P.O. BOX 53365*OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73152.3365*2401 NORTH LINCOLN (Will Rogers Building TuuueI)*OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73105*405-521-248I*FAX 405.521.4053
NIMS letter dated October 29, 2004
Second, we encourage each local emergency manager to work with his/her city and/or county
officials to develop an ordinance or resolution adopting NIMS as the jurisdiction's system of
incident management. HLS has provided a sample executive order (attached).
Third, OEM will provide NIMS and ICS training during the five OEM Regional Workshops in
the Spring of 2005 and the Fall 2005 Oklahoma Emergency Management Conference in Tulsa.
These are in addition to the recommended FEMA independent study courses.
Fourth, we encourage each jurisdiction to incorporate NIMS and ICS into it's Emergency
Operations Plan (EOP). This can be done by attaching a cover letter to the plan and/or adding
the changes directly to this year's (FFY 05) update.
We recommend that the following be inserted in the basic plan and put to practice in the
jurisdiction:
"In accordance with the Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 5, all agencies,
departments and organizations having responsibilities delineated in this EOP will use the
National Incident Management System (NIMS). This system will allow proper
coordination between local, state and federal organizations.
The Incident Command System (ICS), as a part of NIMS, will enable effective and
efficient incident management by integrating a combination of facilities, equipment,
personnel, procedures, and communications operating with a common organizational
stmcture.
All on-scene management of an emergency or disaster will be conducted using the
Incident Command System."
As emergency managers, our job is to "facilitate and coordinate" resources to provide our
citizens with an effective and efficient response. We must insure that our law enforcement
departments, fire depmiments, public works departments, emergency medical services, public
health professionals and all other responders and volunteers understand and use NIMS and ICS.
This will insure that our response to disaster, whether in Oklahoma or assisting our neighbor
states, will allow our citizens to quickly recover from disaster and return to their nOlmallives.
Your assistance and pmiicipation in making NIMS work is appreciated. We will provide updates
and more information as it is received or developed.
Sincerely,
ALBERT ASHWUOD
Director
Attachments
Secretary
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528
Homeland
Security
September 8, 2004
Dear Governor:
In Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)~5, Management of Domestic
Incidents, the President directed me to develop and administer the National Incident
Management System (NIMS). The NIMS provides a consistent nationwide approach for
Federal, State I , territorial, tribal, and local2govemments to work effectively and .
efficiently together to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from domestic
incidents, regardless of cause, size, or complexity. On March 1, 2004, the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) issued the NIMS to provide a comprehensive national
approach to incident management, applicable at all jurisdictional levels and across
functional disciplines. HSPD-5 also required DHS to establish a mechanism for ongoing
coordination to provide strategic direction for, and oversight of, the NIMS. To this end,
the NIMS Integration Center (NIC) was established to support both routine maintenance
and the continuous refinement of the NIMS.
AU Federal departments and agencies are required to adopt the NIMS and use it in their
individual domestic incident management and emergency prevention, preparedness,
response, recovery, and mitigation activities, as well as in support of all actions taken to
assist State or local entities. The NIC is working with Federal departments and agencies
to ensure that they develop a plan to adopt NIMS and that an fiscal year (FY) 2005
Federal preparedness assistance program documents begin the process of addressing
State, territorial, tribal, and local NIMS implementation.
This letter outlines the important steps that State, territorial, tribal, and local entities
should take during FY 2005 (October 1. 2004- September 30. 2005) to become compliant
with the NIMS.
The NIMSprovides the framework for locals, tribes, territories, States, and the Federal
Government to work together to respond to any domestic incident. Many of the NIMS
requirements are specific to local jurisdictions. In order for NIMS to be implemented
· As defined in tile Humeland Security Act of2002, the term "State" ~ans ~!lY Stille oitlle United StllleS. ;he District ofColumbi~.
the Commonwealth ofPuelio Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Isiands, and allY possession
oHlle United StIltes." 6 U.S.c. 10 I (14)
, As. defined in the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Section 2(10): the term "local government" means "(A) county, municipality, city,
town, township, local public autllority. school district, special district, intrastate district, council of governments... regional or
interstate govemmel1! entity. or agency or instrumentality of a local government: an Indian tribe or lluthorized tribal organi7.8ti,,,,, or ill
Alaska a Native village or Alaska Regional Native Corporation; and a meal community, unincorporated town or village, or other
public entity." 6 U.S.c. 101(10)
successfully across the nation, it is critical that States provide support and leadership to
tribal and local entities to ensure full NIMS implementation. Weare looking to you and
your State Administrative Agency (SM) to coordinate with the State agencies, tribal
governments, and local jurisdictions to ensure NIMS implementation. Given the
importance and urgency of this effort, Federal, State, territorial, tribal, and local entities
should begin efforts to implement the NIMS, if such efforts are not already underway.
Implementation of and compliance with the NIMS is critical to ensuring full and robust
preparedness across our nation. HSPD-5 established ambitious deadlines for NIMS
adoption and implementation. FY 2005 is a start up year for NIMS implementation and
full compliance with the NIMS is not required for you to receive FY 2005 grant funds.
Since FY 2005 is Ii critical year for initial NIMS adoption, you should start now by
prioritizing your FY 2005 preparedness assistance (in accordance with the eligibility and
allowable uses of the grant) to facilitate its implementation. The NIC is working with the
Federal departments and agencies to identify all of preparedness assistance programs.
The NIC will then provide this infonnation to the States, territories, tribes, and local
governments.
To the maximum extent possible, States, territories, tribes, and local entities are
encouraged to achieve full NIMS implementation and institutionalization across the
entire response system during FY 2005. This memorandum highlights the important
features ofNIMS implementation that should receive special emphasis in FY 2005, but
does not represent aU ofthe actions necessary to fully implement the NIMS.
The NIMS is the nation's first~ever standardized approach to incident management and
response. The NIMS unifies Federal, State, territorial, tribal, and local lines of
government into one coordinated effort. This integrated system makes America safer by
establishing a uniform set of processes, protocols, and procedures that aU emergency
responders, at every level of government, will use to conduct response actions. This
system ensures that those involved in emergency response operations understand what
their roles are and have the tools they need to be effective.
This system encompasses much more than the Incident Command System (ICS),
although ICS is a critical component of the NIMS. It also provides 11 com.ri1on foundation
for training and other preparedness efforts, communicating and sharing information with
other responders and with the public, ordering resources to aSsist with a response effort,
and for integrating new technologies and standards to support incident management. For
the first time, all of the nation's emergency responders will use a common language, and
a common set of procedures when working individually .and together to keep America
safe. The NIMS ensures that they will have the same preparation, the same goals and
expectations, and most importantly, they will be speaking the same language.
Minimum FY 2005 NIMS Compliance Requirements:
State and territory level efforts to implement the NIMS must include the following:
<I> Incorporating NIMS into existing training programs and exercises
<I> 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)
<I> Incorporating NIMS into Emergency Operations Plans (EOP)
<I> Promotion of intrastate mutual aid agreements
.. Coordinating and providing technical assistance to local entities regarding
NIMS
.. Institutionalizing the use of the Inddent CommlIDd System (lCS)
At the State, territorial, tribal, and local levels, jurisdictions should support NIMS
implementation by:
.. Completing the NIMS Awareness Course: "Natioual Incident Mauagement
System (NIMS), An Introduction" (IS 700)
This independent study course developed by the Emergency Management Institute (EMI)
explains the purpose, principles, key components, and benefits ofNIMS. The course also
contains "Planning Activity" screens, allowing participants an opportunity to complete
some planning tasks during the course. The planning activity screens are printable so that
they can be used after the course is complete. The course is available on-line and will
take between f0l1y-five minutes to three hours to complete. The course is available on
the EMI web page at: http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is700.asp.
.. Formally recognizing the NIMS and adopting the NIMS principles and policies
States, territories, tribes, and local entities should establish legislation, executive orders,
resolutions, or ordinances to formally adopt the NIMS. The NIC will provide sample
language and templates to assist you in founally adopting the NIMS through legislative
and/or executive/administrative means.
.. Establish a NIMS baseline by determining which NIMS requirements you
already meet
We recognize that State, territorial, tribal, and local entities have already implemented
many of the concepts and protocols identified in the NlMS. The 2004 DHS Homeland
Security Grant Program encouraged grantees to begin utilizing the NIMS concepts,
principles, terminology, and technologies. TIle NIC is developing the NIMS Capability
Assessment Support Tool (NIMCAST), The NIMCAST is a web-based self-assessment
system that States, territories, tribes, and local governments can use to evaluate their
incident response and management capabilities. This useful tool identifies the
requirements established within the NIMS and can assist you in determining the extent to
which you are already compliant, as well as identify the NIMS requirements that you are
not currently meeting. As gaps in compliance with the NlMS are identified, States,
territories, tribes, and local entities should use existing initiatives, such as the Office for
Domestic Preparedness (ODP) Homeland Security grant programs, to develop strategies
for addressing those gaps. The NIC will formally pilot the NIMCAST witl1a limited
number of States in September. Upon completion ofthe pilot, theNIC will provide all
potential future users with voluntary access to the system. Additional information about
the NIMCAST tool will be provided later this year.
.. Establishing a timeframe and developing a strategy for full. NIMS
implementation
States, territories, tribes, and local entities are encouraged to achieve full NIMS
implementation during FY 2005. To the extent that full implementation is not possible
during FY 2005, Federal preparedness assistance must be leveraged to complete NIMS
implementation by FY 2006. By FY 2007, Federal preparedness assistance will be
conditioned by full compliance with the NIMS. Again. in order for NIMS to be
implemented successfully across the nation, it is critical that States provide support and
leadership to tribal and local entities to ensure fun NIMS implementation. States should
work with the tribal and local governments to develop a strategy for statewide
compliance with the NIMS.
$ Institutionalizing the use of the Incident Command System (lCS)
If State, territorial, tribal, and local entities are not already using ICS, you must
institutionalize the use ofICS (consistent with the concepts and principles taught by
DHS) across the entire response system. The 9/11 Commission Report recommended
national adoption of the Incident Command System (lCS) to enhance command, control,
and communications capabilities. AU Federal, State, territory, tribal, and local
jurisdictions will be required to adopt ICS in order to be compliant with the NIMS.
Additional information about adopting ICS will be provided to you by the NIc.
FY 2006 and FY 2001Requirements:
In order to receive FY 2006 preparedness funding, the minimum FY 2005 compliance
requirements described above must be met. Applicants will be required to certify as part
of their FY 2006 grant applications that they have met the FY 2005 NIMS requirements.
Additional information aboutNIMS compliance and resources for achieving compliance
will be forthcoming from the NIC. In addition, FY 2005 Federal preparedness assistance
program documents will address State and local NIMS compliance. The NIC web page,
www.fema.gov~, will be updated regularly with information about the NIMS and
guidance for implementation. The NIC may be contacted atthe following:
DESIGNATION OF THE NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (NIMS)
AS THE BASIS FOR ALL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT IN THE CITY/COUNTY
WHEREAS, the President in Homeland Security Directive (HSPD)-5, directed the SecretalY of
the Department of Homeland Security to develop and administer a National Incident
Management System (NIMS), which would provide a consistent nationwide approach for
Federal, State, local, and tribal governments to work together more effectively and efficiently to
prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size,
or complexity;
WHEREAS, the collective input and guidance from all Federal, State, local, and tribal homeland
security pminers has been, and will continue to be, vital to the development, effective
implementation and utilization of a comprehensive NIMS;
WHEREAS, it is necessary and desirable that all Federal, State, local, and tribal emergency
agencies and personnel coordinate their efforts to effectively and efficiently provide the highest
levels of incident management;
WHEREAS, to facilitate the most efficient and effective incident management it is critical that
Federal, State, local, and tribal organizations utilize standardized terminology, standardized
organizational structures, interoperable communications, consolidated action plans, unified
command structures, uniform personnel qualification standards, uniform standards for planning,
training, and exercising, comprehensive resource management, and designated incident facilities
during emergencies or disasters;
WHEREAS, the NIMS standardized procedures for managing personnel, communications,
facilities and resources will improve the City/County's to utilize federal funding to enhance local
and state agency readiness, maintain first responder safety, and streamline incident management
processes.
WHEREAS, the Incident Command System components ofNlMS are already an integral part of
various incident management activities throughout the City/County, including cunent emergency
management training programs; and
WHEREAS, the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks (9-11 Commission) recommended
adoption of a standardized Incident Command System;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ,Mayor/Council! Board of Commissioners for the
City/County by the virtue of the authority vested in me by the Laws of the
City/County do hereby establish the National Interagency Incident
Management System (N1MS) as the City/County standard for incident management.
GIVEN under my hand and the Privy Seal of
The City/County
This day in the year
Two Thousand and Four.
BY THE Mayor/CounciVBoard of Commissioners
/s/
/s/
Secretary to the Mayor/CounciVBoard of Commissioners
li..;..;
Gil Jamieson, Acting Director
NTMS Integration Center
500 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20472
(202) 646-3850
NIMS-Intcgration-Center@dhs.gov
web page: www.fema.gov/nims
Thank you for your support in implementing the NlMS. I look forward to continuing our
collective efforts to better secure the homeland and protect our citizens and appreciate all
of your hard work in this important endeavor.
Sincerely,
~~#
Tom Ridge
cc: State Administrative Agency
State Emergency Management Director
State Homeland Security Advisor
DHS Directorates and Offices
Homeland Security Advisory Council