FEMA to Update National Incident Management System Training Plan

The Five-Year NIMS Training Plan, originally released February 2008 is being revised. The comment period for the new National Incident Management System Training Plan ended February 22, several hundred comments have been adjudicated, and just last week the document was transmitted up to FEMA Deputy Administrator Manning, according to the Emergency Management Institute. Final release is likely just weeks away - without new obstacles. Access the The NIMS Training Plan (Draft) at www.regulations.gov, Docket # FEMA-2009-0012.

The document has received a fundamental rewrite and is actually ~10% shorter, with a bit less background. For instance the figure at bottom-left (Operational Foundation for NIMS Training and Personnel Qualification Guidelines, from the Five-Year NIMS Training Plan) has been dropped.

Why is this important for Vashon preparedness efforts? Because this outlines what NIMS training each of us should have in our roles as Single Resource Leader, Unit Leader, Branch Director, Section Chief or Incident Commander.

Many Vashon volunteers attended ICS-100a and ICS-700 courses taught at VIFR’s Penny Farcy building back about January 2009. A few of us are also looking at attending ICS-300 and ICS-400 training this year.

Everyone should look at the chart to the right and decide what courses apply to your position/role. We currently recommend that everyone active in the EOC or other leadership positions at least take the free, online courses at IS-100.b - Introduction to Incident Command System, ICS-100 and IS-700.a NIMS An Introduction. These courses will provide a common understanding of concepts and terminology that can streamline communications wit each other, with professionals in the field and - in a major (class II or I) incident, with outside agencies.

In addition, this document outlines the training required for credentialing:  “In addition to delineating responsibilities and actions, the NIMS Training Plan defines the process for developing training and personnel qualification requirements for emergency management/response personnel.” (Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 13 / Thursday, January 20, 2011, page 3648)