NIMS Compliance

[FF0525]

I have been told that Il has passed a state law that made all dept's NIMS compliant. Supposedly there is a form that can be downloaded from IEMA's site to fill out and send somewhere to confirm compliance. I'm unable to locate any info on this on IEMA or FEMA's site. Does anybody have any info on this ??

[Bones42]

I'm not from IL, but what kind of law could make you NIMS compliant? There's a bunch of things required to be NIMS compliant and a lot of them have nothing to do with laws. I'd be curious and skeptical.

[Weruj1]

Bones I would guess that he is confused by the "Law" as there is none.

[jboczek]

I'd guess you should be thinking there is a law that says departments have to be NIMS compliant, not one that makes us compliant. Like Bones said, there's a bunch of things to do to be compliant and we must do them. It's only getting worse, too, as in the coming months we'll have more NIMS classes to take to keep the feds happy.

[FF0525]

The Region 8 IEMA office advised that this was only in effect last year. So this may have been a temporary measure to extend a deadline, maybe.

[ntmd8r38]

I don't think it's a law per se but someone on the your dept. has to be certified in the NIMS IS700 course by the year 2007 to be eligible for any Federal funding. You can register and take that course online.

[ChiefReason]

I don't think it's a law per se but someone on the your dept. has to be certified in the NIMS IS700 course by the year 2007 to be eligible for any Federal funding. You can register and take that course online.
And it's not just fire departments. It's your city government, your township government, police, fire, EMS, schools, your county government, your county cops.
Did I miss anyone?
CR

[THEFIRENUT]

Being NIMS Compliant goes well beyond taking the IS700 course on-line. First of all, your dept., city, county, whatever must formally adopt (in writing) NIMS. Then, anyone that has anything to do with mitigating any kind of hazard must have the on-line IS700 course. It looks like all FF must also have the ICS100 & 200 courses as well (which you may take on-line also). The ones on your dept. that will be in the position of IC will also have to have ICS300 & 400 (which must be in a classroom). This is the way that I understand it. If anyone else has their interpretation, please come forward.

[Bones42]

Did I miss anyone?
Public works.
Tow truck operators that respond to emergency incidents to remove vehicles.
Tom, Dick, and yes even Harry. ;)

[ntmd8r38]

Being NIMS Compliant goes well beyond taking the IS700 course on-line. First of all, your dept., city, county, whatever must formally adopt (in writing) NIMS. Then, anyone that has anything to do with mitigating any kind of hazard must have the on-line IS700 course. It looks like all FF must also have the ICS100 & 200 courses as well (which you may take on-line also). The ones on your dept. that will be in the position of IC will also have to have ICS300 & 400 (which must be in a classroom). This is the way that I understand it. If anyone else has their interpretation, please come forward.

looks to me like you can take 300 and 400 online

http://www.nimsonline.com/ics_training/

[KenNFD1219]

The materials for ICS-300 and 400 are online, but I do not think you can take the course online. My understanding is that ICS-300 is a 3-day class and ICS-400 is 2 days.

There are three versions of ICS 300 and 400;
National Fire Academy; designed for operational responders
Emergency Management Institute; designed for emergency management and other responders.
National Wildfire Coordinating Group; designed for wildland incidents

I believe the differences are in the exercises and scenarios used.

The NFA uses the course designations of H-465 for the ICS-300 class and H-467 for the ICS-400 class.

I'm glad that NIMS has brought this all together and cleared up any confusion over course numbering by using common terminology to describe like resources (or classes) :)

[ntmd8r38]

My Bad Ken, you're right,,you can download the text for the course but thats it. I did the 700,100 & 200 online but thats about all you can do.

# IS 100 (ICS 100) is available as an on-line or classroom delivered course. This course is currently available in Law Enforcement and Public Works specific versions, other discipline specific versions become available later.
# IS 200 (ICS 200) is available as on on-line or classroom delivered course. Discipline specific courses will be added later.
# G 300 (ICS 300) is available as a non-resident course.
# G 400 (ICS 400) is available as a non-resident course.

[gefd901]

I wrote the NIMS Integration Center (and CCd my US Representative and one of my Senators) and asked:

There is much confusion regarding just what NIMS compliance consists of. The information provided on the FEMA web site is not easily deciphered into real world situations. The chain of command in our department is as follows:

Chief
Assistant Chief
Captain
Lieutenant
Firefighter
Probationary Firefighter

Based on the FEMA requirements below, where would each of the levels of the chain of command in our department fall regarding their required level of NIMS training in order to be compliant with NIMS for FY06?

I received the following reply (also CCd to my US Representative and one of my Senators):

Chief,
Thank you for contacting the NIMS Integration Center.
The information is purposefully provided in broad terms so that you can overlay it onto your chain of command and make your training decisions accordingly.
If I may suggest a possible training regimen that is based on your chain of command:
Entry Level
.. FEMA IS-700: NIMS, An Introduction
.. ICS-100: Introduction to ICS or equivalent
Firefighter
Probationary Firefighter

First Line, Single Resource, Field Supervisors
.. IS-700, ICS-100 and ICS-200: Basic ICS or its equivalent
Lieutenant

Middle Management: Strike Team Leaders, Division Supervisors, EOC Staff, etc.
.. IS-700, IS-800 NRP, ICS-100, ICS-200 and in FY07, ICS-300
Captain

Command and General Staff; Area, Emergency and EOC Managers
.. IS-700, IS-800, ICS-100, ICS-200 and in FY07, ICS-300 and ICS-400
Chief
Assistant Chief

IS-800 is meant for those who will interface with Federal individuals during a multi-jurisdiction, multi-agency, multi-discipline response scenario.
And do not be afraid to train up too. A Captain may be called upon to assume a role in the step above him/her and so too might a Lieutenant.
The bottomline is communication. How can emergency professionals from all over the county, State and nation come together and seamlessly, efficiently and effectively respond to the aforementioned response scenario? NIMS and its inherent ICS component provide this common command structure and response doctrine.
All FY06 courses can be taken online. They are located at: http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/crslist.asp For the ICS-300 and 400 courses that are necessary for FY07 compliance, they are handled through each State. Contact your State Emergency Management Agency to find out where and when these courses will be available.
I hope I have answered your questions. Please feel free to contact me again if you have more NIMS-related questions or concerns.
Regards,
Paul F. Ganem
NIMS Integration Center
What's NEW at the NIC: www.fema.gov/nims

[ntmd8r38]

Great info, Thanks!

[achief15]

I am usually up on this stuff, but I can't seem to find what percentage of our members have to be NIMS compliant (at least 100 and 700) by the end of September. Anyone have the right answer? I have 4 new recruits that can not fit the NIMS training in just yet. They are just beginning their introduction to the department. Does my question even make sense?

[achief15]

My sincere apologies to you guys. I did not even think this was the Illinois forum when I posted. Sorry. (But I still need an answer if you want to help)

[KenNFD1219]

Chief:

I think I know what you mean. NIMS training is on-going as new members join the department. I'm pretty sure you are safe in training the new guys in NIMS as soon as thay are ready, even if it is a few months past the deadline. It's not like the NIMS police are going to show up at fire stations around the country on October 1 :D

My understanding is, at least for this federal fiscal year, that organizations taken as a whole will meet NIMS requirements. This gives a little wiggle room for people who are in training during the deadline.

[firepics]

If you DON'T do the NIMS training, all you are giving up is federal grant money? :confused:

[MrJim911]

And it's not just fire departments. It's your city government, your township government, police, fire, EMS, schools, your county government, your county cops.
Did I miss anyone?
CR

Dispatchers must also take the 100 and 700 classes.

[Weruj1]

Just had to take IS-703 .............UGH ............debating about #400 now.

[mess803]

I am Assistant Chief of Operations for the Metropolitan Emergency Support Service (MESS) We also have to be NIMS certified. 100, 200, 700 & 800

We are a canteen service in Lake County and Northern Cook County IL
We are dispatched to scenes through the MABAS box alarm system, or are called in special by many departments in the area.

Most of our members are not firefighters. The information in the NIMS program is valuable in that it helps teach our members the importance of the Command Structure.

Our website address is www.1800getmess.org

[bjlffire]

gefdp01:

How long did it take to get a reply from the CENTER?

[mess803]

If you mean, how long did it take to get a reply from the NIMS center -
sometimes it was the same day, sometimes it took up to 5 days. The ones that took the longest was when I did the test on Thursday or Friday. When I took the test on Monday, I got it back the same day. Some of the responses went to the spam folder, but most did not.

[bobsnyder]

If you DON'T do the NIMS training, all you are giving up is federal grant money? :confused:

Yea, but before you fluff this off, you'd best watch yourself...if your operation could be considered part of your municipal government in any way, then any NIMS audit done of your municipality because they got federal money can extend to you. Imagine what happens to you and your department's regular funding or permits to fundraise if your municipality were to, for example, lose all of their federal roadway funding or a bunch of law enforcement grants because you didn't have your people sit through a few online courses. I think I know what happens.

"Just do it" is more than an old advertising slogan...it's the best advice anyone can give you.

[mess803]

There is a lot more to the NIMS program than just the opportunity to get federal monies. Go on their site and read some of the upcoming situations that will be occuring through homeland security. You can loose a lot by not being NIMS compliant.

[firepics]

Yea, but before you fluff this off, you'd best watch yourself...if your operation could be considered part of your municipal government in any way, then any NIMS audit done of your municipality because they got federal money can extend to you. Imagine what happens to you and your department's regular funding or permits to fundraise if your municipality were to, for example, lose all of their federal roadway funding or a bunch of law enforcement grants because you didn't have your people sit through a few online courses. I think I know what happens.

But, if our town government DOESN'T adopt the NIMS and we as a FD are compliant, am I understanding this correctly: We wouldn't get the federal grants anyway, right? :confused:

[mess803]

I'm not sure, but I can check into it and get back to you. We are not part of government. We are privately owned.

[mess803]

I never found anything that says what will happen if the towns do not comply. However, i did find a few sites you might want to check out for more information.

State & Territorial Compliance Activities
www.ortivusna.com/documents/nims%20state%20 compliance%20activities.pdf

State of IL National Incident Management System Implementation plan
www.iml.org/dbs/nims

Also check out the Presidential Directive HSPD-5 (i found it by typing it into the search area

Hope this is helpful.