NIMS for ERT Teams

[williamsryan]

I am a LT with the local Municipal FD and we are all being mandated to take a few of the NIMS courses. I am also a supervisor for the Emergency Services Department at my facility and was wondering if we have to take these classes also? I know it would be a good idea since we already have a command post and ICS established when the local FD and EMS arrives. Want to see what everyone eles' opinions are on the matter. Thanks!

[SWLAFireDawg]

Our ERS (Emergency Response Specialist) and Command Personnel do take ICS classes, and some are starting to take the NIMS. As of yet, however, there has been no mandate. We do not actually give mutual aid to municipal departments usually. If we need them for a large interior operation, we let them have complete control and they use their personnell and equipment. Our mutual ad partners still use the same ICS as we do.

For the most part I have not seen that it is that much different from the old ICS based system we use now. Everything structures the same, and we never did use "10 codes" or any other unique terminology.

I am not in the "leadership" of my ERT, so thee mey be changes coming that I am unaware of. Presently, we do not have to take NIMS. But we do on the municipal volie dept.

[KenNFD1219]

You are considered a non-government organization (NGO). The NIMS mandates are required for federal, state, tribal, and local governments. Governments are encouraged to assist and encourage NGO's in NIMS compliance.

Sounds like you are heading in the right direction with ICS.

Remember, there is a whole lot more to NIMS compliance than a few ICS classes:

Local Governments/Jurisdictions Compliance Requirements (http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/compliance/assist_local.shtm)

[superchef]

deleted by user

[NukeFire10]

Even though we are considered a NGO, I still reccomend to all of our people (Fire Brigade) here to take the NIMS IS-700 Course on the FEMA Website. I use most of their material in my ICS classes also. I just feel that it never hurts to go the extra mile and just incorporate the materials into your programs anyway. After all, it is just a matter of time before we all will need to do it too and when we work with our outside FD partners from the local communities it makes the transition a whole lot smoother.

[jpfcyro]

all of our members have to take the ICS/NIMS 100 & 700, officers take the 300 as well. we are concidering taking others as the situation arises.