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2What is the difference between NIMS and ICS? Those acronyms sometimes are used inter- changeably, albeit incorrectly, in part because some of the differences are subtle and some of the management categories are similar. Both systems have been in place and in use for 30 years or more. Both have evolved and expanded since the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 and both have been amended with the benefit of lessons learned from experience using NIMS and ICS. NIMS is an outgrowth of all-hazards planning as established during the mid 1970s and which led to the creation of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). That agency produced the Federal Response Plan (FRP). The FRP was the first step in organizing specific Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) and assigning lead and support agencies for each function, such as ESF-1 Transportation, ESF-5 Emergency Management, ESF-8 Public Health and Medical Services and so forth. State and local government departments aligned themselves to their federal counter- parts in adopting the FRP for state and local emergency planning. For nearly 10 years the FRP stood as the recommended guidelines. Newer versions of the FRP eventually followed, but the basic plan remains at the core of the later iterations: the National Response Plan (NRP) and what is currently in place, the National Response Framework (NRF) and NIMS. Also during the last decades of the 20th century, another related system was evolving: ICS. Originating out of the wild land firefighting sector as a solution for better resource management among multiple agencies and across state lines, the ICS is applicable to all manner of incident command situations. ICS essentially is an emergency services personnel management system for on-scene responders and Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) as well as for such secondary responders as public works, hospitals, and so forth. It is a flexible system that also assigns particular positions to particular functions and can be expanded as needed depending on the demands of the situation. Differentiating NIMS from ICS Some of the confusion between NIMS and ICS rests with the fact that they both are used during critical incidents or events, and they both have planning, communications, and financial functions, among other similarities in nomenclature. However, NIMS covers the full range of support and advanced planning activities that link multiple agency and jurisdictional resources to the specific support requirements of responders and of the community at large for the duration of the situation as well as during recovery. As such, it is the blueprint by which an emergency management agency and an EOC function. Conversely, ICS is a tool used by first and second responder agencies to deploy the right strategic and tactical response to handle immediate circumstances and bring them under control. ICS delineates lines of responsibility and authority, applies common terminology, and C H A P T E R 1 Making Sense of NIMS and ICS
Making Sense of NIMS and ICS 3 establishes lines of communication and control. Following are some tips for understanding the differences. NIMS Key words: resource management, support to incident commanders (IC) and command post(s) (CP), whole community, comprehensive, forward-leaning, state and federal coordination ⢠Employed when a situation indicates the need for other than regular response (not including standard mutual aid help), including resources from and communication with multiple jurisdictions, the private sector, and, sometimes, other levels of government. ⢠Utilized to help manage the whole impact of an emergency situation or event on a community and/or region over time. ⢠Directed by an emergency management official. ⢠Supports ICS. ⢠Typically implemented before, during, and after an event or disaster incident. ⢠Located away from the immediate scene. ⢠Locus of coordination across broad spectrum of organizations and activities. ⢠Representatives from key emergency services agencies are present, serving as liaisons to their respective commanders in the field. ⢠Formalized documentation between affected agency and the federal government for reim- bursement and regarding roles and responsibilities. ⢠Manages all support functions. ICS Key words: command, on-scene, immediate, tactical, short-range, common terminology ⢠Personnel management system used at the incident scene and command post by each of the respective first responder agencies and some secondary responders. ⢠Establishes single command point and defines responder responsibilities. ⢠Uses an organization matrix with common terminology and lines of communication and authority. ⢠Focuses on responding to the immediate situation and bringing it under control. ⢠Flexible; command lead can shift from one agency to another as the incident progresses through stages. ⢠Considered the gold standard for IC and control. For most airports ICS is the primary tool that they will use. NIMS-based, large-scale support nearly always will be managed from a city or county EOC, though a few airports will have the capacity to oversee support to operations from their own EOC. Regardless, airports should be familiar with NIMS and the ESFs through which help will be organized and channeled. In the event of a large-scale incident or event at the airport (or where the airport becomes a resource for the political jurisdictionâs emergency response), NIMS will be the system government sets up before, during, and in the immediate aftermath of significant events. Why NIMS and ICS Are Important At one time, whether an airport wanted to integrate NIMS into their airport emergency plans (AEP) and ICS into their personnel organizational structure for incidents was optional. Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 139 certificated airports are no longer in a position to opt out, rather, FAA requires that these airports reflect NIMS in their AEP and pursue some
4 A Guidebook for Integrating NIMS for Personnel and Resources at Airports NIMS and ICS training for their employees. Compliance with NIMS standards is a requirement for disaster preparedness funding, including any monies sought to support training. Non FAR Part 139 certificated airports also can benefit from an expanded understanding of ICS. It is difficult to argue against the logic of NIMS and ICS when considering the reality of what happens when a major incident or event occurs. By definition, a significant incident places abnormal demands on a jurisdictionâs resourcesâwhether that âjurisdictionâ is an airport, a seaport, a city, or a nuclear power plant. Airports may need to draw upon all available resources including employees from airside and landside operations, maintenance, information technology (IT), administrative, property management, and others. If only a few airport management staff members know what ICS means and how it works, coordinating a response utilizing as many available resources as possible ends up being more challenging than it needs to be. Add to that requests for aid outside the airport and a media onslaught to get information and fill the airwaves, and the situation quickly can become untenable. If, however, an airport creates a team that crosses all divisions, enables NIMS/ICS training for personnel that is pertinent to their individual roles during irregular operations and major incidents, and coordinates plans and procedures with surrounding communities that are following the same NIMS and ICS scripts, then lives and property are better protected and the airport returns more quickly and safely to normal operations. The following chapters delve more deeply into airport ICS organizational charts, training, and funding. A separate chapter that guides usage of NIMS and ICS specifically for GA airports addresses actions that are reasonable for their circumstances and environment.
