Mounted search and rescue

["Jorene Downs" <Jorene@CEOates.com>]

Cathy, all incidents nationwide are supposed to be using ICS. Therefore all 
first responders (this includes all SAR) must know how to function using 
ICS. And if it is a larger incident involving multiple jurisdictions / 
agencies, NIMS must be applied.

In 2005 NIMS compliance as a requirement specific to ICS: 
"Institutionalizing the use of the Incident Command System (ICS).  If state, 
territorial, tribal and local entities are not already using ICS, you must 
institutionalize the use of ICS (consistent with the concepts and principles 
taught by DHS) across the entire response system."
source: http://www.nimsonline.com/docs/nims_compliance_activities_fy2005.pdf

All of SAR - including MSAR - is part of the "entire response system" and 
must also be compliant. So even if there is no direct federal funding 
related to that organization, there is still a clear expectation for all to 
know and use ICS, and expand to NIMS as needed.

In a letter to all Governors from Michael Chertoff in October 2005 on 
http://www.nimsonline.com/ :
"The successful implementation of the NIMS depends on the participation and 
integration of all state, territorial and community-based organizations, 
including public, non-governmental, and private organizations that may have 
a role in preventing, preparing for, responding to, or recovering from an 
incident."

Generic SAR currently needs ICS 100 and Intro to NIMS IS-700. Supervisor 
types need ICS 200, which we see as being all Team Leaders. In 2006 SAR will 
need ICS 300 for middle management and 400 for upper management.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jorene Downs
Tulare Co SAR - Hasty Team ICP Team
www.ceoates.com/sar
Tulare-Kings CERT
www.tk-cert.org

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Cathy" <bmr@calinet.com>
> Jorene,
>
> When you say that ICS and NIMS are required for first responders does that
> include a Sheriff's Posse with no extra federal funding?  The posse I have
> recently joined say they don't have to do this.  If this is required
> regardless, I would like to know where this is documented.
>
> Funny thing is the groundpounder unit does require these but the Posse is 
> a
> separate unit and doesn't run by the same rules.
>
> Thank you,
> Cathy Blaser
>
> At 11:19 AM 12/6/2005 -0800, you wrote:
> > All first responder types in the USA are now required to have basic
> > certification in the Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident
> > Management System (NIMS). This is for all first responders (including 
> > SAR),
> > not just those responding to disaster or somehow working with FEMA. 
> > Meeting
> > this requirement has federal funding attached, and most officials will 
> > refer
> > to this as NIMS compliance.
> >
> > Online training and testing are available on FEMA's Independent Study (IS)
> > program:  http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/IS/crslist.asp
> > All are now required to be using ICS daily, at every incident. There are
> > forms online related to using ICS to document the incident, etc.
> >  http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/forms/icsforms.htm