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msar-riders - Re: [MSAR] NIMS compliance / FEMA

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  • From: "Jorene Downs" <Jorene@CEOates.com>
  • To: "Mounted search and rescue" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [MSAR] NIMS compliance / FEMA
  • Date: Wed, 7 Dec 2005 14:39:33 -0800

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






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