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Released in March 2004, the National Incident Management System (NIMS) outlines a standardized approach to domestic incident management and response. Developed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), NIMS establishes a set of processes and procedures that responders at all levels of government will use in emergecies.

Fully implemented, NIMS should enable responders at the federal, state, local, and tribal levels to work together more effectively and efficiently to manage all types of domestic emergencies.

While the current NIMS document provides the overarching structure for this system, many specifics are being developed and will be released by DHS over time.

When complete, NIMS will comprise the following:

standardized organizational structures, processes, and procedures;
standards for planning, training, and exercising;
personnel qualification standards;
equipment acquistion and certification standards;
interoperable communications processes, procedures, and systems;
information management systems with a commonly accepted architecture;
supporting technologies—voice and data communications systems, information systems, data display systems, specialized technologies;
publication management processes and activities.

NACCHO staff and members actively provide DHS with input and feedback on NIMS. NACCHO's Public Health Preparedness Essential Services Committee has also established a NIMS workgroup to identify and develop useful tools for NIMS implementation at local health departments.

Continue to visit this site for news and updates.

NIMS UPDATE

	The revision of the National Incident Management System document is complete; it is currently under review by those charged with the task in the Department of Homeland Security. While it was originally hoped that it might be published on June 1, 2007, that did not happen. Nonetheless, the publication of the revised document is expected in the very near future. We will inform you and make it available as soon as that happens.

PRODUCTS INCLUDE

»	Managing Public Health Activities Using the Incident Management System
	The ICS/IMS one-day training enables public health participants to learn about ICS/IMS and the role of public health agencies in incident management and emergency response activities. The content of this training has been condensed into a Student Guide and CD-Rom titled "Managing Public Health Activities Using the Incident Management System." More »

»	Making Sense of the National Incident Management Systems for Public Health Agencies
	In this CD-ROM presentation, you will learn the basics of NIMS and related DHS and Department of Health and Human Services initiatives. The presentation focuses on practical, "take-home" information for lacal and state public health personnel seeking to learn more about NIMS and NIMS compliance in the future. More »