Frequently Asked Questions
Resource Management and Credentialing
Resource Typing
Q: What is resource typing?
A: Resource typing is the categorization and description of response resources that are commonly exchanged in disasters through mutual aid agreements. The National Integration Center (NIC) Incident Management Systems Division has developed and published 120 Resource Typing Definitions. The Center is continuing resource typing work and has established new working groups for the ongoing initiative. Resource typing definitions can give emergency responders the information they need to make sure they request and receive the appropriate resources during an emergency or disaster. Ordering resources, which have been typed using these definitions, make the resource request and dispatch process more accurate and efficient. In FY 2006, State, territorial, tribal and local jurisdictions were required to type their inventory response assets to conform to NIMS Resource Typing standards.
Q: What is the purpose of resource typing?
A: Resource typing enhances emergency readiness and response at all levels of government through a system that allows an already overwhelmed jurisdiction to augment its response resources during an incident. Standard resource typing definitions help responders request and deploy the resources they need through the use of common terminology. They allow emergency management personnel to identify, locate, request, order and track outside resources quickly and effectively and facilitate the movement of these resources to the jurisdiction that needs them.
Q: Is resource typing part of NIMS?
A: Yes. Resource typing is an important part of resource management, which is one of the six components of the National Incident Management System. The only standard for Resource Typing is contained in Appendix B to the NIMS. However, the Appendix does not provide the detailed guidance for some one to produce nationally consistent resource definitions. Therefore, the NIC is developing resource typing definitions, which are then offered for national comment. The role of the NIC is to establish interoperability of resources through consensus definition for teams and equipment, and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities for individuals and team members. The NIC is working to identify a suitable Automated Resource Management System (ARMS) that could be provided to the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (State and local inventorying and ordering) to make locating, ordering and use of National Resources more efficient than the current system of emails, faxes and phone calls.
Q: Specifically, what constitutes NIMS resource management compliance by the September 30, 2006, deadline? My state agency has invested in a resource-tracking system, which is organized by the NIMS typing categories. The underlying database is not populated and will not be fully populated by the September deadline. Our agency is working with other state and local partners to identify and define our existing resources, but this process takes time. The resulting data will be compared with national typing standards to organize our resource pool. Currently, the system itself is fully functional with rich search capabilities and communications links. Will this meet the requirements of the September compliance deadline?
A: The 2006 requirement was to inventory state resources consistent with the typed resources located on the NIMS Web page at www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/mutual_aid.shtm. This will be an ongoing effort and will require continual updates.
Q: Has the NIMS Center developed any products?
A: FEMA and the National Integration Center (NIC) Incident Management Systems Division recently released the National Mutual Aid Glossary of Terms and Definitions and the Resource Typing Definitions for 120 different kinds of resources. The 120 resources were identified by groups of federal, state and local representatives as the most commonly requested and exchanged resources during significant disasters and emergencies. These products provide a foundation for facilitating the use of common terminology while enhancing mutual aid across the country. They can be accessed at www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/mutual_aid.shtm.
Q: Are the resource typing groups still working on defining critical response assets?
A: Yes. Eight working groups have been formed by the National Integration Center (NIC) Incident Management Systems Division to develop and refine definitions for critical response assets. The working groups include Animal Health, Emergency Management, Emergency Medical Services, Fire & Hazmat, Health & Medical, Law Enforcement, Public Works and Search and Rescue. The initiative will expand to include additional discipline groups if the need arises. Resources are being revised on an as-needed basis as errors or updates are recognized by the NIMS Center and stakeholders. Adjustments will be made to the current 120 typed definitions as capabilities and capacities improve and additional resources will be typed as they are identified by stakeholders.
Q: I read with interest your statement that independently developed typing systems are not compliant with NIMS. What about DHS's Prepositioned Equipment Program, ODP's Authorized Equipment List (AEL), and the Standardized Equipment List (SEL), which use nomenclatures not common with resource typing.
A: The National Integration Center (NIC) Incident Management Systems Division, has been leading a national resource typing effort for several years to identify resources that are especially valuable for mutual aid in disasters. However with the focus on NIMS compliance, many state and local governments are revisiting the resource typing definitions. In some cases, when it seems that the existing definitions don't fit their resources, they are initiating new resource typing efforts. This really defeats the purpose of common resource typing definitions that are essential in mutual aid operations in disasters. The current 120 resource typing definitions were created to reflect the resources that are most commonly exchanged via mutual aid during a disaster, not resources for routine day-to-day emergency response operations. Additionally, the resource typing definitions are not meant to be an exhaustive list of every resource that the federal, state, or local government might have, just the ones most likely to be used in Inter-State mutual aid during major disasters.
The NIC is working with the DHS Office of Grants and Training to review the efforts of the Target Capabilities Working Groups to determine which resources they want to add to the list of 120 Resources typed by the NIC. The NIC will continue to work with the DHS Office of Grants and Training to refine these definitions, create new definitions and look at what changes may need to be made to other documents (such as the equipment lists). The NIC will meet with the Resource Typing Working Groups on a quarterly basis to review and address the suggestions and issues that are raised through this process. For more information about the NIMS Resource Typing initiative see www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/mutual_aid.shtm.
Q: Who certifies that a resource meets the national standard and that personnel are credentialed to fill a role?
A: The State or local agency conducting the inventory uses the 120 typed resources issued by the NIC and compares the definitions with the equipment/teams that exist in the jurisdiction. If a resource matches a definition on the list of the 120 typed resources then that resource must be included in the State or local inventory. Since there are currently no position specific credentialing definitions, the jurisdiction must ensure that the training etc specified in the Typing definition is met by all personnel attached to a team. In general, the typing lists training and education qualifications that are routinely required through out the country.
Q: Who maintains the inventory, state or the NIC or both?
A: Inventories are maintained by State and local governments. The NIC is not operational and does not intend to be a resource ordering point for the nation.
Q: We know that NIMS emphasizes resource management and resource typing. Does that mean we are supposed to do our own resource typing, or what?
A: No, you should not start 'typing' your resources. Communities and jurisdictions should begin to use the resource typing definitions to describe and inventory their resources using the Resource Typing Definitions that are listed on the NIC website www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/mutual_aid.shtm
State and local jurisdictions may use DHS Homeland Security grant funds to create or update an inventory of their resources in accordance with the 120 Resource Typing Definitions.
Resource Credentialing
Q: What is the status of the credentialing initiative?
A: In Fy 2007, the NIC will facilitate the 5 existing discipline groups (EMS, SAR, Public Works, Incident Management and Fire/Hazmat), and 3 new groups (Law Enforcement, Health & Medical, and Animal Control). Additional credentialing efforts are being supported by the NIC through technical consultation and advice to various groups. This includes Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Public Health, National Emergency Number Association (NENA)/Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO), and the DHS Office of Grants and Training Target Capabilities List Working Groups. Additionally, the DHS Science and Technology Directorate and the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) are working to establish a working group to extend the FIPS-201 SmartCard standard to address more than identity vetting by specifying the storage allocation of data features, data structures and essential information such as affiliations, qualifications etc. to ensure the various FIPS-201 implementations will be interoperable nationally. Finally the universal business processes for the credentialing system will be developed covering the selection of accrediting agencies, selection of persons to be credentialed, selection of level of badging persons required by discipline, and the authentication of issued cards.
Q: The NIMS document mentions a credentialing system tied to training and certification standards. Is there a national credentialing system in place that we need to follow?
A: The development of a nationwide credentialing system is a fundamental component of NIMS. A national credentialing system can document minimum professional qualifications, certifications, training and education requirements that define baseline criteria expected of emergency response professionals and volunteers for deployment as mutual aid to disasters. While such a system is meant to verify the identity and qualifications of emergency responders, it does not provide automatic access to an incident site. The credentialing system can help prevent unauthorized, i.e., self-dispatched or unqualified personnel, access to an incident site. To support this credentialing initiative, the Center will use working groups to identify positions that should be credentialed and the minimum qualification, certification, training and education requirements for each position. The groups will represent the following disciplines:
In addition to these NIC discipline groups the NIC is working with other organizations to assist their development of credentialing for their disciplines, such as the APCO/NENA initiative to credential emergency dispatchers, and the Citizen Corps initiative for credentialing volunteers.
Although the National Integration Center (NIC) Incident Management Systems Division has identified subject matter experts for its working groups, the Center requests notification of all existing credentialing efforts, regardless of discipline. The NIC welcomes your participation into our stakeholder review group. As a stakeholder, you will receive updates concerning the working group process and be able to review and provide feedback on the draft products that are developed. If you are interested in participating as a stakeholder, please send an e-mail to: FEMA-NIMS@dhs.gov.
Q: The current listing of 120 "typed" resources. What is the specific process for making changes to those typed resources? How is it reviewed (against what standards), and by whom?
A: The 120 typed resources were developed by discipline groups in 2002 and 2003. In 2004, the list of 120 typed resources was posted for national review and comment. In 2005, the NIC added a Fire Truck based on comments received. Changes to resources are based on comments received from individuals or groups indicating a need for change. For example, the listing for Bomb Squads was revised based on comments from the Captains of Bomb Squads.
The only standard for Resource Typing is contained in Appendix B to the NIMS. However, the Appendix does not include enough guidance to produce nationally consistent resource definitions. Therefore, resource typing needs to be developed and offered for national comment to find a consensus. This is the process that has been used since 2002.
NIMS and Mutual Aid
Q: NIMS promotes the use of state and local mutual aid to help local jurisdictions better handle large-scale disasters. Where can I find information on how to write a mutual aid agreement?
A: The National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), in coordination with DHS/FEMA and a cross-section of emergency responders. has developed a tool to assist State and local governments in the preparation of model legislation designed to streamline the sharing of assistance and resources between communities during a disaster. The model is available for download at www.emacweb.org. Additionally, many States, such as North Carolina, have developed State-Wide mutual aid systems www.dem.dcc.state.nc.us/MUTAID/index.htm.
Q: How do we better partner in the development of mutual aid resources built to a national standard?
A: The NIC is working with the DHS Office of Grants and Training on resource typing/credentialing for the resources identified in Phase 1 of the Target Capabilities List. The NIC also is working with the State of Maryland, which has developed 70 additional resource typing definitions following their inventorying the State for the NIMS 120. Following a review by the NIC, some or all of these resources may be added to the NIC inventory. The NIC also is working with Citizen Corps, 911 Dispatch and Humane Society to develop additional national level resource typing.
The NIC is in the process of developing a policy on resource typing to define what resources require a national definition. The new policy will allow State, Regional and local efforts to type resources that are important locally, regionally but do not need a national consensus definition.
Q: How does this mutual aid developmental effort fit into the overall strategic plan? Do we have a clear vision of what we want to build, how many of each package is needed, and where all of these resources should be strategically located?
A: The role of the NIC is establishment of interoperability of resources through consensus definition for teams and equipment, and Knowledge, Skills and Abilities for individuals and members of teams. The NIC is seeking to identify a suitable Automated Resource Management System (ARMS) that could be provided to EMAC (State and local inventorying and ordering) to make locating, ordering and use of National Resources more efficient than the current system of emails, faxes and phone calls.
The determination of how many of any given resource is needed in each community is not a function of NIMS, but is a function of DHS Office of Grants and Training and their work on the National Preparedness Goal (HSPD-8). While OG&T determines needed resources - the NIC ensures consistent definition of resources so they can be ordered and will arrive fully able to perform the function requested for.
Q: How does the NIC view its role in the management of mutual aid resources? Is there potential for conflict between the NIC and EMAC?
A: The NIC does not manage resources - the NIC facilitates resource management by providing resource typing definitions for nationally important resources. We are working with the US Forest Service to make ROSS available to the 44 States that have inquired/requested access to ROSS to manage their inventories. All the work we have been engaged with is in support of EMAC and for the purpose of making EMAC more efficient.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 18-Jul-2007 11:41:20 EDT