About the National Incident Management System (NIMS)

Excerpt: IS-700.A NIMS course

The National Incident Management System (NIMS) provides a systematic, proactive approach to guide departments and agencies at all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to work seamlessly to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity, in order to reduce the loss of life and property and harm to the environment.

NIMS works hand in hand with the National Response Framework (NRF). NIMS provides the template for the management of incidents, while the NRF provides the structure and mechanisms for national-level policy for incident management.

The National Integration Center (NIC) Incident Management Systems Integration (IMSI) Division

The Secretary of Homeland Security, through the National Integration Center (NIC), Incident Management Systems Integration (IMSI) Division (formerly known as the NIMS Integration Center), publishes the standards, guidelines, and compliance protocols for determining whether a Federal, State, tribal, or local government has implemented NIMS. Additionally, the Secretary, through the NIC, manages publication and collaboratively, with other departments and agencies, develops standards, guidelines, compliance procedures, and protocols for all aspects of NIMS.

Questions regarding NIMS should be directed to FEMA-NIMS@dhs.gov or 202-646-3850.