Emergency Response:
National Incident Management System
Emergency Preparedness
and Response
The National Incident Management System (NIMS) was developed by the Department of Homeland Security. It was required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5, Management of Domestic Incidents, which was issued by President Bush following the events of September 11. NIMS builds on existing incident management and emergency response systems at all levels. It incorporates the Incident Command System (ICS) and Unified Command, and establishes concepts for multi-agency coordination and public information systems. NIMS also addresses:
- preparedness
- resource management
- communications and information management
- supporting technologies, and
- ongoing maintenance and management.