We welcome your thoughts and ideas on the following topics, which address inclusion of language discussing the use of technology into the NIMS:
The Use and Importance of Social Media
The NIMS does not include language addressing the use or importance of social media or other crowd-sourced communications pathways during an incident. Social media can be used to inform and enhance situational awareness as well as inform the public during an incident. Please share your ideas on the benefits of social media, before, during, and after an incident as a means of gathering situational awareness and disseminating actionable information to the public.
Virtual Coordination in Supporting & Managing Incidents
Recent developments in technology now enable virtual coordination, providing a greater capacity to improve incident management activities. Multiagency Coordination Systems increasingly use virtual coordination, relying on this technology in lieu of fixed facilities (example: Business Emergency Operations Centers). Please share your thoughts on virtual coordination into incident support, coordination, and management discussions in support of incident operations.
Incorporating Decision Support & Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Decision support tools, GIS and other technologies are widely used to support a variety of disaster management activities to include situational awareness, visualization and information analysis that transforms data into actionable information that informs preparedness and disaster operations across the five mission areas. The NIMS update should incorporate decision support and geographic information systems (GIS) concepts and best practices, including common location language, into the incident support, coordination, and management components of the NIMS. Please share your ideas on how the technologies listed above and their impact incident management should be reflected in the NIMS.
Please feel free to comment on or discuss any or all of these topics. We look forward to hearing from you!