JP 3-28, page 93

A-1 APPENDIX A NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OVERVIEW 1. General Communities across the US experience a diverse set of threats, hazards, and events. The size, frequency, complexity, and scope of these incidents vary, but all involve a range of personnel and organizations to coordinate efforts to save lives, stabilize the incident, and protect property and the environment. Every day, jurisdictions and organizations work together to share resources, integrate tactics, and act collaboratively. Whether these organizations are nearby or are supporting each other from across the country, their success depends on a common, interoperable approach to sharing resources, coordinating and managing incidents, and communicating information. NIMS describes this comprehensive approach. NIMS guides all levels of government, NGOs, and the private sector to work together to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from incidents. NIMS provides stakeholders across the whole community with the shared vocabulary, systems, and processes to successfully deliver the capabilities described in the National Preparedness System. NIMS defines operational systems, including the ICS, EOC structures, and multiagency coordination groups that guide how personnel work together during incidents. NIMS applies to all incidents, from traffic accidents to major disasters. The jurisdictions and organizations involved in managing incidents vary in their authorities, management structures, communication capabilities and protocols, and many other factors. NIMS provides a common framework to integrate these diverse capabilities and achieve common goals. The guidance contained in this document incorporates solutions developed over decades of experience by incident personnel across the US. 2. Overview of National Incident Management System Components The components of NIMS were not designed to stand alone but to work together in a flexible, systematic manner to provide the national framework for incident management. NIMS is organized into three major components and they represent a building-block approach to incident management. Applying the guidance for all three components is vital to successful NIMS implementation. a. Resource Management. NIMS resource management guidance enables many organizational elements to collaborate and coordinate to systematically manage resources (e.g., personnel, teams, facilities, equipment, and supplies). Most jurisdictions or organizations do not own and maintain all the resources necessary to address all potential threats and hazards. Effective resource management includes leveraging each jurisdiction’s resources and private-sector resources, involving volunteer organizations, and encouraging further development of mutual aid agreements. These are standard mechanisms to systematically manage resources, including personnel, equipment, supplies, teams, and facilities, both before and during incidents in order to allow organizations to more effectively share resources when needed. b. Command and Coordination. Local authorities handle most incidents using the communications systems, dispatch centers, and incident personnel within a single