Avagene Moore: Welcome to the EIIP Virtual Forum! Amy Sebring, my partner/associate, and I are pleased to see you in our audience today. Avagene Moore: Today's topic is "The NIMS Integration Center -- Implementing the National Incident Management System." Avagene Moore: If you have not read the background materials, please do so after today's session. Avagene Moore: For the benefit of any first-timers, we will begin today's session with a formal presentation followed by an opportunity for your questions. Avagene Moore: We will provide further instructions on the protocol for asking questions or commenting just before we begin the Q&A section. However, it is wise to jot down your questions or comments as we go along. Avagene Moore: Please do not send private messages to our speakers or the moderator, as we will be busy with the presentation. If you need assistance, you may send a private message to Amy Sebring. Avagene Moore: The transcript of today's session will be available late this afternoon or early this evening -- just check back on our home page. Avagene Moore: Now, it is my pleasure to introduce today's guest speaker. ... Avagene Moore: We are pleased to welcome back Gil Jamieson, Acting Director of the NIC. Mr Jamieson spoke on the topic of the National Mutual Aid and Resource Management Initiative in March of this year. He has served twenty-five years of his professional career in emergency management and related fields. Avagene Moore: In his current position, he is responsible for establishing an organization and directing a team of experts that will coordinate Federal programs to ensure State and local governments are better prepared to handle the consequences of any disaster event, natural or man made. Avagene Moore: Gil, we greatly appreciate you being here today to share the latest information about the NIC with the EIIP Virtual Forum audience. Our thanks also to Jon Mark Jenkins and Michelle McQueeney for their assistance in this presentation. ... Avagene Moore: Gil, I now turn the floor to you. Gil Jamieson: Good afternoon everyone, it is a pleasure to be here. Thank you to Avagene and Amy for the opportunity to discuss the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Integration Center, also known as the NIC, and its responsibilities. Gil Jamieson: I look forward to introducing you to the mission of the NIC and how it relates to the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the overall mission of the Department of Homeland Security. Gil Jamieson: Everyday there are emergencies in the United States that require action by emergency responders. Whether those responders come from different parts of the same jurisdiction or from state and Federal agencies, ... Gil Jamieson: they need to be able to work together effectively. They need to be able communicate with each other, and they need to be able to depend on each other. Gil Jamieson: As you know, Secretary Ridge released the National Incident Management System (NIMS) on March 1, 2004. The new NIMS is a system to enable effective, efficient incident management at all levels. It does this by establishing a core set of doctrine, concepts, principles, terminology, and organizational processes. Gil Jamieson: The NIMS was developed through a collaborative, intergovernmental partnership with significant input from the incident management functional disciplines, the private sector and nongovernmental organizations. Gil Jamieson: The NIMS establishes standard incident management processes, protocols, and procedures that will allow responders to work together more effectively. The NIMS provides all the Nation's first-responders and authorities with the same foundation ... Gil Jamieson: for incident management, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and other emergencies. The NIMS utilizes the Incident Command System as a standard incident management organization for the management of all major incidents. Gil Jamieson: The principle of unified command is incorporated into NIMS to ensure further coordination for incidents involving multiple jurisdictions or agencies. Further benefits of the NIMS include standardized organizational structures, processes and procedures; standards for planning, training and exercising; and personnel qualifications standards. Gil Jamieson: Equipment acquisition and certification standards; interoperable communications processes, procedures and systems; and support of technologies such as voice and data communications systems, information systems, and data display systems are also advantages provided by the NIMS. Gil Jamieson: All Federal departments and agencies are required by HSPD-5 to adopt the NIMS and make the NIMS adoption by state and local organizations a condition for federal preparedness assistance. Gil Jamieson: NIMS compliance requirements will be phased in over time; FY 2005 will be a ramp-up year, FY 2006 will be used to address remaining compliance issues. Full NIMS compliance will not be required until the beginning of FY 2007. States are encouraged to implement the NIMS now by: Gil Jamieson: - Incorporating NIMS concepts, such as the ICS, into existing training programs and exercises; Gil Jamieson: - Using federal preparedness funding to support NIMS implementation at state and local levels (for example, DHS Homeland Security Grant Program, Urban Area Security Initiative); Gil Jamieson: - Incorporating NIMS concepts into Emergency Operations Plans; Gil Jamieson: - Promoting and establishing intrastate mutual aid agreements and compacts; and Gil Jamieson: - Coordinating and providing technical assistance to local entities regarding NIMS. Gil Jamieson: State and local jurisdictions can begin NIMS implementation by: Gil Jamieson: - Formally recognizing and adopting NIMS; Lee Shaw: Good morning Gil Jamieson: Developing a timeframe and strategy for full NIMS implementation; Lee Shaw: Avagene- Kenny can't make it. Gil Jamieson: - Institutionalizing the use of the Incident Command System (ICS); and Gil Jamieson: - Establishing a NIMS capability baseline by determining which NIMS requirements they already have met. Gil Jamieson: Everyone is urged to familiarize themselves with NIMS concepts and principles and begin activities that will lead to system implementation as soon as possible. Ken Jarolimek: Are we in? Gil Jamieson: State and local governments are encouraged to use their FY 2005 preparedness grants for activities that will help implement NIMS. DHS is developing guidance regarding NIMS implementation. Gil Jamieson: At the core of the NIMS is the Incident Command System (ICS). ICS training developed by FEMA is available in the states. This training includes: ICS-100, Introduction to ICS; ICS-200, Basic ICS; ICS-300, Intermediate ICS; ICS-400, Advanced ICS. Gil Jamieson: Those who would like to participate are encouraged to contact their state emergency management training office. The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) and the National Fire Academy (NFA) also offer ICS Train-the- Trainer classes at their facilities in Emmitsburg, Md. Gil Jamieson: At the local level, agencies may contact their fire departments for information and training on ICS. There is also NIMS awareness training (IS 700) available online for those interested in getting better acquainted with the NIMS. The online course can be found at http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/is700.asp Gil Jamieson: We recognize there are a variety of other training programs available that provide ICS training; the courses listed here are just a start. The NIMS Integration Center (NIC) will be working to ensure other course offerings are consistent with the NIMS. Gil Jamieson: The NIC is a multi-jurisdictional, multi-disciplinary organization, which serves as a mechanism for ongoing coordination to provide strategic direction for and oversight of the NIMS. The NIC is designed to support both routine maintenance and the continuous refinement of the NIMS and its components over the long term. Gil Jamieson: The NIC reports to Secretary Ridge through the Undersecretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response (EP&R). The NIC is physically located within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) headquarters in Washington, DC. Gil Jamieson: NIC staff is comprised of detailees from several DHS directorates and staff offices, including FEMA, the Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP), and the Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate. Later, the NIC will expand to include interagency detailees and State and local government representatives. Gil Jamieson: The NIC's organization and structure includes an Office of the NIC Director and five (5) functional branches. The branches include: Publications Management Branch, Standards and Resources Branch, Training and Exercises Branch, System Evaluation and Compliance Branch; and Technology/R&D Branch. Gil Jamieson: The NIC will be established in two (2) phases and currently the NIC is in its first phase of development. The Technology/R&D branch and the Publications Management branch have not been stood up yet. Gil Jamieson: Right now, the NIC is focusing its efforts on several activities in support of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the overall mission of the Department of Homeland Security. The phase 1 NIC activities include: Gil Jamieson: - Receive and broker initial feedback and questions on the NIMS; Gil Jamieson: - Facilitate the development and delivery of NIMS awareness training, education, and publications; Gil Jamieson: - Coordinate training and provide initial guidance and tools to Federal, State, local, and tribal entities on understanding, implementing, and complying with the NIMS; Gil Jamieson: - Identify existing capabilities, initiatives, and resources that support the NIMS and the NIC; Gil Jamieson: - Identify the process by which revisions to the NIMS are recommended, approved, and posted; Gil Jamieson: - Further define the organizational structure, collaborative processes, outreach mechanisms, and support requirements of the full NIC; Gil Jamieson: Establish sub-groups to the Homeland Security Advisory Council to continue the collaborative partnerships that have characterized the development of the NIMS to date; Gil Jamieson: - Develop internal operating guidance and procedures and bring on additional staff; and Gil Jamieson: - Coordinate activities with other affected DHS elements or offices as they relate to applicable statutes, Homeland Security Presidential Directives (HSPDs) or other relevant authorities as deemed necessary by the Secretary or the NIC Director. Gil Jamieson: Throughout the first phase, the NIC will evolve to a robust, fully integrated center that will incorporate additional DHS employees, interagency detailees and liaisons, and State, local, and tribal government representatives. Gil Jamieson: The NIC will accomplish its specific tasks, outlined in the NIMS, and generate NIMS-related products using the organizational structure established (5 functional NIC branches) as well as ... Gil Jamieson: an interagency, multi-jurisdictional working group structure that will be composed of subject matter experts that hold expertise in their specialty areas. The NIC will work to ensure that all efforts are collaborative and all inclusive. Gil Jamieson: In the second phase of its development, the NIC will be fully staffed and will be responsible for refining and implementing all NIC roles and responsibilities as specified in the NIMS. Chapter VII of the NIMS document speaks specifically to the development and continual growth of the NIC. Gil Jamieson: I will take this time to provide you with a brief overview of each of the NIC branches and their responsibilities. The NIC will also continue to post up-to-date information on the progress and current activities of its branches on the NIC web page. The NIC web page can be found at www.fema.gov/nims. KentKing: Is there going to be any video available for local responders that will explain the changes? Gil Jamieson: The Standards and Resources Branch is focusing on the development of a national system of guidelines, protocols and standards for the implementation of the NIMS system. Gil Jamieson: The Standards and Resources Branch will promote the compatibility between national-level standards for the NIMS and those developed by other public, private, and/or professional groups. DIS: I am not getting anything,.,, Gil Jamieson: The Standards and Resources branch will also begin to facilitate the development and publication of national standards, guidelines, and protocols for the qualification and certification of emergency responder and incident management personnel, as appropriate. Gil Jamieson: One of the key responsibilities under this branch includes facilitation of the development and issuance of national standards for the typing of resources. Other important activities within this branch will include: . Gil Jamieson: the identification of performance standards, the identification of automated resource management system, and a national credentialing system. Current initiatives within this branch include: Gil Jamieson: Developing a matrix to describe all existing and on-going NIMS related standards efforts and identify areas where additional standards work is needed; Gil Jamieson: Enhancing mutual aid efforts nationwide by typing resources, promoting inter- and intra-state mutual aid agreements, and developing a national automated resource management system; and developing phased requirements for all jurisdictions to achieve NIMS compliance. Gil Jamieson: The NIC, through the Standards and Resources Branch, will incorporate and expand upon the work that FEMA, through its National Mutual Aid and Resource Management Initiative, has already accomplished in this area. This effort and the accomplishments of this working group directly support the NIMS and the NIC, particularly in the areas of mutual aid and resource management. Gil Jamieson: A national protocol for typing critical response resources has been developed. An initial 60 resources have been typed and an additional 60 typed resources, including equipment, teams and personnel will be released in September. Gil Jamieson: Further information on FEMA's National Mutual Aid and Resource Management Initiative is located on the FEMA website at http://www.fema.gov/preparedness/mutual_aid.shtm. Gil Jamieson: The Training and Exercises Branch is facilitating the definition of NIMS training requirements and national-level training standards, and NIMS- related course curricula. It will facilitate the development of national standards, guidelines and protocols for incident management training and exercises, ... Gil Jamieson: including consideration of existing exercise and training programs at all jurisdictional levels. This branch will develop a national program for NIMS education and awareness, to include specific instruction on the purpose and content of the NIMS document and the NIMS in general. Gil Jamieson: The online NIMS awareness training that I mentioned earlier is the first of many training modules, and is located at http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/is700.asp. Gil Jamieson: The Training and Exercises Branch will consult and take into consideration existing exercise and training programs at all jurisdictional levels in the development of national standards, guidelines, and protocols for incident management training and exercises. Gil Jamieson: The branch will develop criteria for training curricula and classes, develop exercise scenarios and methodologies for incident management, assist with performance validation, assists with remediation, and assist with internal process review. Current initiatives include: Gil Jamieson: - Developing NIMS awareness training; Gil Jamieson: - Identifying existing training that supports NIMS and determining what additional training is needed to support NIMS implementation; and Gil Jamieson: - Developing criteria for NIMS training curricula and classes in coordination with existing training entities. Gil Jamieson: The System Evaluation and Compliance Branch will oversee the development of assessment criteria for the various components of the NIMS. It will oversee compliance requirements and compliance timelines for federal, state, local and tribal entities. Gil Jamieson: It also will maintain a repository and clearinghouse for reports and lessons learned from actual incidents, training and exercises. Current initiatives include: Gil Jamieson: Developing the NIMS Capability Assessment Support Tool (NIMCAST) - - a Web-based self-assessment tool for evaluating state and local incident response and management capabilities against NIMS requirements. Gil Jamieson: The Publications Management Branch will become operational during the second phase of the NIC development. The Branch will be key in the development and publication of materials and standardized templates to support implementation and continuous refinement of the NIMS. Gil Jamieson: The Branch will also review (in coordination with appropriate national professional standards-making, certifying, and accrediting organizations, and with input from Federal, State, local, tribal, private-sector and nongovernmental entities) ... Gil Jamieson: f the discipline-specific publication management requirements submitted by professional organizations and associations. As the NIC becomes more robust, the Publications Management Branch will provide all necessary material to ensure all Stakeholders are up to date and in accordance with the mandates of NIMS. Gil Jamieson: The Technology/R&D Branch, similar to the Publications Management Branch, will not be operational and fully staffed until phase two of the NIC. Once staffed, the branch will integrate the incident management science and technology needs ... Gil Jamieson: of the departments, agencies, disciplines, and private-sector and nongovernmental organizations into the national R&D agenda, in coordination with the Under Secretary for Science and Technology of DHS. Gil Jamieson: As part of its efforts, the branch will identify, evaluate and promulgate technologies to be used in NIMS execution and work with Standards and Resources Branch to ensure maximum use of relevant technologies. Gil Jamieson: As I conclude, I would like to remind you to please continue to visit the NIMS website at www.fema.gov/nims for updates and additional information on guidance and training. Gil Jamieson: The NIC has set up a mailbox at NIMS-Integration-Center@dhs.gov so that the incident response community can "Ask the NIC" questions about NIMS implementation. Gil Jamieson: I also encourage you to take the online NIMS awareness training if you haven't already done so. The online course can be found at http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/is700.asp Gil Jamieson: Once again, I would like to thank you for this opportunity to discuss the importance of the NIMS and the role of the NIMS Integration Center (NIC). I am willing to answer any questions you may have so I will turn the floor back over to our Moderator. Thank you. Avagene Moore: Thank you very much, Gil. I am sure our audience has questions for you. Gil has to leave for another meeting just before 1 PM EDT, so we want to move through the Q&A as expeditiously as we can. ... Avagene Moore: Our protocol for audience questions is to enter a question mark ? to indicate you wish to ask a question or make a comment. .. Avagene Moore: Then go ahead and compose your question or comment to have it ready, but do NOT hit your Enter key or click on the Send button until you are recognized by name. Please WAIT your turn. ... Avagene Moore: But be ready when you are called upon. We will not have time to wait. We want to get to as many questions as we can.... Janice Dennis: ? Lloyd Colston: ? Paul Howard: ? Warren Jorgenson: ? Jason Moats: ? Avagene Moore: We will take .... Joe Rupe: ? Mark Salafia: ? Avagene Moore: questions in the order the question marks are sent to the screen. One question at a time please. If you have a follow up question, please get back in line with another ? - courtesy is the order of the day. ... Jane Ellis: ? Charlie Hanson: ? Avagene Moore: We begin now. .... Janice Dennis, please. Janice Dennis: Will our regional academy be provided training materials and instructor training so that they can train the local emergency responders in a continuing basis? Gil Jamieson: Yes... Janice Dennis: ? Gil Jamieson: course materials will be available initially through EMI and USFA, and your state training coordinator. Avagene Moore: Lloyd, you are next. Lloyd Colston: Many of my colleagues are expecting something new. I am seeing the heavy emphasis on the Incident Command System. Will our current ICS training remain valid under NIMS? For example, those who attend ICS TTT this fall will be grandfathered under NIMS? Dave Leonardis: ? Tim Stuckey: ? Gil Jamieson: ICS, as taught by the Dept. of Homeland Security, will be the standard. It's hard to say at this point whether your particular course is consisant with this, but we will be publishing further guidance to define what it means to teach ICS consistent with DHS courses. Avagene Moore: Paul Howard, your turn. Paul Howard: What is the status of the EMAC with regard to interstate mutual aid under NIMS? Michael Anderson: Mike Anderson? JohnJBennett: ? T. Murphy: ? Jonathan Dunfee: ? Gil Jamieson: The Department is a major supportive of the EMAC initiative. The EMAC has recently issued guidance on intrastate mutual aid. We will continue to support EMAC in all of our policies and processes. Avagene Moore: Warren J, your turn, sir. Paul Howard: ? Warren Jorgenson: Do you know what the timetable is for the Integration Center to publish the protocols? Gil Jamieson: We don't have any specific timetables established at this point. Is there something specific that you're interested in? Avagene Moore: Warren, can you quickly reply to give Gil more information? Warren Jorgenson: when we canb start compairing our curriculum to yours Warren Jorgenson: when we canb start compairing our curriculum to yours Avagene Moore: Gil, does that help? Gil Jamieson: If you course materials from DHS, you can start comparing them now. Avagene Moore: Jason Moats, next. Jason Moats: I know you said that the ICS training offered by EMI was accepted as an acceptable solution for the ICS portion of NIMS, but what about NIIMS taught by the USFS and their partners? Will it also accepted through all levels? Tommy Murillo: ? Marty Bishop: ? Gil Jamieson: Yes. Much of what is included in the NIMS has been based on work accomplished through work accomplished through USFS, including ICS. Avagene Moore: Joe Rupe, please. Joe Rupe: How many ESFs are there and are all levels of government expect to have the same as the federal government or can they add as many as they want? Is there a matrix matching ESFs with the ICS categories? Tommy Murillo: Chapter II (Command and Management) Section A.1 (Concepts and Principles) states Most Incidents are Managed Locally , Can you give a definition as to what this means? Gil Jamieson: There are 15 ESFs in the current draft NRP. ... Lloyd Colston: ? Gil Jamieson: we are working to produce a diagram that will show how resources at the national level can be integrated with the state and local ICS structures. Avagene Moore: Mark Salafia, please. Mark Salafia: As a State Training facility should we continue to deliver ICS based on the National Fire Academy lesson plan or should we be looking to deliver the FIRESCOPE/National Wildfire Coordinating Group ICS training? Gil Jamieson: They are the same thing. Avagene Moore: Jane Ellis, please. Jane Ellis: I'm very concerned about what appears to be the one size fits all approach. Have you given thought to the impact this will all have on smaller governments and agencies? Gil Jamieson: The hallmark of NIMS and ICS is it's flexibility in application. We certainly would agree with your implementation of these concepts to meet your needs. Avagene Moore: Charlie Hanson, please. Charlie Hanson: What does a local jurisdiction have to do in the short term to be considered "NIMS Compliant"? Jason Moats: ? Warren Jorgenson: ? Gil Jamieson: Additional guidance will be coming out on this from the Department in the very near future. Certainly the NIMS awareness course and adopting your emergency operations plans to ensure compatability with NIMS are important actions that you can take. Avagene Moore: Janice Dennis. Janice Dennis: If cities and counties participate in a countywide emergency plan, do we need a resolution for each entity or can we use a joint resolution to cover all jurisdictions within the county? Janice Dennis: ? Noe flores: k Gil Jamieson: This gets into unique aspects of state and local governance. I don't feel comfortable providing a specific answer to this question. Avagene Moore: Dave Leonardis, please. Janice Dennis: where can I go for that answer Dave Leonardis: Can we use ODP funding to conduct ICS courses? Gil Jamieson: It's really up to whoever has established the regional emergency operations plans and is responsible for those jurisdictions should be who you consult. It's not a federal issue to decide. Gil Jamieson: The general answer is Yes. ODP has a process however to review and approve all training requests and I wouldn't want to pre-dispose their specific decisions. Avagene Moore: Tim Stuckey, please. Tim Stuckey: Is there any model language available that could be utilized by the local entities to assist in the formal adopting of NIMS prior to the October 1, 2004 deadline? Gil Jamieson: First, there is no Oct. 1, 2004 deadline. The text covers the phased in approach to NIMS compliance... Gil Jamieson: we are currently drafting a sample executive order that could be used for this purpose and hope to have it out shortly. Avagene Moore: Mike Anderson, you are next, sir. Michael Anderson: It would be helpful to get an idea on when new DHS ICS material will be out. We are putting a great deal of effort out right now doing ICS classes at all levels here in NJ. Not to be difficult here, but we need to know now who can instruct these courses. Will there be any new statndards for who can teach and who cannot? The NIMS 700 course is very vague and tells us very little. Dave Leonardis: ? Gil Jamieson: There are several aspects of this question that don't lend themselves to being answered in this forum. But we will have our training and exercise people contact you and get you some answers to these questions. Avagene Moore: John Bennett, please. JohnJBennett: I understand the NWCG I100-I400-- will be standard curriculae for ICS- correct? Gil Jamieson: The NWCG course material is consistent with the NIMS. Avagene Moore: T Murphy, please. T. Murphy: The US Coast Guard, the National Wildfire Coordinating Group & California's Firescope have already developed & utilized many of the ICS tools (eg. resource typing, automated resource statusing & ordering, etc....), will NIC utilize this material & hopefully not create a different model to confuse ICS users? Isabel McCurdy: ? Gil Jamieson: Yes, we will place maximum emphasis on using existing materials that conform with the NIMS and not re-invent the wheel. Avagene Moore: Jonathan Dunfee, please. Jonathan Dunfee: When will the Tech/R&D group be set up? Will some activities from DHS/DARPA be folded in or will it start from scratch? Max Johnson: Max Johnson:NM ? Gil Jamieson: The Tech/R&D branch will be stood up in early FY 2005... Gil Jamieson: that being said, the Department's Science and Technology Directorate are very engaged in these issues now. ... Gil Jamieson: We have persons from S&T detailed to the NIC and don't feel as though we'll need to start from scratch. Avagene Moore: Paul Howard, your turn now. Avagene Moore: Paul, do you have a question? If not, we will move on. Paul Howard: Please disregard. I'll contact the email address mentioned earlier. Avagene Moore: Tommy Murillo, please. Tommy Murillo: Will funding opportunities still be available for smaller jurisdictions that have a very limited number of volunteers and equipment, such as a volunteer fire department? Gil Jamieson: The Department, through the Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP), working with the State Administrative Agencies, attempts to reach out to localities of all sizes. There is nothing in the NIMS that would preclude this from continuing. Avagene Moore: That's all we have time for today. Sorry we couldn't get to all your questions. We greatly appreciate your efforts and time on our behalf today, Gil. We wish you great success with the NIMS Integration Center. .... Marty Bishop: Can you please re-post the web references, I was bumped off before I copied them. Avagene Moore: You can read them in the transscript, Marty. Please stand by a moment while we make some quick announcements .... Jason Moats: Contact info for Gil? Gil Jamieson: www.fema.gov/nims and NIMS-Integration-Center@dhs.gov Avagene Moore: If you are not currently on our mailing list, and would like to get program announcements and notices of transcript availability, please see the Subscribe link on our home page. Thanks, Gil. Jason Moats: thanks Avagene Moore: We welcome two new Partners this week -- Enterprise Unlimited / Black Wolf Task Force, LLC with John J. Bennett serving as our Point of Contact (POC). Gil Jamieson: Thanks everyone for your participation. Look forward to working with you. Avagene Moore: the Connecticut Fire Academy http://www.ct.gov/cfpc with Mark P. Salfia as the POC to the EIIP. Partners are listed on the EIIP Virtual Forum site and we link to our Partners' Web sites. Check them out. Avagene Moore: If your organization is interested in becoming an EIIP Partner, please see the "Partnership for You" link on our home page. Avagene Moore: Again, the transcript of today's session will be posted later today and you will be able to access it from our home page. An announcement will be sent to our Mail Lists when the transcript is available. Avagene Moore: Thanks to everyone for participating today. We appreciate you, the audience! Avagene Moore: Before you go, please help me show our appreciation to Gil Jamieson for a fine job. Avagene Moore: The EIIP Virtual Forum is adjourned!