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Date Issued: March 17, 2006
Background
In Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 (HSPD-5, dated February 28, 2003) the President of the United States determined that in order to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies, the United States Government must establish a single comprehensive approach to domestic incident management, one which ensures that all levels of government have the capacity to work together effectively.
The President of the United States directed the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to develop and administer a National Incident Management System (NIMS), which will provide a consistent, nationwide approach for Federal, State, local and tribal governments to work together to prevent, prepare for, and respond to and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size, or complexity.
The President of the United States directed the Department of Homeland Security to determine whether states, localities, territories, and tribal entities have formally recognized NIMS.
The President of the United States directed all federal departments which provide preparedness assistance through grants, contracts, or other activities to certify that only those states, localities, territories, and tribal entities which adopt NIMS will be eligible to receive Federal assistance.
Statement of Policy
It is necessary and desirable for the Town of Concord’s emergencies services agencies and personnel to coordinate efforts with every city and town in Massachusetts, with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with other states, and with the Federal government to provide the highest level of incident management.
In order to achieve the highest level of incident management within the Town, with other cities and towns throughout the Commonwealth, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts homeland security agencies, and with the Federal government, it is vitally important for the Town of Concord’s emergency services agencies and personnel to use NIMS, which contains standardized terminology, unified command structures, consolidated action plans, uniform personnel qualification standards, uniform standards for planning and training, comprehensive resource management, and designated incident facilities during emergencies or disasters.
The Town of Concord has already incorporated a standardized Incident Command System into its Emergency Operations Plan; a recommendation made by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States and included NIMS.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts through its Regional Homeland Security Planning Councils has determined that every city, town, and municipal entity in Massachusetts must adopt and work to implement NIMS in order to receive Federal preparedness grant awards.
The Town of Concord will utilize the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as the standard for incident management. The Emergency Management Director shall supervise the implementation of NIMS and shall notify the Commonwealth of Massachusetts of said actions.
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