FAIRFAX, Va. — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is coordinating a comprehensive review of the National Response Plan (NRP) and National Incident Management System (NIMS) to assess their effectiveness and identify improvements. DHS has issued a second national comment period for the NIMS document starting this week through April 6, 2007.
The NIMS document may be accessed at http://www.dhs.gov/nrp (click on “currently under review” (text link) and scroll down to the “Progress” section). The IAFC has been partnering with DHS on NIMS and wishes to hear your comments.
The Emergency Management Committee subcommittee for the National Response Plan is also completing a review of NIMS on behalf of the IAFC. Our members may participate in an IAFC response to DHS by downloading the comment form at http://www.iafc.org/associations/4685/files/NIMScommentFormV2.doc and submitting comments no later than COB on Wednesday, April 4, 2007 to Hunter Peacock at the IAFC at hpeacock@iafc.org. If you have questions, please call Hunter directly at 703/537-4846.
The NIMS is a key element in the national framework for domestic incident management. It provides a nationwide template that enables federal, state, local and tribal governments, the private sector and non-governmental organizations to work together efficiently and effectively to manage the consequences of domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity, in order to reduce the loss of life and property.
As part of the review process, stakeholders are asked to participate in two formal comment periods on both documents to ensure their effectiveness as national doctrine for incident management. The first draft of the NIMS document was released for national comment February 1-19, 2007. Hundreds of stakeholders nationwide provided comments during this review period. Comments from the review period have been adjudicated by the NIMS Working Group and a complete technical edit of the document has been performed by the writing team in preparation for the second national comment period.
We anticipate release of the revised draft of the National Response Plan shortly and will notify IAFC members when it becomes available.