(a) The President in Homeland Security Directive (HSPD) - 5, directed the

Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to develop and

administer a National Incident Management System (NIMS), which would

provide a consistent nationwide approach for Federal, State, local, and

tribal governments to work together more effectively and efficiently to

prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from domestic incidents,

regardless of cause, size or complexity.

 

(b) The collective input and guidance from all Federal, State, local, and tribal

homeland security partners has been, and will continue to be, vital to the

development, effective implementation and utilization of a comprehensive

NIMS.

 

(c) It is necessary and desirable that all Federal, State, local and tribal

emergency agencies and personnel coordinate their efforts to effectively

and efficiently provide the highest levels of incident management.

 

(d) To facilitate the most efficient and effective incident management, it is

critical that Federal, State, local, and tribal organizations utilize

standardized terminology, standardized organizational structures,

interoperable communications, consolidated action plans, unified command

structures, uniform personnel qualification standards, uniform standards

for planning, training, and exercising, comprehensive resource management,

and designated incident facilities during emergencies or disasters.

 

(e) The NIMS standardized procedures for managing personnel,

communications, facilities and resources will improve the State’s ability to

utilize federal funding to enhance local and state agency readiness, maintain