Chapter III – Preparedness

A. Concepts and Principles

NIMS

2. A Unified Approach.  Preparedness requires a unified approach.   A major objective of preparedness efforts is to ensure mission integration and interoperability in response to emergent crises across functional and jurisdictional lines, as well as between public and private organizations.

III-A-2

(Page 33)

NIMS-Derived Compliance Statement(s)

1.

The jurisdiction utilizes a unified approach to preparedness, ensuring mission integration and interoperability across functional and jurisdictional lines, as well as between public and private organizations.

 Yes   No

Chapter III – Preparedness

B.  Achieving Preparedness

NIMS

Individual Federal, State, local, and tribal jurisdictions are responsible for implementing the preparedness cycle in advance of an incident and appropriately including private-sector and nongovernmental organizations in such implementation.

III-B

(Page 34)

NIMS-Derived Compliance Statement(s)

1.

The jurisdiction has implemented the preparedness cycle in advance of an incident and appropriately included the private sector and nongovernmental organizations.

 Yes   No

Chapter III – Preparedness

B.  Achieving Preparedness

NIMS

1. Preparedness Organizations.  Preparedness is the responsibility of individual jurisdictions; this responsibility includes coordinating various preparedness activities among all appropriate agencies within a jurisdiction, as well as across jurisdictions and with private organizations.  This coordination is effected by mechanisms that range from individuals to small committees to large standing organizations. These mechanisms are referred to in this document as “preparedness organizations,” in that they serve as ongoing forums for coordinating preparedness activities in advance of an incident. Preparedness organizations represent a wide variety of committees, planning groups, and other organizations that meet regularly and coordinate with one another to ensure an appropriate focus on planning, training, equipping, and other preparedness requirements within a jurisdiction and/or across jurisdictions.  The needs of the jurisdictions involved will dictate how frequently such organizations must conduct their business, as well as how they are structured. When preparedness activities routinely need to be accomplished across jurisdictions, preparedness organizations should be multijurisdictional.  Preparedness organizations at all jurisdictional levels should

·   establish and coordinate emergency plans and protocols including public communications and awareness;

·   integrate and coordinate the activities of the jurisdictions and functions within their purview;

·   establish the standards, guidelines, and protocols necessary to promote interoperability among member jurisdictions and agencies;

·   adopt standards, guidelines, and protocols for providing resources to requesting organizations, including protocols for incident support organizations;

·   set priorities for resources and other requirements;

·   and ensure the establishment and maintenance of multiagency coordination mechanisms, including EOCs, mutual-aid agreements, incident information systems, nongovernmental organization and private-sector outreach, public awareness and information systems, and mechanisms to deal with information and operations security.

III-B-1

(Page 34)

NIMS-Derived Compliance Statement(s)

1.

The jurisdiction has defined and institutionalized one or more preparedness organizations responsible for the jurisdictional and inter-jurisdictional coordination of NIMS preparedness requirements.

 Yes   No

2.

The jurisdiction’s preparedness organization(s) have implemented and institutionalized processes, systems, procedures and/or plans that ensure preparedness activities are coordinated among all appropriate agencies within a jurisdiction, across jurisdictions, and with private organizations.

 Yes   No

3.

The jurisdiction’s preparedness organizations meet regularly.

 Yes   No

4.

The jurisdiction’s preparedness organization(s) is/are multi-jurisdictional when regular cross-jurisdiction coordination is necessary.

 Yes   No

The jurisdiction’s preparedness organization(s) conduct the following preparedness activities:

5.

establish and coordinate emergency plans and protocols, including public communications and awareness.

 Yes   No

6.

integrate and coordinate activities of the jurisdictions and functions within their purview.

 Yes   No

7.

establish the standards, guidelines, and protocols necessary to promote interoperability among member jurisdictions and agencies.

 Yes   No

8.

adopt standards, guidelines, and protocols for providing resources to requesting organizations, including protocols for incident support organizations.

 Yes   No

9.

set priorities for resources and other requirements.

 Yes   No

The jurisdiction’s preparedness organization(s) have ensured the establishment and maintenance of the following multi-agency coordination mechanisms:

10.

Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs).

 Yes   No

11.

mutual-aid agreements.

 Yes   No

12.

incident information systems.

 Yes   No

13.

nongovernmental organization and private-sector outreach.

 Yes   No

14.

public awareness and information systems.

 Yes   No

15.

mechanisms to deal with information and operations security.

 Yes   No

Chapter III – Preparedness

B.  Achieving Preparedness

NIMS

2. Preparedness Programs.  Individual jurisdictions establish programs that address the requirements for each step of the preparedness cycle (planning, training, equipping, exercising, evaluating, and taking action to correct and mitigate). These programs should adopt relevant NIMS standards, guidelines, processes, and protocols.

III-B-2

(Page 35)

NIMS-Derived Compliance Statement(s)

The jurisdiction has established preparedness programs that specifically address the requirements for each of the following preparedness cycle steps:

1.

planning.

 Yes   No

2.

training.

 Yes   No

3.

equipping.

 Yes   No

4.

exercising.

 Yes   No

5.

evaluating.

 Yes   No

6.

corrective actions.

 Yes   No

7.

mitigation actions.

 Yes   No

8.

The jurisdiction’s preparedness programs have adopted relevant NIMS standards, guidelines, processes, and protocols.

 Yes   No

Chapter III – Preparedness

B.  Achieving Preparedness

2. Preparedness Programs

NIMS

a. Preparedness Planning.  Plans describe how personnel, equipment, and other governmental and nongovernmental resources will be used to support incident management requirements.  Plans represent the operational core of preparedness and provide mechanisms for setting priorities, integrating multiple entities and functions, establishing collaborative relationships, and ensuring that communications and other systems effectively support the complete spectrum of incident management activities. 

III-B-2-a

(Page 35)

NIMS-Derived Compliance Statement(s)

The jurisdiction’s preparedness planning program has implemented and institutionalized plans that:

1.

describe how governmental and nongovernmental resources will be used to support incident management requirements.

 Yes   No

2.

provide mechanisms for setting priorities.

 Yes   No

3.

provide mechanisms for integrating multiple entities and functions.

 Yes   No

4.

provide mechanisms for establishing collaborative relationships.

 Yes   No

5.

provide mechanisms for ensuring that communications and other systems effectively support the complete spectrum of incident management activities.

 Yes   No

Chapter III – Preparedness

B.  Achieving Preparedness

2.  Preparedness Programs

a. Preparedness Planning

NIMS

(1) Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).  Each jurisdiction develops an EOP that defines the scope of preparedness and incident management activities necessary for that jurisdiction. The EOP should also describe organizational structures, roles and responsibilities, policies, and protocols for providing emergency support.  The EOP facilitates response and short-term recovery activities (which set the stage for successful long-term recovery). It should drive decisions on long-term prevention and mitigation efforts or risk-based preparedness measures directed at specific hazards. An EOP should be flexible enough for use in all emergencies. A complete EOP should describe the purpose of the plan, situation and assumptions, concept of operations, organization and assignment of responsibilities, administration and logistics, plan development and maintenance, and authorities and references. It should also contain functional annexes, hazard-specific appendices, and a glossary. EOPs should predesignate jurisdictional and/or functional area representatives to the IC or UC whenever possible to facilitate responsive and collaborative incident management. While the preparedness of the public is generally beyond the scope of the NIMS, EOPs should also include preincident and postincident public awareness, education, and communications plans and protocols.

III-B-2-a-1

(Page 35)

NIMS-Derived Compliance Statement(s)

The jurisdiction has implemented and institutionalized an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) that:

1.

defines the scope of preparedness and incident management activities necessary for the jurisdiction.

 Yes   No

2.