What Do Nims Exercises Include?

When a major emergency occurs, responders from numerous jurisdictions must work together to address it. That's where the National Incident Management System, or NIMS, comes in. This system promotes a unified approach to managing emergencies. NIMS exercises, including classroom coursework and practice drills, are conducted so that emergency responders can practice this unified approach before an incident arises.

Benefits

NIMS exercises help emergency personnel at the local, state and federal level better respond to incidents such as acts of terrorism and natural disasters. NIMS sets standard management and command structures. It also emphasizes preparedness, resource management and mutual aid. The NIMS exercises are part of a five-year training plan.

Example

NIMS training involves courses such as the Integrated Emergency Management Course. In this exercise, public officials and emergency personnel are put in a realistic crisis situation. This course starts in a classroom setting, with the emergency scenario unfolding in sequence via lectures, discussions and workshops. As the course progresses, scenarios that involve increasing complexity, pressure and threat evolve. Exercise participants create emergency plans, policies and procedures aimed at ensuring an effective response. The culmination of this course is an emergency exercise that tests participants' decision making, knowledge, flexibility, awareness, leadership and interpersonal skills under a high-pressure situation. The idea is for participants to rehearse their real-life roles during an emergency and to identify any gaps in emergency planning that exist, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Who Gets Trained

First-line emergency responders, emergency supervisors and elected officials all perform NIMS training exercises. Responders include firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel, health care and hospital staffs, public works employees, government administrative staff members and volunteers.

Training Agencies

NIMS exercises are conducted under the guidance of training agencies. These include universities, the regional homeland security coordinating committees, fire and rescue training institutes and regional emergency response systems. FEMA's Emergency Management Institute also conducts training exercises.