2024 NIMS survey – Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI)

NIMS Compliance Survey - 2024

Data collection for the annual NIMS compliance requirement from FEMA/DHS. All jurisdictions/entities receiving grant funds must comply with NIMS, and these survey questions ensure that all aspects of compliance are covered. Each year, FEMA requires that our region document whether all entities requesting and receiving homeland security grant funds are compliant with NIMS and its principles. To meet this requirement, all jurisdictions must submit answers to a series of questions. An answer of “no” to any question disqualifies you from receiving grant funds, but FEMA also allows for documentation that you are in the process of meeting a requirement or meet it via an alternate method in order to remain eligible to receive funding.

Step 1 of 10

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Jurisdiction/Entity(Required)

Please enter the name of the jurisdiction or entity that you are providing the data for. Each jurisdiction/entity only needs to submit this form once.

Name of person submitting report(Required)

First Last

Email of person submitting report(Required)

Phone number of person submitting report(Required)

All jurisdictions receiving federal homeland security grant funds must comply with NIMS. This means that you use NIMS (ICS) as the organizational system of choice for your incident responses, and that this is documented via an official policy or other document. Remember that NIMS and ICS are scalable and flexible depending on the needs of the incident and the local area.

1. Has the jurisdiction adopted the National Incident Management System (NIMS) to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from incidents?(Required)

Yes, we are compliant.

We are in the process of becoming compliant (describe below).

We are compliant via an alternate method (describe below).

1b. Description

Please provide a detailed description if your response to Question 1 is either that you are in the process of becoming compliant or using an alternate method.

FEMA needs a single person to contact regarding your jurisdiction's implementation of NIMS. Please list that person's name and contact information below.

NIMS contact name(Required)

First Last

NIMS contact address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

NIMS contact phone(Required)

NIMS contact email address(Required)

3. Does the jurisdiction have a process to ensure that incident personnel receive pertinent NIMS training in alignment with the NIMS Training Program?(Required)

Your jurisdiction must have official guidance specifying which training classes personnel must take if they may respond to incidents, the time frame in which they have to complete that training (for example, within six months of hiring or promotion), and how frequently refresher training is needed (if applicable).

Yes, my jurisdiction has a process to ensure compliance with NIMS training requirements.

We are in the process of becoming compliant (describe below).

We are compliant via an alternate method (describe below).

3b. Description(Required)

Please provide a detailed description if required by your answer to Question 3.

4. Does the jurisdiction identify and inventory deployable incident resources consistent with national NIMS resource typing definitions and job titles/position qualifications, available through the Resource Typing Library Tool?(Required)

Your jurisdiction must have a method of inventorying grant-funded resources which are shareable or deployable. While there are communal systems available (like IRIS), you can also comply with the inventory requirement if you track your resources via a local inventory system. You must also identify a NIMS resource-typing definition for all shareable or deployable resources. Remember that most resource typing definitions are phrased as "meet or exceed," so once you identify a resource by the NIMS name, you can list it at the baseline type to be compliant (for example, Type IV).

Yes, my jurisdiction has an inventory system and uses NIMS resource-typing definitions for all shareable and deployable resources.

We are in the process of becoming compliant (describe below).

We are compliant via an alternate method (describe below).

4b. Description(Required)

Please provide a detailed description if required by your answer to Question 4.

5. Has the jurisdiction adopted organizational qualification system procedures that include a certification program and credentialing standards for incident workforce personnel in alignment with the NIMS Guideline for the National Qualification System?(Required)

Your jurisdiction must have a method of ensuring incident personnel are qualified, certified, and credentialed. This can be done through the IMT Position Task Books (PTBs), through the new National Qualification System (NQS), or an alternate method of your choice.

Yes, my jurisdiction has a process for the qualification, certification, and credentialing of incident personnel.

We are in the process of becoming compliant (describe below).

We are compliant via an alternate method (describe below).

5b. Description(Required)

Please provide a detailed description if required by your answer to Question 5.

6. Does the jurisdiction use a resource management or qualification tool system to track the qualification, certification, and credentialing of incident workforce personnel?(Required)

This question specifically asks if your jurisdiction has a personnel qualification, certification, and credentialing tool system. Examples include the agencies certifying responders, regional team type certification.

Yes, my jurisdictional has a tool system for the qualification, certification, and credentialing of incident personnel.

We are in the process of implementing a tool system (describe below).

We are compliant via an alternate method (describe below).

6b. Description(Required)

Please provide a detailed description if required by your answer to Question 6.

7. Does the jurisdiction conduct exercises in accordance with the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)?(Required)

All exercises must follow the guidelines outlined in FEMA's HSEEP document.

Yes, my jurisdiction's exercises align with HSEEP guidance.

We are in the process of becoming compliant (describe below).

We are compliant via an alternate method (describe below).

7b. Description(Required)

Please provide a detailed description if required by your answer to Question 8.

8. Does the jurisdiction use the NIMS Resource Management Process during incidents (identify requirements, order and acquire, mobilize, track and report, demobilize, reimburse and restock)?(Required)

This question simply asks if you use a standardized process to manage incident resources. The STAR board in WebEOC covers most/all of the items mentioned here.

Yes, my jurisdiction's resource management processes align with NIMS.

We are in the process of becoming compliant (describe below).

We are compliant via an alternate method (describe below).

8b. Description(Required)

Please provide a detailed description if required by your answer to Question 9.

9. Does the jurisdiction develop, maintain, and implement mutual aid agreements (to include agreements with the private sector and nongovernmental organizations)?(Required)

This question should be yes for all jurisdictions in our region. You can answer yes if you have one or more individual MAAs or if you are a signatory to a regional MAA.

Yes, my jurisdiction maintains one or more mutual aid agreements.

We are in the process of becoming compliant (describe below).

9b. Description(Required)

Please provide a detailed description if required by your answer to Question 10.

10. Does the jurisdiction apply ICS as the standard approach to the on-scene command, control, and coordination of incidents?(Required)

Remember that ICS is scalable and flexible depending on the needs of the incident and the relevant agencies involved. Ideally, your standard operating procedures or other documentation will require the use of ICS and describe how it is specifically applied within your jurisdiction.

Yes, my jurisdiction applies ICS as the standard approach to on-scene command, control, and coordination of incidents.

We are in the process of becoming compliant (describe below).

We are compliant via an alternate method (describe below).

10b. Description(Required)

Please provide a detailed description if required by your answer to Question 11.

11. Does the jurisdiction implement Joint Information Systems (JIS) for the dissemination of incident information to the public, incident personnel, traditional and social media, and other stakeholders?(Required)

A Joint Information System involves the coordination of public messaging related to incidents and events. Ensuring that PIOs within your organization coordinate their activities qualifies as having a JIS. A formalized Joint Information Center (JIC), be it local or regional, is NOT required.

Yes, my jurisdiction implements a Joint Information System (JIS).

We are in the process of becoming compliant (describe below).

We are compliant via an alternate method (describe below).

11b. Description(Required)

Please provide a detailed description if required by your answer to Question 12.

12. Does the jurisdiction use Multi-Agency Coordination (MAC) Groups/Policy Groups during incidents to enable decision making among elected and appointed officials and support resource prioritization and allocation?(Required)

This question simply asks if your jurisdiction uses a group of executive leadership to enable decision-making (such as executive leadership briefings, a policy group, and so forth), or if when involved in multi-jurisdictional incidents you coordinate with other jurisdictions on certain decision-making activities. As a side note, a MAC group is NOT the same as the H-GAC MACC, but participation in the MACC could meet this requirement for using groups to help prioritize resource requests.

Yes, my jurisdiction uses MAC groups or policy groups.

We are in the process of becoming compliant (describe below).

We are compliant via an alternate method (describe below).

12b. Description(Required)

Please provide a detailed description if required by your answer to Question 13.

13. Does the jurisdiction organize and manage EOCs and EOC teams consistent with pertinent NIMS guidance?(Required)

The NIMS refresh in 2017 made it clear that EOCs should be organized in a way that best fits the needs of the jurisdiction. General NIMS principles, like scalability, flexibility, unity of command, and span of control should all be met, but FEMA does NOT require adherence to ICS, ESF, or any other EOC organization model to meet this requirement.

Yes, my jurisdiction's management of EOCs and EOC teams is consistent with NIMS guidance.

We are in the process of becoming compliant (describe below).

We are compliant via an alternate method (describe below).

13b. Description(Required)

Please provide a detailed description if required by your answer to Question 14.

14. Does the jurisdiction apply plain language and clear text communications standards?(Required)

Ensure your policies/guidelines and training materials stress the use of plain language and clear text for incident communications. All FEMA NIMS/ICS classes (100, 200, 300, etc.) already comply with this.

Yes, my jurisdiction applies plain language and clear text communications standards.

We are in the process of becoming compliant (describe below).

We are compliant via an alternate method (describe below).

14b. Description(Required)

Please provide a detailed description if required by your answer to Question 15.

15. Can the jurisdiction enable interoperable and secure communications within and across jurisdictions and organizations?(Required)

To comply, your communications and information systems (including but not limited to radios) must be scalable, be usable on any size incident, allow for interoperability (including through the use of mutual aid channels), have guidance/documentation included in various plans, and have been exercised to ensure personnel can use the systems. Participation in regional systems as documented in the RICP should meet this requirement. Use of other standards-complaint systems could also meet the requirement, even if not on the regional system, but those alternate systems should allow for interoperability (through common talkgroups/frequencies, patching, or other methods) during multi-jurisdictional incidents.

Yes, my jurisdiction can enable inteoperable and secure communications.

We are in the process of becoming compliant (describe below).

We are compliant via an alternate method (describe below).

15b. Description(Required)

Please provide a detailed description if required by your answer to Question 16.

16. Does the jurisdiction develop, maintain, and implement procedures for data collection, analysis, and dissemination to meet organizational needs for situational awareness?(Required)

You should have plans or procedures to ensure that personnel can collect relevant information during an exercise, incident, or event, and then be able to compile that information and disseminate it to relevant parties (for example, through regular Situation Reports). Use of WebEOC for data collection and dissemination could indicate compliance with this requirement, as would an EOC procedure on SITREP data collection and production.

Yes, my jurisdiction develops, maintains, and implements procedures of data collection, analysis, and dissemination.

We are in the process of becoming compliant (describe below).

We are compliant via an alternate method (describe below).

16b. Description(Required)

Please provide a detailed description if required by your answer to Question 17.

You are seeing this message because you answered "no" to one of the required NIMS questions.

Please contact Alison Belcher at 832-393-0098 or Steven Scandole at 832-393-0039 to discuss your jurisdiction's process to achieve NIMS certification and DO NOT SUBMIT THIS SURVEY (if you like, you can click "Save and Continue Later") so you can resume your survey after discussing with the UASI program management team.

Journal notes/ comments

For all questions above, if you answered "Yes" no further explanation is needed (though FEMA may ask for documentation of your compliance during an audit). Description of how you are in the process of becoming compliant or how you comply via an alternate method should be included under the relevant Description box for each specific question (boxes appear based on your answer choice to the main question). Please use this box for any comments or description not otherwise captured above.

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