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Linda Eggler-A Message from the State of Alabama’s
NIMS Program Coordinator
Article by: Derrick Swanson
 Will
the entire state of Alabama be ready by September 30, 2008,
to keep our funding? That was a question of concern
addressed by Ms. Eggler. What Ms. Eggler was referring to is
NIMS compliance. There are two areas of concern: Tier 1 and
Tier 2. Tier 1 is considered critical for compliance, and
Tier 2 is recommended. By 2007, the State of Alabama had to
show that it was meeting the obligation. As it seems, the
state has work to do. Ms. Eggler apologized to all agencies
in Alabama that assisted during Hurricane Katrina that have
not received reimbursement. She stated they were working to
insure that future processes will be more efficient.
In 2008, there are
many requirements to be met. For example, each department
must have a NIMS POC (point of contact) to handle all
dealings that are associated with the requirements, MACS
(Multi-Agency Coordination System), its IAP (incident action
plan), use of Area Command, Unified Command, Interstate and
Interagency Mutual Aid Agreements, and plans for special
needs populations. Departments must understand FEMA Resource
Typing Standards, NGOs (non-governmental organizations) such
as the Red Cross, and the role of the PIO (public
information officer).
Ms. Eggler
stressed the importance of not saying you are NIMS-certified
because it is not the proper term to use. Instead, her
advice was to say, “I have taken the necessary NIMS courses
for my job.” Please remember that as your job changes, so
will NIMS requirements. It is important to involve elected
and appointed officials and executives in this process.
Although the NIMS
402 course is not ready for delivery, its purpose is to
brief executives about their roles and requirements within
the National Incident Management System. By 2009, NIMS 701,
702, 703, and 704 will be mandatory.
There’s a lot that
should have been learned from Hurricane Katrina. NIMS is
here, so we as professionals must stop resisting and learn
it. Guess what? When the BIG ONE happens, NIMS will be used.
Although ten codes are still being used, the plan is to use
plain language. Therefore, let’s be ready and better
prepared!
2/15/08
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