Feds restrict volunteers at disasters

[Dustoff]

I was co-teaching an ICS300 class the other day when the other instructor made a remark about NIMS being a living document. When asked to explain, he said that it was constantly evolving and would continue to evolve as long as folks continued to come up with better ways to do it...sort of like CPR.

If we wait for it to stop changing, we'd best not hold our breath.

And as a side note, here's the latest and greatest

NIMS Five Year Training Plan V2
http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2962

Draft Revised NIMS - August 2007
http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2961

And

http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1189450382144.shtm
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released today the draft National Response Framework (NRF), successor to the National Response Plan, for a 30-day public comment period.

There are also legal precedents for the use of NIMS/ICS, which apply even to  organizations that have not formally adopted NIMS/ICS.  (I'm not a lawyer, nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, but I can supply the citations.)

Jim

[RiverAux]

Interesting that this can be a requirement without an approved regional supplement to 60-3, which is the only way it could be "legal" in the region.

[floridacyclist]

I wonder at what point do federal rules trump CAP ones?

[RiverAux]

Never, except in relation to federal laws that bind everybody.  But just because the feds do something doesn't automatically change CAP regulations.  Now, the feds can change things such that if CAP doesn't adapt we don't get to play in their sandbox, but that is not the situation we're in (yet).

[SARMedTech]

I was co-teaching an ICS300 class the other day when the other instructor made a remark about NIMS being a living document. When asked to explain, he said that it was constantly evolving and would continue to evolve as long as folks continued to come up with better ways to do it...sort of like CPR.

If we wait for it to stop changing, we'd best not hold our breath.

Well said. As someone trained up to the level of IC, I can tell you that ICS/NIMS is designed to a living, breathing thing. It evolves over time and even from incident to incident bsaed on best practices, corrective actions, etc. I wasnt to shot with NIMS at first, but as I get more into the DR/ES field, I really enjoy it and am working right now on a handbook for EMS responders that they can carry with them....sort of a Pocket Guide to NIMS/ICS, since there are things that can be confusing. I am writing from an ICs point of view and in terms of how an ideal MCI situation would be run. If anyone has anything they think should be in such a pocket guide and you are well versed in NIMS/ICS, please feel free to PM me.

[floridacyclist]

I have one of those...a list of duty assignments and checklists for different positions. I'll see if I can find out more on it, but you might try looking on Gall's. I have to run to a class, but will look into it more as I would like to be able to give them out at ICS classes if I can find a good bulk price on them.

This class itself is quite fascinating - Basic Data Recovery and Acquisition, or How to Find a Pervert's Stash of Kiddie Porn After He's Reformatted His Drive. I'll be in Tampa for a couple more days if anyone is around and wants to say hi...will be at the Gp 3 (I think that's the group here) CC Call tomorrow night.