On February 28, 2003, President Bush issued Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5. HSPD-5 directed the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and administer a National Incident Management System (NIMS).

NIMS provides a consistent nationwide template to enable all government, private-sector, and nongovernmental organizations to work together during any type of domestic incident.

NIMS benefits include a unified approach to incident management; standard command and management structures; and emphasis on preparedness, mutual aid and resource management.

The following is an outline of the main components of NIMS:

NIMS Components

• Command and management
• Incident Command System
• Multiagency Coordination System
• Public Information System
• Preparedness
• Planning
• Training and Exercises
• Standards and Certification
• Mutual Aid
• Information and Publications
• Resource Management
• Identify and type resources
• Certify and credential personnel
• Inventory, acquire, mobilize, track and recover
• Communications and Information Management
• Supporting Technologies
• Ongoing NIMS Management