Cobb ARES - NIMS Information






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In 2005, compliance with the National Incident Management System (NIMS) requirements became a major effort within the emergency management community. The Georgia Office of Homeland Security/Georgia Emergency Management Agency (OHS/GEMA) published guidelines, coordinated with the United States Department of Homeland Security (OHS), that must be completed by October 1, 2006, by jurisdiction Emergency Management Agencies to meet NIMS compliance. This compliance is required for jurisdictions to continue receiving OHS grants after that date.There has been debate about these requirements extending to volunteer groups such as ARES. In some jurisdictions, ARES volunteers are considered first responders and NIMS compliance requirements have been extended to those groups by the jurisdiction's Emergency Management Agency (EMA). In other jurisdictions that has not been the case. However, the Georgia Section ARES leadership encourages all ARES members to strive to demonstrate a willingness toward compliance with the requirements even if not required by your local EMA. For further information go to the NIMS Compliance page on the GA ARES Web site

Basic FEMA Courses for ARES

1. IS-100 – Introduction to ICS or equivalent

2. IS-700 – NIMS, An Introduction (National Incident Management System)

Additional for Front Line Supervisors

1. IS-200 – Basic ICS or equivalent

Additional for Strike Team Leaders, Task Force Leaders, Unit Leaders, etc

1. IS-300 – Intermediate ICS or equivalent

2. IS-800 – National Response Plan (NRP), An Introduction

More info in GA ARES training page: http://gaares.org/training_ares.htm

GA ARES NIMS Compliance page: http://gaares.org/nims_compliance.htm

Cobb ARES members need only take the basic FEMA courses. However, if you would like to take additional courses, please do so. Some of the more advanced courses may not be available to "civilians" yet. They may be restricted to Public Safety or Disaster Response Professionals.

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