FEMA releases new NIMS Position Qualifications and Resource Typing Definitions
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MA announced yesterday improvements to the Resource Management component of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) to strengthen the interoperability and effectiveness of mutual aid.
"This is a tremendous step forward," said John Fetterman, NASBLA Deputy Executive Director. "States and other first responders will be better able to deliver the right personnel and the right equipment to aid their neighbors during emergencies and disasters."
The U.S. Coast Guard's Office of Boat Forces has been working for several years with FEMA to develop the qualifications and resource typing for the waterborne response professional.
FEMA released new NIMS Position Qualifications and Resource Typing Definitions for the following Maritime primary core capabilities:
1) On Scene Security, Protection, and Law Enforcement
- Boat Crew Member (Position Qualification)
- Boat Operator (Position Qualification)
- Waterborne Response Team (Resource Typing)
2) Mass Search and Rescue Operations
- Boat Crew Member (Position Qualification)
- Boat Operator (Position Qualification)
- Waterborne Search and Rescue Team (Resource Typing)
Typing of maritime position qualifications and resources will greatly enhance the response to maritime incidents, and allow for Incident Commanders to more adequately request personnel and resources through the National Mutual Aid System and the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC).
Below is some background on what NIMS Typing and Credentialing entail:
Typing - Resource typing is defining and categorizing, by capability, the resources requested, deployed and used in incidents. Resource typing definitions establish a common language and defines a resource’s (for equipment, teams, and units) minimum capabilities. NIMS resource typing definitions serve as the common language for the mobilization of resources.
FEMA leads the development and maintenance of NIMS resource typing definitions that are national in scope.
Credentialing - Qualifying and credentialing personnel ensures that the identity and attributes of individuals or members of teams are validated against an established set of minimum criteria and qualifications for specific job titles. The NIMS Guideline for the Credentialing of Personnel can be found here.
FEMA leads the development and maintenance of NIMS job titles/position qualifications, which serve as a common language for describing the job titles and a consistent set of minimum qualifications for use in the qualifying and credentialing of personnel.
For more information and to download the documents, please visit FEMA's National Qualification System page.