THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY
BILL PURCELL, MAYOR
SUBJECT: NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (NIMS)
WHEREAS, in Homeland Security Directive (HSPD)-5, the President of the United States directed the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to develop and administer a National Incident Management System (NIMS) which would provide a consistent nationwide approach for federal, state, local, and tribal governments to work together in a more effective and efficient manner to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents regardless of cause, size, or complexity; and
WHEREAS, the collective input and guidance from all federal, state, local, and tribal homeland security partners has been, and will continue to be, vital to the development and effective implementation and utilization of a comprehensive National Incident Management System (NIMS); and
WHEREAS, it is necessary and desirable that all federal, state, local, and tribal emergency agencies and personnel coordinate their efforts to effectively and efficiently provide the highest levels of incident management; and
WHEREAS, to facilitate the most efficient and effective incident management, it is critical that federal, state, local, and tribal organizations utilize standardized terminology, standardized organizational structures, interoperable communications, consolidated action plans, unified command structures, uniform personnel qualification standards, uniform standards for planning, training, and exercising, comprehensive resource management, and designated incident facilities during emergencies or disasters; and
WHEREAS, the National Incident Management System (NIMS) sets forth standardized procedures for managing personnel, communications, facilities and resources that will improve the Metropolitan Government's ability to utilize federal funding to enhance local and state agency readiness, maintain first responder safety, and streamline incident management processes; and
WHEREAS, the Incident Command System component of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) is already an integral part of various incident management activities throughout the Metropolitan Government including current emergency management training programs.
Now therefore, I, Bill Purcell, Mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County by virtue of the power and authority vested in me, do hereby direct and order that:
1. The National Incident Management System (NIMS) shall be the standard for incident management within the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee;
2. The National Incident Management System (NIMS) shall be incorporated into and become part of the Metro Nashville - Davidson County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) as promulgated June 1, 2004;
3. The Mayor's Office of Emergency Management shall be responsible for monitoring compliance with the National Incident Management System (NIMS) in coordination with other departments.
ORDERED, EFFECTIVE AND ISSUED:
Bill Purcell
Mayor, Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County
DATE: November 3, 2005