NIMS Compliance Assistance Support Tool (NIMSCAST) Update

Local governments handle most emergencies. However, when a major incident overwhelms its resources, local governments may need assistance from neighboring jurisdictions, the State, and/or the Federal government. As part of the National Preparedness System, the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the National Response Framework (NRF) ensure that all levels of government, non-governmental agencies, and the private sector are prepared to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from any incident.

DHS/FEMA has announced the release of the National Incident Management System Compliance Assistance Support Tool (NIMSCAST), version 4.00.15. This updated version provides enhanced security features, improved e-mail function, and adds the FY 2012 NIMS implementation assessment for local, state, Territory, and Tribal governments. Additionally, the NIMSCAST homepage (www.fema.gov/nimscast) now features an updated NIMSCAST User Guide. This guide includes improved step-by-step instructions, additional guidance on using available reports, and an updated glossary.

Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5 requires that all Federal departments and agencies make adoption of NIMS by local, State, Territorial, and Tribal organizations a condition to receive Federal Preparedness Grant Awards. To that end, FEMA’s National Integration Center (NIC) developed NIMSCAST as a no-cost self-assessment instrument for local, state, Territory, and Tribal governments to evaluate and report on their respective implementation of NIMS. Implementation progress data, as reported through NIMSCAST, is taken into consideration when allocating grant funds.

For additional information on NIMS, NIMS implementation, or NIMSCAST contact the NIC via e-mail at: FEMA-NIMS@dhs.gov.