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NIMS Compliance
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. |
