National Incident Management System Flashcards
7 cards from real FEMA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 National Incident Management System flashcards as text
Under NIMS, which document establishes the objectives, tactics, and resource assignments for operational periods?
Answer: Incident Action Plan (IAP)
The Incident Action Plan (IAP) documents the incident objectives, tactics, safety plan, and resource assignments for a specific operational period, and is used directly at the incident level.
According to NIMS, what is the correct order of incident command staff positions in the ICS organization?
Answer: Incident Commander → Command Staff → General Staff → Supervisors → Single Resources
In ICS, the Incident Commander leads the organization, supported by Command Staff (Safety, PIO, Liaison) and General Staff section chiefs (Operations, Planning, Logistics, Finance/Admin).
In NIMS, when is it appropriate to transfer command of an incident?
Answer: When the incident grows in complexity requiring a more qualified Incident Commander, or when a jurisdiction with greater authority assumes responsibility
Command transfer occurs when incident complexity increases beyond the current IC's qualifications, when jurisdictional authority changes, or for other valid operational reasons, always with a formal briefing.
What does the NIMS principle of 'management by objectives' require?
Answer: Establishing clear, measurable objectives and using them to direct all incident tactics and resource assignments
Management by objectives under NIMS means that incident operations are guided by specific, measurable objectives established for each operational period that drive all tactical decisions.
Which NIMS-compliant tool is used to formally request resources from another jurisdiction or organization during an incident?
Answer: Resource Request Message (or a formal written request through the EOC)
Under NIMS, resource requests flow through documented, traceable channels — typically a formal Resource Request Message through the EOC — to ensure accountability and accurate tracking.
The NIMS concept of 'accountability' in incident management refers to:
Answer: Ensuring all personnel are checked in, tracked, and assigned through the chain of command during an incident
Accountability in NIMS means that all personnel are checked in, their assignments are tracked, and their location is known at all times to ensure responder safety and operational effectiveness.
When integrating NIMS into daily operations, first responder agencies are required to:
Answer: Incorporate NIMS principles into their standard operating procedures, training, and exercises
NIMS compliance requires agencies to integrate NIMS principles into their SOPs, training programs, and exercises so that the system becomes institutionalized rather than only activated during major disasters.