NIMS Communications & Information Management 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the term 'unity of message' mean in the context of NIMS public information?
- All responders use the same radio script
- Multiple agencies coordinate to deliver consistent, non-contradictory information to the public (Correct answer)
- The Incident Commander delivers all public statements personally
- A single spokesperson is assigned per agency regardless of incident size
Correct answer: Multiple agencies coordinate to deliver consistent, non-contradictory information to the public
Unity of message means agencies coordinate through the JIS to ensure the public receives consistent, accurate information from all sources.
Question 2: Which statement best describes the relationship between the Joint Information System (JIS) and the Joint Information Center (JIC)?
- The JIS and JIC are different names for the same entity
- The JIC is the physical location where the JIS functions are carried out (Correct answer)
- The JIS is subordinate to the JIC
- The JIC provides technical communications equipment for the JIS
Correct answer: The JIC is the physical location where the JIS functions are carried out
The JIS is the overall framework for coordinating public information, and the JIC is the physical facility where that coordination takes place.
Question 3: Which of the following is an example of vertical information flow in NIMS?
- A field supervisor sharing updates with neighboring units at the same level
- A local emergency manager reporting incident status to the state EOC (Correct answer)
- Two agency PIOs coordinating a joint press release
- The Logistics and Operations sections exchanging resource status
Correct answer: A local emergency manager reporting incident status to the state EOC
Vertical information flow refers to communication between different levels of the organizational hierarchy, such as local reporting to state.
Question 4: What is the primary risk of using agency-specific codes (like 10-codes) during a multi-agency incident?
- They consume more radio bandwidth than plain language
- They may be interpreted differently by personnel from other agencies, causing miscommunication (Correct answer)
- They are prohibited by FCC regulations during disasters
- They slow down communication because they require translation software
Correct answer: They may be interpreted differently by personnel from other agencies, causing miscommunication
Different agencies often use the same codes with different meanings, leading to dangerous miscommunication during multi-agency operations.
Question 5: Under NIMS, how should sensitive law enforcement information be handled in a multi-agency communications environment?
- It should always be excluded from all incident briefings
- It should be shared only with those who have a need to know and appropriate clearance (Correct answer)
- It must be transmitted only in written form via encrypted email
- It should be passed exclusively through the Incident Commander
Correct answer: It should be shared only with those who have a need to know and appropriate clearance
NIMS calls for need-to-know sharing, ensuring sensitive information reaches those who require it for their role while protecting it from unnecessary disclosure.
Question 6: What is the primary function of the Documentation Unit within the Planning Section?
- Managing the incident's public information releases
- Maintaining accurate and complete incident records and distributing the IAP (Correct answer)
- Tracking all incoming and outgoing radio traffic
- Processing resource requests and demobilization paperwork
Correct answer: Maintaining accurate and complete incident records and distributing the IAP
The Documentation Unit maintains all incident records, collects and organizes forms, and ensures the IAP is reproduced and distributed.
Question 7: Which best describes how NIMS addresses the 'last mile' communications problem in the field?
- By requiring all field responders to carry satellite phones
- By ensuring communications plans address connectivity from the ICP to field personnel at the tactical level (Correct answer)
- By mandating cell phone coverage in all incident areas
- By restricting field communications to line-of-sight radio only
Correct answer: By ensuring communications plans address connectivity from the ICP to field personnel at the tactical level
NIMS communications planning must bridge the gap from command-level coordination down to field personnel to ensure tactical information flows effectively.
NIMS Communications & Information Management 5
What does the term 'unity of message' mean in the context of NIMS public information?