NIMS and ICS Components of Emergency Management

NIMS and ICS Components
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NIMS and ICS Components
Emergency management involves planning, assigning responsibilities, and organizing resources to deal with humanitarian disasters. Emergency management aims to cushion people from the adverse effects of hazards by promoting safer communities that can cope with emergencies as they arise. Emergency management occurs/happens in four phases. These include the mitigation phase, preparedness phase, and response and recovery phases (Horahan & Lee, 2021). When a crisis occurs, it is common for multiple humanitarian agencies to collaborate in response. In such cases, effective communication is vital to ensure all stakeholders follow the four phases of emergency management.
NIMS and ICS Protocols and the Four Phases of Emergency Management
The National Incident Management System (NIMS) is a systematic approach to emergency management developed by the U.S Department of Homeland Security in response to a presidential directive (Malone & Hildebrand, 2022). The Incident Command System (ICS) is also a standardized management structure combining facilities, equipment, staff, and operations to help manage resources during disasters (Malone & Hildebrand, 2022). The goal is to ensure coordination of all responders to ensure they work seamlessly to mitigate, respond to and recover from incidents despite their complexity, size, or location. The components of ICS include incident command, operations, planning, logistics, and finance and administration (Horahan & Lee, 2021). NIMS components include preparedness, command, resource management, communications and information management, and maintenance.
 Preparedness refers to taking measures or conducting activities before responding to an incident. These measures include threat assessment, planning, mapping out procedures and protocols, and training. These activities are implemented in an ongoing process in preparation for any occurrence. In relation to the mitigation phase of emergency management, continuous personnel training is vital to ensure that they are always ready to deal with emergencies and prevent excessive damage. They should also be adequately prepared to respond promptly to emergencies. Preparedness during the recovery phase helps to promote quick repairs of destroyed infrastructure, hence a faster return to normal situation. 
The command and management component involves establishing a well-organized structure to ensure seamless operations and coordination during disaster management. The command and management component is responsible for commanding staff, coordinating response activities, and communicating information to the public. The commanding officers can utilize this component during the mitigation stage to create awareness or warn the public about an impending danger. This communication would help the community be better prepared in case of any disaster. The command and management component is also essential during the response phase of emergency management because the commanding officer is empowered to command staff to respond to a crisis. Through this component, the leader is able to coordin...