New NIMS Training Requirements - for everyone starting this year!

[helicopper 1,050]

The Department of Homeland Security will announce later today new training requirements relating to NIMS compliance for the next several years. This is in response to feedback from state and local partners about haphazard, inconsistent, and often false representations regarding the completion of training thus far.

Starting this year and for the next three Federal fiscal years, all emergency responders will be required to complete federally administered training courses relating to their field. In 2009-2010, a twenty-four hour program will have to be completed. In FFY's 11 and 12 the training program will be 40 hours. Subsequent years will require eight hours of refresher training.

For more information visit the DHS website at http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/NIMSalerts0401.shtm

Looks like DHS is catching on that nobody's paying attention to NIMS and they're putting some real requirements out there now. "Federally administered" means we have to sit through their courses and we can't do our own. This ought to be fun.

[Goose 188]

Looks like DHS is catching on that nobody's paying attention to NIMS and they're putting some real requirements out there now. "Federally administered" means we have to sit through their courses and we can't do our own. This ought to be fun.

x2 Chris...but this has an upside - no more BSing the courses which, in theory, would lead to better knowledge and working understanding of NIMS AND agencies who rightfully train their employees/members will rightfully have access to federal monies.

Edited April 1, 2009 by Goose

[abaduck 123]

[JohnnyOV 2]

god I hope this is an april fools prank

Edited April 1, 2009 by EMSJunkie712

[FirNaTine 370]

Nothing like being told how to handle incidents by a bunch of pencil pushers that never made a hallway! Stations and apparatus closed and put out of service; inadequate manning to get the JOB done, especially getting the 1st hoseline in place or bulkheads opened but we all must follow proper terminology. GET REAL!

Edited April 1, 2009 by FirNaTine

[50-65 205]

It doesn't really surprise me. The gov't has become extremely comfortable with telling everybody else what they can and cannot do, when and where it can or cannot be done, and how it is or is not to be done.

Since they get most to be dependent on them through financing this and that and bribing them with federal aid, then they can say what you have to do in order to continue receiving the funding you are now relying on.

[khas143 13]

I actually just returned from a meeting in New York City where this requirement was brought up. Apparently, NIMS compliance has been inconsistent at best, not just in this region but throughout the country. Here is the bad part; we all know that technically NIMS compliance is required to obtain federal grant funding. (This includes funding that is administered by state and local agencies but funded by the feds) In the past, grant recipients have only been required to "swear" that their organizations are in compliance with NIMS. According to DHS, this will now be a mandate and will require documentation in order to receive any DHS funded grants.

The problem is that most agencies that have received grant funding are not really in compliance with NIMS. These new NIMS requirements are not only going to be needed to be technically in compliance but agencies will be required to submit documentation to support their "claims" of compliance.

This is a great opportunity for the FEDS to impart their requirements on us. Homeland Security grant funding has been decreasing steadily for years and this is their opportunity to force us to do what they want us to in order to comply. By instituting these new standards during an economic downturn, they have us bent over the preverbal "barrel".

[grumpyff 1,159]

Yeah this is great, a system developed to fight large brush fires in California has so much to do with law enforcement in New York City. What a waste of time and money to send all of us throufg this crap, Again. and Again, and Again. Don't worry Obama payin.

[NWFDMedic 58]

Where's the money going to come from? You can't find a simple 300 level course anywhere around as is, now they're going to make the basic classes classroom instruction???

[Goose 188]

Oh you are so funny Chris. Nice April Fools joke! Totally forget what today was!