The NIMS Integration Center has released a Web-based self-assessment tool to help all levels of departments and agencies evaluate incident preparedness and response capabilities.

With the new NIMCAST, or the National Incident Management Compliance Assessment Support Tool, your agency can:

• Determine what you need to do to comply with National Incident Management System requirements.
• Take a demo assessment to work through topics, descriptions and questions associated with the primary NIMS categories.
• Download the complete assessment tool, chapter by chapter, in “read-only” format.

“NIMCAST is a valuable tool that will allow organizations to evaluate and monitor their progress in implementing NIMS,” said Michael D. Brown, under secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response. “… It also will help the federal government target NIMS improvement strategies in areas where there is the greatest need.”

NIMCAST is a permission-based system, but anyone may use the demo. NIMS points-of-contact for each of the FEMA regional offices were trained on the use of the system in mid-January. They will in turn provide training to state contacts.

Download NIMCAST from the NIMS home page at www.fema.gov/nimcast/index.jsp.

For more information, e-mail nims-integration-center@dhs.gov or call 202-646-3850.