According to the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Department of Homeland Security is coordinating a comprehensive review of the National Response Plan and the National Incident Management System to assess their effectiveness and identify improvements. DHS has issued a second national comment period for the NIMS document starting this week through April 6. The IAFC is collecting comments until April 4.

NIMS is a key element in the national framework for domestic incident management. It provides a nationwide template that enables federal, state, local and tribal governments; the private sector; and non-governmental organizations to work together efficiently and effectively to manage the consequences of domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size, location or complexity to reduce the loss of life and property.

As part of the review process, stakeholders are asked to participate in two formal comment periods on both documents to ensure their effectiveness as national doctrine for incident management. The first draft of the NIMS document was released for national comment in February. Hundreds of stakeholders nationwide provided comments during this review period. Comments from the review period have been adjudicated by the NIMS Working Group and a complete technical edit of the document has been performed by the writing team in preparation for the second national comment period.

For more information on offering your comments to the IAFC by April 4, visit their Web site.