Critical Releases in Homeland Security: October 25, 2017

"Communities across the Nation experience a diverse set of threats, hazards, and events. The size, frequency, complexity, and scope of these incidents vary, but all involve a range of personnel and organizations to coordinate efforts to save lives, stabilize the incident, and protect property and the environment. Every day, jurisdictions and organizations work together to share resources, integrate tactics, and act collaboratively. Whether these organizations are nearby or are supporting each other from across the country, their success depends on a common, interoperable approach to sharing resources, coordinating and managing incidents, and communicating information. The National Incident Management System (NIMS) defines this comprehensive approach. NIMS guides all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations (NGO), and the private sector to work together to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from incidents. NIMS provides stakeholders across the whole community with the shared vocabulary, systems, and processes to successfully deliver the capabilities described in the National Preparedness System. NIMS defines operational systems, including the Incident Command System (ICS), Emergency Operations Center (EOC) structures, and Multiagency Coordination Groups (MAC Groups) that guide how personnel work together during incidents. NIMS applies to all incidents, from traffic accidents to major disasters. The jurisdictions and organizations involved in managing incidents vary in their authorities, management structures, communication capabilities and protocols, and many other factors. NIMS provides a common framework to integrate these diverse capabilities and achieve common goals. The guidance contained in this document incorporates solutions developed over decades of experience by incident personnel across the Nation."

From the executive summary: "In the ten years since the enactment of the 9/11 Commission Act, the terrorist threat landscape has evolved. It has diversified and splintered to encompass numerous al Qaeda affiliates--most notably Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)--as well as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). [...] Since the 9/11 attacks, the nature of incidents has shifted away from complex, coordinated operations carried out by trained and funded operatives against high profile targets, to attacks carried out by individuals with little to no training or support, such -as active shooter attacks, homemade improvised explosive devices, and vehicular manslaughter. Today, America is far better equipped than it was on September 11, 2001, to prepare for, prevent, and respond to acts of terrorism and other catastrophic events. The gains in preparedness are exemplified by the heroic responses to the Boston Marathon Bombings in 2013, the San Bernardino terrorist attack in December 2015, the Orlando night club mass shooting in June 2016, and the New York/New Jersey bombings in October 2016. Since 9/11, Federal investments in local preparedness and bolstering information sharing have helped deliver measurable progress in the level of security across the Nation. Still, we must stay vigilant and fully-engaged with homeland security partners to effectively address the dynamic range of threats that, in addition to traditional terrorist threats, today include cybersecurity attacks on critical infrastructure and violence by neo-Nazi, white supremacist, anti-government, and other domestic terror groups."