WHEREAS, the President of the United States in Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)-5, directed the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to develop and administer a National Incident Management System (NIMS), which would provide a consistent nationwide approach for federal, state, and local governments to work together more effectively and efficiently to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size, or complexity; and
WHEREAS, the collective input and guidance from all federal, state, and local homeland security partners has been, and will continue to be, vital to the development, effective implementation and utilization of a comprehensive NIMS; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary and desirable that all federal, state, and local emergency agencies and personnel coordinate their efforts to effectively and efficiently provide the highest levels of incident management; and
WHEREAS, to facilitate the most efficient and effective incident management, it is critical that federal, state, and local organizations utilize standardized terminology, standardized organizational structures, interoperable communications, consolidated action plans, unified command structures, uniform personnel qualification standards, uniform standards for planning, training, and exercising, comprehensive resource management, and designated incident management facilities during emergencies or disasters; and
WHEREAS, the NIMS standardized procedures for managing personnel, communications, facilities and resources will facilitate the state's ability to receive federal funding to enhance local and state agency readiness, maintain first responder safety, and streamline incident management processes; and
WHEREAS, the Incident Command System components of NIMS are already an integral part of various incident management activities throughout the state, including current emergency management training programs; and the response to all gubernatorial declared emergencies will be in accordance with NIMS standards; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Public Law Number 108-458 each political entity receiving grant funds from the Department of Homeland Security will comply with all NIMS standards; and
WHEREAS, the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks (9-11 Commission) recommended adoption of a standardized Incident Command System.
NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Laws of the State of South Carolina, I hereby order that the National Incident Management System (NIMS) is adopted as South Carolina's standard for incident management. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division shall review and revise the State Emergency Operations Plan, and recommend revisions to State Regulations 58-1 and 58-101 to insure they are compliant with all applicable NIMS standards.
FURTHER, I order that all emergency response training and exercises shall conform to the standards established by the NIMS. All state and local departments or agencies assigned a primary responsibility for emergency response and planning shall insure that all applicable standard operating procedures conform to NIMS standards.
FURTHER, I order that all state and local departments or agencies assigned a primary or support responsibility in the State Emergency Operations Plan shall participate in scheduled exercises of the South Carolina Emergency Management Division and shall conduct training and certification of personnel essential to the implementation of all assigned emergency functions that comply with NIMS standards.
FURTHER, all local jurisdictions within the state are encouraged to adopt NIMS as their standard for local emergency management and incident response.
GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, THIS 3rd DAY OF JUNE, 2005.
MARK SANFORD
Governor
Last Updated:
Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 4:08 P.M.