Guidance to State Agencies

Compliance reports submitted via this electronic NIMS Progress Report tool are required for all participating agencies with the Emergency Support Functions (ESF) as listed in the Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) ESF participation matrix and any other agencies that have a role in incident management or response.

Other agencies are encouraged to continue their NIMS implementation efforts, and should, at a minimum, have key personnel complete the IS-700 "Introduction to NIMS" course. This will provide some knowledge of the Incident Command System to personnel who may be interacting with emergency response organizations.

Governor Locke’s 2004 proclamation directed Washington State agencies to adopt and integrate the NIMS and described the expected benefits of the standardized incident management system.  The proclamation serves as an affirmative response for question # 1 on the NIMS Progress Report.  An agency’s participation with Emergency Support Functions (ESF) through the State Emergency Operation Center may be directed towards pertinent compliance activities

It will be the responsibility of each tribe, organization, agency or department to individually certify their compliance.  To enable that process and to accommodate the additional requirements that have been placed on our state to measure compliance, facilitate reporting and administer funding based on compliance, all Washington State tribes, organizations, agencies and departments that desire to be "NIMS compliant" must submit reports using this reporting tool.

The data received from reports will be compiled, analyzed, and briefed to our state’s Adjutant General and Governor and eventually forwarded to the Department of Homeland Security, as required.  The reports that you submit will also be provided to the Washington State Regional Homeland Security Coordination Districts as well as to the various state agencies that provide federal pass through funding.  They will use the reports that you submit as a tool to determine your funding eligibility.

If you have questions concerning any of these requirements or the reporting process in general, please do not hesitate to contact me by any of the means listed below.

Jim Kadrmas
Assistant EOC Manager
Washington State Emergency Management Division
(253) 512-7027
j.kadrmas@emd.wa.gov