Crosswalk/Comparison of NIIMS/NIMS

The National Interagency Incident Management System (NIIMS), adopted by several federal, 
state, and local agencies in 1982, served as the basis for today's National Incident Management 
System (NIMS).  Many similarities exist between the NIIMS and the NIMS; however, there are 
new, additional components of NIMS. NIIMS was designed to meet the challenges of wildland 
fire. The NIMS was designed to address the challenges of all hazards or terrorist events. In 
addition, there is increased emphasis on prevention and preparedness measures in NIMS. With 
the exception of the way the intelligence function is handled, the principles and concepts of 
NIMS ICS are the same as the NIIMS ICS. Under the NIMS ICS, the incident commander has 
flexibility in where to assign the intelligence and information function, e.g., command staff 
or operations. Following is an outline of the five components of the NIIMS and the six components 
of NIMS. 

NIIMS
1) INcident Command System
2) Training
3) Qualification and Certification
4) Publication Management
5) Supporting Technologies

NIMS
1) Command and Management, including ICS
2) Preparedness
3) Resource Management
4) Communications and Information Management
5) Supporting Technologies
6) NIMS Management and Maintenance
  

Question:  My community/state was compliant with the NIIMS. Does this mean that I'm compliant with 
NIMS?

Answer:  No, compliance with NIIMS does not automatically mean that you are now compliant with the 
NIMS, because the NIMS includes additional features beyond what was in NIIMS. However, 
because the NIIMS ICS forms the basis for the NIMS Command and Management, you would be 
compliant with this aspect of the NIMS. For more information about NIMS compliance and the 
implementation requirements for FY 2005, please visit the NIMS Web page at 
www.fema.gov/nims. The Web page includes the NIMS implementation guidance that was sent 
to each governor, more information about NIMS ICS and NIMS training information. The NIMS 
Integration Center will add additional NIMS compliance guidance to the Web page as it is 
developed.