Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Governor's Office
PROCLAMATION
IMPLEMENTING THE NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

December 20, 2004

WHEREAS, In Homeland Security Directive (HSPD)-5, the President 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, local and tribal 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, local and tribal 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 that all federal, state, local, and tribal emergency management 
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, local, and tribal organizations utilize standardized terminology, standardized 
organizational structures, uniform personnel qualification standards, uniform standards for 
planning, training, and exercising, comprehensive resource management, and designated 
incident facilities during emergencies or disasters; and

WHEREAS, the NIMS standardized procedures for managing personnel, communications, 
facilities and resources will improve the state's ability to utilize 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 all public safety and 
emergency response organizations training programs; and

WHEREAS, the National Commission of 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 the 
provisions of the Emergency Management Services Code (35 Pa. C.S. Section 7101 et seq., as 
amended), I do hereby mandate the National Incident Management System be utilized for all 
incident management in the Commonwealth.

I further proclaim this to take effect immediately.

GIVEN under my hand and the Seal of the Governor, at the City of Harrisburg, this twentieth day 
of December in the year of our Lord two thousand four and of the Commonwealth the two 
hundred and twenty-ninth.

EDWARD G. RENDELL
Governor