SAMPLE EXECUTIVE ORDER

DESIGNATION OF THE NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (NIMS) AS 
THE BASIS FOR ALL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT IN THE STATE/COMMONWEALTH

WHEREAS, the President in Homeland Security 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, 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;  

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;

WHEREAS, it is necessary and desirable that all Federal, State, local and tribal 
emergency agencies and personnel coordinate their efforts to effectively and efficiently 
provide the highest levels of incident management;   

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, 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 facilities during emergencies or disasters;  

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.      

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 

WHEREAS, the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks (9-11 Commission) 
recommended adoption of a standardized Incident Command System;  



NOW, THEREFORE, I, ________________, Governor of the State/Commonwealth of 
____________, by the virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Laws 
of the State/Commonwealth of _______, do hereby establish the National Incident Management
System (NIMS) as the State standard for incident management.   
  
GIVEN under my hand and the Privy Seal of   
The State in the City of _________ this   
L.S. _______ day of ___________ in the year Two   
Thousand and ___________.   

BY THE Governor  
/s/ ______________________________________   
   
/s/ ___________________   
Secretary to the Governor