Enclosure (2) to COMDTINST 16000.27
NIMS and NRP Organizational Structures and Issues
Ref:
(a) National Incident Management System (NIMS), 1 March 2004
(b) National Response Plan (NRP), December 2004
1. PURPOSE. This enclosure provides descriptions and implementation guidance pertaining to the
National Incident Management System (NIMS), National Response Plan (NRP), Area Commands,
Joint Field Offices (JFOs), Emergency Support Functions (ESFs), Training and National Level
Exercises, and Response Funding.
2. NIMS AND NRP ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES.
a. NIMS Area Command.
(1) As per the NIMS and NRP, references (a) and (b) respectively, NIMS Area Commands are
established when the complexity of an incident and incident management span-of-control
considerations so dictate. NIMS Area Commands are distinct from, and not to be confused
with, Coast Guard Area Commands. For the purpose of this discussion, the term Area
Command refers to the Area Command under NIMS and the NRP. Where both the NIMS
and USCG Area Commands are mentioned, an appropriate clarification is included in the
text.
(2) Generally, the administrator(s) of the agency having responsibility over the incident make(s)
the decision to establish an Area Command.
(3) The purpose of an Area Command is either to oversee the management of multiple incidents
that are each being handled by a separate Incident Command System (ICS) organization or to
oversee the management of a very large or complex incident that has multiple interagency
incident management teams assigned.
(4) The NIMS Area Command is generally used when there are a number of incidents in the
same geographic area and of the same type, such as multiple hazardous material (HAZMAT)
releases or fires as these are the kinds of incidents that may compete for the same resources.
When incidents are of different types and/or do not have similar resource demands, they are
usually handled as separate incidents or are coordinated through an Emergency Operations
Center (EOC). If the incidents under the responsibility of the Area Command span multiple
jurisdictions, a Unified Area Command should be established. This allows each agency or
organization involved to have appropriate representation in the Area Command.
(5) For the incidents under its jurisdiction, the NIMS Area Command:
(b) Allocates critical resources according to the established priorities;
(c) Ensures that incidents are properly managed;
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