NIMS IS-700.B EXAM Questions and Answers 100% Correct Graded A+ 2026/27
Area command - Established to oversee the management and prioritize scarce resouces
among the incidents. Created when very complex incidents, or mulitple concurrent smaller
incidents, require the establishment of mutiple ICS organizations. Frequently established as
unified area commands, working under the same priciples as a unified command.
Authority having jurisdiction - AHJ; an entity that can create and administer processes to
qualify, certify and credential personnel for incident related positions. Include state, tribal, or
federal government departments and agencies, training commissions, NGO's, or companies, as
well as local organizations such as police, fire, public health, or public work departments.
Emergency management assistance compact - EMAC; a congressionally ratified mutual
aid compact that defines a non-federal, state-to-state system for sharing resources across state
lines during an emergency or disaster. Signatories include all 50 states, the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Unique relationship with states, regions,
territories, and federal organizations, such as FEMA and the National Guard Bureau, enable it to
move a wide variety of resources to meet the jurisdictions needs.
Emergency operations center - EOC; a facility from which staff provide information
management, resource allocation and tracking, and/or advanced planning support to personnel on
scene or at other EOCs
Incident commander - The individual responsible for on scene incident activities,
including developing incident objectives and ordering and releasing resources. Has overall
authority and responsibility for conducting incident operations.
,Multiagency coordination group - MAC groups, sometimes called policy groups, typically
consist of agency administrators or executives from organizations or their designees. Provide
policy guidance to incident personnel, support resource prioritization and allocation, and enable
decision making among elected and appointed officials and senior executives in other
organizations as well as those directly responsible for incident management.
Non-governmental organization - NGO's, provide services outside of the government.
Some examples of these are the national Red Cross
Unified command - When more than one agency has incident jurisdiction, or when
incidents cross political jurisdictions, use of the unified command enables multiple organizations
to National Incident Management System perform the functions of the incident commander
jointly. Each participating partner maintains authority, responsibility, ad accountability for its
personnel and other resources while jointly managing and directing incident activities through
the establishment of a common set of incident objectives, strategies, and a single Incident Action
Plan (IAP)
NIMS is - A comprehensive, nationwide, systemic approach to incident management,
including the command and coordination of incidents, resource management, and information
management. A set of concepts and principles for all threats, hazards, and events across all
mission areas. Scalable, flexible, and adaptable; used for all incidents, from day to day to large
scale. Standard resource management procedures that enable coordination among different
jurisdictions or organizations. Essential principles for communications and information
management.
,NIMS is not - Only the ICS. Only applicable to certain emergency/incident response
personnel. A static system. A response plan. Used only during large scale incidents. A resource
ordering system. A communications plan.
NIMS guiding principles - Flexibility, standardization, unity of effort
Flexibility - Adaptable to any situation, from planned special events to routine local
incidents to incidents involving interstate mutual aid or Federal assistance. Some incidents need
multiagency, multi-jurisdictional,or multidisciplinary coordination. Allows NIMS to be scalable
and therefore applicable for incidents that vary widely in terms of hazard, geography,
demographics, climate, cultural, and organizational authorities.
Standardization - Essential to interoperability among multiple organizations in incident
response. Defines standard organizational structures that improve integration and connectivity
among jurisdictions and organizations. Defines standard practices that allow incident personnel
to work together effectively and foster cohesion among the various organizations involved. Also
includes common terminology, which enables effective communication
Unity of effort - Means coordinating activities among various organizations to achieve
common objectives. Enables organizations with specific jurisdictional responsibilities to support
each other while maintaining their own authority.
FIRESCOPE - Fire Resources of California Organized for Potential Emergencies. The
start of NIMS which began in 1970s with local, state, and federal agencies collaborating to create
this system. It included ICS and the multiagency coordination system (MACS)
, NIMS in 1982 - The agencies that developed FIRESCOPE and the National Wildfire
Coordinating Group (NWCG) created tNIMS. In part to make ICS and MACS guidance
applicable to all types of incidents and all hazards.
National Response Plan - (NRP) created after the 2001 terrorist attacks due to the need for
an integrated nationwide incident management system with structures, terminology, processes,
and resources. Implemented by Homeland Security Presedential Directive-5 (HSPD-5), which
directed the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and implement NIMS to enhance the
ability of the US to manage domestic incidents, regardless of the cause, size, location, or
complexity. Issued by President George W Bush on February 28, 200 and was issued in
December 2004. Later replaced by National Response Framework in January 2008.
Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 - Directed the secretary of homeland security
to develop and administer a NIMS and develop the NRP which became the NRF in January 2008
NIMS mandate - HSPD-5 requires all federal departments and agencies to adopt and use
NIMS in incident management programs and activities. Make the adoption of NIMS a condition
for federal preparedness assistance (through grants, contracts and other agencies).
Changes to NIMS - Federal emergency management agency (FEMA) published the first
NIMS document in 2004 and revisited it in 2008. The 2017 version reflects progress since 2008,
based on lessons learned, best practices, and changes in national policy, including updates to the
National Preparedness System.
Area command - Established to oversee the management and prioritize scarce resouces
among the incidents. Created when very complex incidents, or mulitple concurrent smaller
incidents, require the establishment of mutiple ICS organizations. Frequently established as
unified area commands, working under the same priciples as a unified command.
Authority having jurisdiction - AHJ; an entity that can create and administer processes to
qualify, certify and credential personnel for incident related positions. Include state, tribal, or
federal government departments and agencies, training commissions, NGO's, or companies, as
well as local organizations such as police, fire, public health, or public work departments.
Emergency management assistance compact - EMAC; a congressionally ratified mutual
aid compact that defines a non-federal, state-to-state system for sharing resources across state
lines during an emergency or disaster. Signatories include all 50 states, the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Unique relationship with states, regions,
territories, and federal organizations, such as FEMA and the National Guard Bureau, enable it to
move a wide variety of resources to meet the jurisdictions needs.
Emergency operations center - EOC; a facility from which staff provide information
management, resource allocation and tracking, and/or advanced planning support to personnel on
scene or at other EOCs
Incident commander - The individual responsible for on scene incident activities,
including developing incident objectives and ordering and releasing resources. Has overall
authority and responsibility for conducting incident operations.
,Multiagency coordination group - MAC groups, sometimes called policy groups, typically
consist of agency administrators or executives from organizations or their designees. Provide
policy guidance to incident personnel, support resource prioritization and allocation, and enable
decision making among elected and appointed officials and senior executives in other
organizations as well as those directly responsible for incident management.
Non-governmental organization - NGO's, provide services outside of the government.
Some examples of these are the national Red Cross
Unified command - When more than one agency has incident jurisdiction, or when
incidents cross political jurisdictions, use of the unified command enables multiple organizations
to National Incident Management System perform the functions of the incident commander
jointly. Each participating partner maintains authority, responsibility, ad accountability for its
personnel and other resources while jointly managing and directing incident activities through
the establishment of a common set of incident objectives, strategies, and a single Incident Action
Plan (IAP)
NIMS is - A comprehensive, nationwide, systemic approach to incident management,
including the command and coordination of incidents, resource management, and information
management. A set of concepts and principles for all threats, hazards, and events across all
mission areas. Scalable, flexible, and adaptable; used for all incidents, from day to day to large
scale. Standard resource management procedures that enable coordination among different
jurisdictions or organizations. Essential principles for communications and information
management.
,NIMS is not - Only the ICS. Only applicable to certain emergency/incident response
personnel. A static system. A response plan. Used only during large scale incidents. A resource
ordering system. A communications plan.
NIMS guiding principles - Flexibility, standardization, unity of effort
Flexibility - Adaptable to any situation, from planned special events to routine local
incidents to incidents involving interstate mutual aid or Federal assistance. Some incidents need
multiagency, multi-jurisdictional,or multidisciplinary coordination. Allows NIMS to be scalable
and therefore applicable for incidents that vary widely in terms of hazard, geography,
demographics, climate, cultural, and organizational authorities.
Standardization - Essential to interoperability among multiple organizations in incident
response. Defines standard organizational structures that improve integration and connectivity
among jurisdictions and organizations. Defines standard practices that allow incident personnel
to work together effectively and foster cohesion among the various organizations involved. Also
includes common terminology, which enables effective communication
Unity of effort - Means coordinating activities among various organizations to achieve
common objectives. Enables organizations with specific jurisdictional responsibilities to support
each other while maintaining their own authority.
FIRESCOPE - Fire Resources of California Organized for Potential Emergencies. The
start of NIMS which began in 1970s with local, state, and federal agencies collaborating to create
this system. It included ICS and the multiagency coordination system (MACS)
, NIMS in 1982 - The agencies that developed FIRESCOPE and the National Wildfire
Coordinating Group (NWCG) created tNIMS. In part to make ICS and MACS guidance
applicable to all types of incidents and all hazards.
National Response Plan - (NRP) created after the 2001 terrorist attacks due to the need for
an integrated nationwide incident management system with structures, terminology, processes,
and resources. Implemented by Homeland Security Presedential Directive-5 (HSPD-5), which
directed the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and implement NIMS to enhance the
ability of the US to manage domestic incidents, regardless of the cause, size, location, or
complexity. Issued by President George W Bush on February 28, 200 and was issued in
December 2004. Later replaced by National Response Framework in January 2008.
Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 - Directed the secretary of homeland security
to develop and administer a NIMS and develop the NRP which became the NRF in January 2008
NIMS mandate - HSPD-5 requires all federal departments and agencies to adopt and use
NIMS in incident management programs and activities. Make the adoption of NIMS a condition
for federal preparedness assistance (through grants, contracts and other agencies).
Changes to NIMS - Federal emergency management agency (FEMA) published the first
NIMS document in 2004 and revisited it in 2008. The 2017 version reflects progress since 2008,
based on lessons learned, best practices, and changes in national policy, including updates to the
National Preparedness System.
