NIMS IMPLEMENTATION FOR NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS APPLIES TO ARES Local government often calls on nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) for assistance. NGOs are non-profit entities working cooperatively with government. Such organizations serve a public purpose, not a private benefit. Examples of NGOs include faith-based charity organizations, the American Red Cross, and ARES (ARRL). The National Incident Management System (NIMS) enables respondersfrom different communities with a variety of job responsibilities tobetter work together. NIMS uses a systems approach to integrate thebest of existing processes and methods into a unified nationalframework for incident management. The NIMS Integration Center recommends 14 activities for NGOs thatsupport NIMS implementation. The IC recommends that NGOs formallyadopt NIMS, and identify a Point of Contact for local emergencymanagement authority. Other recommendations include use of theIncident Command System (ICS), an excellent organizational tool. Theuse of ICS aligns the NGO with all other responding entities so thatdeployment is accomplished in a consistent, efficient and effectivemanner. ICS implementation must include the consistent application ofIncident Action Planning and Common Communications Plans. The IC also recommends supporting "Integrated Multi-AgencyCoordination Systems (MACs)" to ensure the NGO is able to communicate with local Incident Command Posts (ICPs), local 911 Centers, and EOCs. Other recommendations include establishing a public informationsystem, revising plans and SOPs with NIMS, promoting Mutual Aid,exercising NIMS by participating in NIMS-based exercises,inventorying Response Assets using the Resource Typing standardsfound at: <http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/mutual_aid.shtm>, and sharing this inventory with local emergency management authority. Training may include IS-700 NIMS: An Introduction, and IS-800 NRP: An Introduction; Incident Command System (ICS-100) and IncidentCommand System (ICS-200). For guidance, refer to:<http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/nims_training.shtm> A Fact Sheet, "NIMS Implementation Activities for NongovernmentalOrganizations" is available at <http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nimsNIMS-Integration-Center@dhs.gov>