Long Beach Ports

Walter Farmer

May 19, 2012

Course Project

Intro to Information Security

National Incident Management System

I. Introduction

The nation’s first responders play a crucial role on America’s front lines as they lead the

country in preventing, preparing for, and responding to man-made and natural disasters. Given

their significance, it is vital that first responders work together effectively to face the nation’s

threats as we go forward in the war on terrorism. Terrorists are constantly looking for

weaknesses and have their sights set on increasing public fear and uncertainty. Understanding

that the United States is fighting an agile enemy with boundless flexibility, it is vital to remain

prepared and alert for every contingency. One of the only certainties in this time of instability is

the importance of well-trained first responders who are on the frontlines everyday, responding to

emergencies large and small. While thousands of local, state, and federal agencies have plans for

preparing for and responding to emergencies on a daily basis, until recently no comprehensive

incident command structures or uniform training standards were in place to synchronize all of the

nation’s emergency response agencies. In the wake of the tragic events of September 11, 2001,

the federal government took decisive actions to close gaps in planning, communications, and

training to bolster first responder’s capabilities. One component of overall strategy to improve

the nation’s domestic response capabilities was Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5

(HSPD-5). President George W. Bush promulgated HSPD-5 in early 2003 to enhance the ability

of the United States to manage domestic incidents by establishing a single, comprehensive

national incident management system to ensure that all levels of government across the nation

have the capability to work efficiently and...