Georgia Office of Homeland Security Georgia Emergency Management Agency P.O. Box 18055 Atlanta, Georgia 30316
News Release
Georgia’s Incident Command Capabilities Strengthened

(ATLANTA) – The Georgia Office of Homeland Security – Georgia Emergency Management Agency (OHS-GEMA) says the implementation of a comprehensive National Incident Management System (NIMS) is on schedule, and exceeds national, state and local requirements for its response teams and equipment standards.

Governor Sonny Perdue signed into law, last year, a bill requested by OHS-GEMA and passed by the Georgia General Assembly, requiring all state and local emergency responders to utilize a unified incident command system consistent with NIMS. The purpose of NIMS is to ensure universal standards and coordination for emergency response.

Georgia’s protocols mirror NIMS requirements, and the system’s standardized templates enable all government, private-sector and volunteer organizations to work together in response to a wide range of natural or man-made incidents. Although last year’s legislation formalizes the use of incident command, state and local agencies have utilized it for the past decade.

Since their inception, OHS-GEMA’s All-Hazards Councils have evaluated Georgia’s current capabilities within communications, emergency medical services, fire/rescue and law enforcement identifying specific needs and additional resource requirements.

Georgia’s proactive incident command measures exceed all national requirements, reduce response times during emergencies, and increase statewide efficiency and organization. The implementation of NIMS also reflects enhanced training for state and local emergency officials, as well as the build-out of specialized equipment for public safety agencies, such as the Georgia Search and Rescue (GSAR) teams that have been established and equipped in recent years.

“We are pleased with the progress of our efforts to fortify equipment, resources and personnel in critical areas, which helps keep Georgians safe in the unfortunate event of an incident,” said OHS-GEMA Director Mike Sherberger.

The National Incident Management System (NIMS) was implemented through a Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-5) on February 28, 2003. For more information on Georgia’s All Hazards Council visit the agencies’ Web sites at www.gahomelandsecurity.com or www.gema.state.ga.us or call 1-800-TRY- GEMA.

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