FEMA Releases NIMS Incident Complexity Guide

FEMA has released the National Incident Management System Incident Complexity Guide: Planning, Preparedness and Training, which is intended for use during planning, preparedness, and training efforts. It is not intended to serve as a decision-making tool during a response. The guide promotes a common language and shared understanding of incident complexity across the whole community to determine the complexity or difficulty of managing a disaster, incident, event or exercise. As FEMA notes, using a common approach and consistent method for determining incident complexity will improve the effectiveness and implementation of National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the National Preparedness System, to improve or maintain the qualifications of incident management personnel.