MRC & Homeland SecurityMedical preparedness - a trained and organized corps of volunteers - is a critical piece in efforts to offset death, injury, and disease related to disasters. The first response to crisis is always at home - in our communities. In the past few years, the nation's eye has been sharply focused on terrorist attacks, public bombings, and anthrax threats, clarifying the creation of homeland security and the war on terrorism. In the event of a terrorist attack, natural disaster, or other large-scale emergency, the Department of Homeland Security provides a coordinated, comprehensive federal response assisted by local MRC volunteers who have the capacity to respond to an emergency. National Incident Management System Under Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 (HSPD-5), the Federal Government has created the National Incident Management System (NIMS). This system directs the creation of a comprehensive national approach to incident management by federal, state, territorial, tribal and local responders. This integrated system establishes a uniform set of processes, protocols and procedures that all emergency responders, at every level of government, will use to conduct response actions. The HSPD-5 also makes NIMS compliance a requirement for any entity receiving federal funds, starting with the federal fiscal year of 2007. The OKMRC has adopted the NIMS guidelines, and responses will be managed under the organizational structure set forth in Incident Command System (ICS) protocols. ICS provides structured management and communications, allowing smooth expansion and contractions of incident response. OKMRC volunteers deployed for emergency events will be integrated into an existing ICS structure of the requesting agencies/organizations and should operate in accordance with ICS principles. |