[SCADASEC] NIMS Model Under Development For Small Systems

[Bob Radvanovsky]

NIMS Model Under Development For Small Systems

The country’s small community water and wastewater utilities may soon have a new resource for implementing the National Incident Management System (NIMS) to help protect their critical water infrastructure.   The Federal Emergency Management Agency, Texas Rural Water Association and SEMS Technologies, LLC produced a NIMS guidance and are now working to fully develop a model that can be adopted by every community.  The model relies on modification of the Security and Environmental Management System (SEMS) software to incorporate all of the NIMS requirements into a community’s emergency response plan.  This will enable water and wastewater utilities to become NIMS certified with the appropriate Incident Command System (ICS) training directly related to each community’s unique circumstances and appropriate individuals.  The National Rural Water Association is currently evaluating the model for use nationwide.