Consistent with the requirements of federal preparedness assistance, the county does hereby adopt and establish the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as developed and administered by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security as the county standard for incident management. The county by doing so will seek a coordinated effort from all agencies to effectively and efficiently provide the highest level of incident management. Furthermore, the county recognizes the need to utilize standardized terminology, organizational structures, interoperable communications, consolidated action plans, unified command structures, uniform personnel qualifications, uniform standards for planning, training and. exercising, comprehensive resource management, and designated incident facilities during emergencies or disasters. In a manner consistent with NIMS, a county comprehensive emergency management plan shall be developed by the Director and the Advisory Council and submitted to the Commissioners for consideration and approval. The plan shall be developed so as to be in compliance and consistent with the requirements of applicable state and federal law and regulations. In the preparation of this plan, as it pertains to county organizations, it is the intent that the services, equipment, facilities, and personnel of all existing departments and agencies shall be utilized to the fullest extent possible. In addition, all participating emergency service agencies that develop internal plans shall coordinate those plans with the Department of Emergency Management in order to include such plans with the county comprehensive emergency management plan. When approved, the county departments and agencies shall perform the functions and duties assigned by the plan and maintain their portion of the plan in a current state of readiness at all times.
(Ord. 2014-5, passed 4-21-2014)