ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how National Incident Management System (NIMS) in a collaborative system based upon federalism can be maintained and be successful when future disasters occur. It focuses on the difficulties faces by NIMS in dealing realistically in an inter-jurisdictional environment while respecting the federal system of overlapping authority and sovereignty. Disaster management requires knowledge of budgeting and its issues and processes. The importance of adequate funding and training must emphasized if the NIMS potential is to be realized. NIMS can be very important is establishing interoperable communications. Communication technology can disseminate important information to the public on a vast array of issues that impact their lives before, during, and after the disaster. Collaboratively functioning NIMS helps to establish the trusted relationships and streamline data use so that situational awareness is more readily achieved. The building of transformed and collaborative structures must be supported by personnel policy.
