What are the three NIMS guiding principles?

The three NIMS guiding principles are essential to ensuring effective emergency management and response within the National Incident Management System framework. These principles are focused on planning, response, and recovery, highlighting the stages that are critical for establishing a comprehensive and systematic approach to managing incidents.

The planning principle emphasizes the need for organized and strategic preparedness efforts before an incident occurs, ensuring resources and personnel are in place. The response principle addresses the actions taken to manage incidents as they happen, ensuring that all agencies work together effectively to save lives and protect property. Finally, the recovery principle underscores the importance of returning the affected area to normal operations after an incident has occurred, assisting in rebuilding and restoring a sense of community.

Understanding these guiding principles is crucial as they form the foundational structure for effective incident management and coordination among various stakeholders, including federal, state, and local agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations and the private sector.