Crisis Response Education and Resources Program

Steps in Getting Started
STEP 3 - FEMA Emergency Management Institute

The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) is part of the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Institute provides national leadership in developing and delivering training to ensure that individuals and groups having emergency management responsibilities possess the requisite skills to effectively perform their jobs.

You are required to complete the four independent study courses listed below in order to respond to any federally declared or funded disaster. All are available on-line and offered free-of-charge to those who qualify for enrollment and have a FEMA Student Identification (SID) Number. Your FEMA SID will serve as your unique identifier and will be used to maintain the record of FEMA trainings you attend. If you do not yet have a SID, register for one today.

Independent Study Program (ISP) Courses in recommended order:

1. IS-701.A: NIMS Multiagency Coordination System (MACS) Course: Introduces Multiagency Coordination (MAC) Systems, as described in the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and shows how these systems can be used to improve incident response. MAC Systems consist of a combination of elements: personnel, procedures, protocols, business practices, and communications integrated into a common system. [3 Hours]

2. IS-800.B: National Response Framework, An Introduction: Introduces participants to the concepts and principles of the National Response Framework: the purpose, the response doctrine, the roles and responsibilities of entities, the actions that support national response, and how planning relates to national preparedness. [3 Hours]

3. IS-100.B: Introduction to Incident Command System: Introduces the Incident Command System (ICS) and provides the foundation for higher level ICS training. This course describes the history, features and principles, and organizational structure of the Incident Command System. It also explains the relationship between ICS and the National Incident Management System (NIMS). [3 Hours]

4. IS-200. B: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents: Designed to enable personnel to operate efficiently during an incident or event within the Incident Command System (ICS), ICS-200 provides training on and resources for personnel who are likely to assume a supervisory position within the ICS. [3 Hours]

In addition to offering free training through the Emergency Management Institute, FEMA offers information and services for the general public and responders. The Blog Articles and Email Updates may be of special interest in that subscribers can receive helpful and timely information regarding specific issues and regions of the country.

The next crisis response training you need is described in STEP 4 – American Red Cross.