2008-09 WINTER STORM EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN
Glossary of Terms
Acronyms and Abbreviations
1
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
I. General Information
The following is a compendium of federal, state and local emergency management terms, phrases and definitions, as used by the various levels of civilian government. This listing is representative of the most commonly used terms and abbreviations, but is not inclusive of all terms and definitions used in emergency management.
Accountable Property(NRP)
Property that: 1) has an acquisition cost that is $15,000 or more; 2) has a unique, identifiable serial number (e.g., computer or telecommunications equipment); and 3) is considered “sensitive” (i.e., easily pilferable), such as cellular phones, pagers, and laptop computers.
Action Plan (State Definition)
A plan prepared in a Disaster Field Office, Emergency Operations Center, Unified Command Center, or Incident Command Post, containing the emergency response objectives of a specific Standardized Emergency Management System level reflecting overall priorities and supporting activities for a designated period. The plan is shared with supporting agencies.
Administrative Order(State Definition)
A formal document negotiated by the Director of OES with a state agency that details the responsibilities and activities that a state agency may be required to perform through the phases of an emergency or a disaster. It is an extension of Governor’s Executive Order W-9-91 that establishes basic emergency preparedness objectives and policies to be carried out by state officials. It also provides a basis for a state agency to perform emergency planning, develop emergency plans and procedures, train its employees, and engage in exercises and drills.
Aerial Reconnaissance
An aerial assessment of the damaged area which includes gathering information on the level and extent of damage and identifying potential hazardous areas for on-site inspections.
Aftershock
An earthquake that follows a larger earthquake and originates at or near the focus of the primary quake.
Agency Representative. (NRP)
A person assigned by a primary, assisting, or cooperating Federal, State, local, or tribal government agency or private entity that has been delegated authority to make decisions affecting that agency’s or organization’s participation in incident management activities following appropriate consultation with the leadership of that agency.
Agency Representative(NIMS Definition)
A person assigned by a primary, assisting, or cooperating Federal, State, local, or tribal government agency or private entity that has been delegated authority to make decisions affecting that agency’s or organization’s participation in incident management activities following appropriate consultation with the leadership of that agency.
Agency(NIMS Definition)
A division of government with a specific function offering a particular kind of assistance. In ICS, agencies are defined either as jurisdictional (having statutory responsibility for incident management) or as assisting or cooperating (providing resources or other assistance).
Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES)
The peace time emergency response side of the Amateur Radio Relay League. The ARES network operates on amateur radio frequencies by authority of the FCC in support of emergency communications operations.
American Red Cross
A federally chartered volunteer agency that provides disaster relief to individuals and families. Major responsibilities include providing lodging, food, clothing, and registration and inquiry service.
Area Command (Unified Area Command)(NIMS Definition)
An organization established (1) to oversee the management of multiple incidents that are each being handled by an ICS organization or (2) to oversee the management of large or multiple incidents to which several Incident Management Teams have been assigned. Area Command has the responsibility to set overall strategy and priorities, allocate critical resources according to priorities, ensure that incidents are properly managed, and ensure that objectives are met and strategies followed. Area Command becomes Unified Area Command when incidents are multijurisdictional. Area Command may be established at an emergency operations center facility or at some location other than an incident command post.
Area Command Authority (ACA)
Recognized interjurisdictional command and control authority established within a designated OA, consisting of the OA Director and the designated Emergency Services Directors representing each impacted local government jurisdiction. Authority extends to all parts of the OAA during periods of operational area emergency management activities.
AreaPublicInformationCenter(APIC)
An OA facility activated for the purpose of coordinating the release of all interjurisdictional emergency public information, news and instruction to the general public. The APIC is co-located with the EOC and staffed by trained county and allied agency PIOs and Asst. PIOs.
Area Public Information Officer(Area PIO)
Individual designated to coordinate all interjurisdictional emergency public information services within the OA. The designated Area PIO is the County Emergency Services Manager (ESM). The County Library Director assumes the operational role of Area PIO during Area EOC activation.
Area(OA)
See Operational Area. “Area” as a proper noun refers to the Operational Area, as in “Area Command Authority” {see above for example.}
Assessment(NIMS Definition)
The evaluation and interpretation of measurements and other information to provide a basis for decision-making.
Assignments(NIMS Definition)
Tasks given to resources to perform within given operational period that are based on operational objectives defined in the IAP.
Assistant Public Information Officer(Asst. PIO)
The Assistant Public Information Officers coordinate the release of official news and information, act as liaison between local government and the media, function as field PIOs at field incidents, and conduct interviewsand provide statements relating to situational and operational concerns. Asst. PIOs operate under the direction and supervision of the Area PIO.
Assistant(NIMS Definition)
Title for subordinates of principal Command Staff positions. The title indicates a level of technical capability, qualifications, and responsibility subordinate to the primary positions. Assistants may also be assigned to unit leaders.
Assisting Agency(NIMS Definition)
An agency or organization providing personnel, services, or other resources to the agency with direct responsibility for incident management. See also Supporting Agency.
Auxiliary Communications Support Officer (ACSO)(OA)
A Disaster Service Worker (Volunteer) who is assigned to OES and functions as the ARES/RACES Coordinator.
Available Resources (NRP)
Resources assigned to an incident, checked in, and available for use, normally located in a Staging Area.
Available Resources(NIMS Definition)
Resources assigned to an incident, checked in, and available for a mission assignment, normally located in a Staging Area.
Awareness (NRP)
The continual process of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating intelligence, information, and knowledge to allow organizations and individuals to anticipate requirements and to react effectively.
Branch(NIMS Definition)
The organizational level having functional or geographical responsibility for major aspects of incident operations. A branch is organizationally situated between the section and the division or group in the Operations Section, and between the section and units in the Logistics Section. Branches are identified by the use of Roman numerals or by functional area.
California Emergency Council
The official advisory body to the Governor on all matters pertaining to statewide emergency preparedness.
California Emergency Organization
Civil government organized and augmented or reinforced during an emergency by auxiliaries, volunteers, persons pressed into service, the private sector, and community based organizations.
Care And Shelter
A function that provides food, clothing, and housing needs for people on a mass care basis.
Casualty Collection Point (CCP)
A location within a jurisdiction that is used for the assembly, triage (sorting), medical stabilization, and subsequent evacuation of casualties. It may also be used for the receipt of incoming medical resources (doctors, nurses, supplies, etc.). Preferably the site should include or be adjacent to an open area suitable for use as a helicopter-landing zone
A separate portion of the area may be used for receipt and emergency treatment of casualty evacuees arriving via short-range modes of transportation (air and ground) and for the subsequent movement of casualties by heavy, long-range aircraft, to adequate medical care facilities, outside the impacted area.
Casualty(NRP)
Any person who is declared dead or is missing, ill, or injured.
Catastrophic Incident. (NRP)
Any natural or manmade incident, including terrorism, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the population, infrastructure, environment, economy, national morale, and/or government functions. A catastrophic event could result in sustained national impacts over a prolonged period of time; almost immediately exceeds resources normally available to State, local, tribal, and private-sector authorities in the impacted area; and significantly interrupts governmental operations and emergency services to such an extent that national security could be threatened. All catastrophic events are Incidents of National Significance.
Chain of Command(NIMS Definition)
A series of command, control, executive, or management positions in hierarchical order of authority.
Check-In(NIMS Definition)
The process through which resources first report to an incident. Check-in locations include the incident command post, Resources Unit, incident base, camps, staging areas, or directly on the site.
Checklist
A list of actions taken by an element of the emergency organization in response to a particular event or situation.
Chief of Staff(CofS)
The individual charged with ensuring that all elements of the EOC function in an effective and organized manner to meet emergency management objectives. The Emergency Services Manager (Deputy Director) serves as the Chief of Staff.
Chief(NIMS Definition)
The ICS title for individuals responsible for management of functional sections: Operations, Planning, Logistics, Finance/Administration, and Intelligence (if established as a separate section).
Civil Transportation Capacity. (NRP)
The total quantity of privately owned transportation services, equipment, facilities, and systems from all transportation modes nationally or in a prescribed area or region.
Coastal Zone(NRP)
As defined by the NCP, means all U.S. waters subject to tide, U.S. waters of the Great Lakes, specified ports and harbors on inland rivers, waters of the contiguous zone, other water of the high seas subject to the NCP, and the land surface or land substrata, ground waters, and ambient air proximal to those waters. The term “coastal zone” delineates an area of Federal responsibility for response action. Precise boundaries are determined by EPA/USCG agreements and identified in RCPs.
Command Staff(NIMS Definition)
In an incident management organization, the Command Staff consists of the Incident Command and the special staff positions of Public Information Officer, Safety Officer, Liaison Officer, and other positions as required, who report directly to the Incident Commander. They may have an assistant or assistants, as needed.
Command(NIMS Definition)
The act of directing, ordering, or controlling by virtue of explicit statutory, regulatory, or delegated authority.
Common Operating Picture (COP)(NRP)
A broad view of the overall situation as reflected by situation reports, aerial photography, and other information or intelligence.
Common Operating Picture(NIMS Definition)
An organizational unit in the Logistics Section responsible for providing communication services at an incident or an EOC. A Communications Unit may also be a facility (e.g., a trailer or mobile van) used to support an IncidentCommunicationsCenter.
Community Recovery(NRP)
In the context of the NRP and its annexes, the process of assessing the effects of an Incident of National Significance, defining resources, and developing and implementing a course of action to restore and revitalize the socioeconomic and physical structure of a community.
Concept of Operations
A general notion of the methods agencies use to organize their response to disasters (such as mutual aid and the Standardized Emergency Management System). Disasters typically progress through identifiable phases and certain responses are appropriate during each of these phases.
Conflagration
A large, destructive fire.
Consequence Management (NRP)
Predominantly an emergency management function and included measures to protect public health and safety, restore essential government services, and provide emergency relief to governments, businesses, and individuals affected by the consequences of terrorism. The requirements of consequence management and crisis management are combined in the NRP. See also Crisis Management.
Contamination
Deposits of radioactive or other toxic materials that occur on the surfaces of structures, areas, objects, people's bodies, flora, and fauna.
Contiguous Zone (NRP)
The zone of the high seas, established by the United States under Article 24 of the Convention on the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone, that is contiguous to the territorial sea and that extends 9 miles seaward from the outer limit of the territorial sea.
Contingency Plan
A sub or supporting plan which deals with one specific type of emergency, its probable effect on the jurisdiction, and the actions necessary to offset these effects.
Cooperating Agency(NIMS Definition)
An agency supplying assistance other than direct operational or support functions or resources to the incident management effort.
Coordinate(NIMS Definition)
To advance systematically an analysis and exchange of information among principals who have or may have a need to know certain information to carry out specific incident management responsibilities.
Coordination Task Force(CTF)
A multifunctional coordination unit temporarily organized within the Operations Section of the EOC for conducting intensified emergency management and coordination activities in support of major interjurisdictional field operations and incidents. The CTF will be supervised by a unit leader who will report to one of the functional group coordinators or the OPSCHF, as appropriate.
Coordinator
Agency or jurisdictional representative charged with coordinating the procurement and deployment of mutual aid resources within the jurisdictional limits of a designated OA. Usually involves law enforcement, fire service, public works, and emergency medical mutual aid resource coordination. Also applies to the individual assigned the responsibility of coordinating all emergency management functions within an OA.
Credible Threat (NRP)
A potential terrorist threat that, based on a threat assessment, is credible and likely to involve WMD.
Crisis Management (NRP)
Predominantly a law enforcement function and included measures to identify, acquire, and plan the use of resources needed to anticipate, prevent, and/or resolve a threat or act of terrorism. The requirements of consequence management and crisis management are combined in the NRP. See also Consequence Management.
Critical Incident(OA Definition)
Emergency incident limited in duration, scope and impact, requiring limit mobilization and deployment of emergency response resources.
Critical Infrastructures (NRP)
Systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters.
Critical Systems
Those technological and infrastructure systems and resources critical to the functioning of an urbanized environment, including telecommunications, transportation networks, electronic data systems, energy, food production, water distribution, and other services and systems whose failure or disruption would imperil the general safety and well-being of the community.
Cultural Resources (NPR)
Cultural resources include historic and prehistoric structures, archeological sites, cultural landscapes, and museum collections.
Cyber (NRP)
Pertaining to computers and their support systems, such as servers, routers, and switches, that support critical infrastructure.
Cyclonic Winds
Weather induced winds of high velocity related to severe storm activity and other meteorological phenomena.
Damage Survey Report (DSR)
Under 206.202 of CFR 44, a Damage Survey Report is prepared by an inspection team. The team is accompanied by an authorized local representative who is responsible for representing the applicant and insuring that all eligible work and costs are identified. A Damage Survey Report Data Sheet (FEMA Form 90- 91) is prepared for each site with damage over a specified amount established by regulation.
Debris Slide (Landslide)
The downward movement of predominantly unconsolidated and incoherent earth and rock debris.
Decontamination/Contamination Control Radioactive Material
The reduction (normally by removal) of contaminating radioactive material from a structure, area, person, or object. Decontamination may be accomplished by treating (e.g., washing down or sweeping) the surface so as to remove the contamination. Contamination control is accomplished by isolating the area or object and letting the material stand so that the radioactivity is decreased because of natural decay. Contaminated material may be covered to prevent redistribution and/or to provide shielding.
Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) (NRP)
Refers to DOD support, including Federal military forces, DOD civilians and DOD contractor personnel, and DOD agencies and components, for domestic emergencies and for designated law enforcement and other activities.
DepartmentOperationsCenter(State Definition)
An EOC used by a distinct discipline (such as flood operations, fire, medical, hazardous materials, etc.) or a unit (such as Department of Public Works or Department of Health). Department operations centers may be used at all SEMS levels above the field response level depending upon the impacts of the emergency.
Deputy(NIMS Definition)
A fully qualified individual who, in the absence of a superior, can be delegated the authority to manage a functional operation or perform a specific task. In some cases, a deputy can act as relief for a superior and, therefore, must be fully qualified in the position. Deputies can be assigned to the Incident Commander, General Staff, and Branch Directors.
Direction and Control(Emergency Management)
The provision of overall operational control and/or coordination of emergency operations at each level of the Statewide Emergency Organization, whether it be the actual direction of field forces or the coordination of joint efforts of governmental and private agencies in supporting such operations.
Director of Emergency Services(Director)
The individual with overall responsibility for managing and coordinating all interjurisdictional emergency management operations conducted by the Emergency Operations Center Staff.