All-Hazards Approach: A comprehensive strategy that prepares for a wide range of emergencies by identifying common planning and response principles rather than focusing on specific threats.
After Action Review (AAR): A structured process for evaluating a response to an incident, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and capturing lessons learned to improve future preparedness.
Aftershock: A smaller earthquake or tremor that follows the main seismic event, potentially causing additional damage or complicating recovery efforts.
B
Business Continuity Plan (BCP): A strategy outlining procedures to ensure that critical business functions continue during and after a disaster or significant disruption.
Back-up Systems: Redundant systems or data storage solutions implemented to safeguard information and maintain operations when primary systems fail.
C
Command and Control: The framework and processes used to direct, coordinate, and manage emergency response activities during an incident.
Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP): A detailed plan that ensures essential functions of an organization or government continue during times of disruption or emergency.
Critical Infrastructure: Essential systems and assets—such as power grids, water supplies, and transportation networks—that are vital for the functioning of a community or nation.
Crisis Management: The methods and procedures used to manage and mitigate the impacts of an emergency, including decision-making, coordination, and communication.
D
Disaster: A serious disruption that overwhelms local resources and capabilities, resulting from natural events (like earthquakes or floods) or human-made incidents (such as industrial accidents).
Disaster Recovery: The process of restoring infrastructure, services, and normal operations after a disaster, including both short-term relief and long-term rebuilding efforts.
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR): Strategies and practices aimed at reducing vulnerabilities and mitigating the impact of disasters before, during, and after their occurrence.
Disaster Resilience: The ability of a community, organization, or system to withstand, adapt to, and recover from disasters effectively.
E
Emergency: An unexpected situation that poses an immediate risk to life, property, or the environment and requires urgent response actions.
Emergency Operations Center (EOC): A centralized command facility where representatives from various agencies coordinate response efforts and make strategic decisions during an emergency.
Emergency Management: The discipline involving the coordination and organization of resources and responsibilities to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate emergencies.
Evacuation: The planned, organized movement of people from a dangerous area to a safer location in anticipation of or during an emergency.
F
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): The U.S. government agency charged with coordinating the federal response to natural and man-made disasters, supporting state and local agencies.
Field Triage: The process of quickly assessing and categorizing casualties at the scene of an incident to prioritize treatment based on the severity of injuries.
G
GIS (Geographic Information Systems): Computer systems used to capture, analyze, and display spatial and geographic data, essential for mapping hazards, resources, and response activities.
Ground Zero: The specific point or area directly affected by a disaster, often used in the context of explosions, nuclear events, or large-scale structural collapses.
H
Hazard: A potential source of harm or adverse effect, which may include natural phenomena (e.g., hurricanes, floods), technological failures, or human activities.
Hazard Mitigation: The actions and strategies implemented to reduce or eliminate long-term risks to people and property from natural or human-made hazards.
Hazardous Materials (HazMat): Substances that pose significant risks to health, safety, or the environment, requiring specialized handling and response during an incident.
Homeland Security: National efforts, policies, and strategies designed to protect a country from terrorism, natural disasters, and other emergencies, often involving interagency cooperation.
I
Incident: Any event, such as a natural disaster or a terrorist attack, that requires a coordinated response to protect lives, property, or the environment.
Incident Command System (ICS): A standardized, on-scene, all-hazards approach to command, control, and coordination of emergency response providing a common hierarchy and procedures.
Infrastructure: The fundamental facilities and systems (e.g., transportation, communication, utilities) that support the operations of a society and are crucial during emergencies.
J
Joint Information Center (JIC): A centralized location where public information officers from multiple agencies collaborate to coordinate media communications and disseminate consistent information during a crisis.
Just-in-Time Training: Brief, focused training provided immediately before or during an emergency to equip responders with the specific skills needed for the situation at hand.
K
Knowledge Management: The process of capturing, organizing, and disseminating information and lessons learned in emergency management to enhance future preparedness and response.
L
Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC): A group typically comprising community members, government officials, and industry representatives responsible for developing and updating local emergency response plans.
Logistical Support: The planning and execution of resource management—such as supplies, transportation, and personnel—to support emergency operations effectively.
M
Mutual Aid: Agreements between agencies, jurisdictions, or organizations to provide assistance and share resources during emergencies, ensuring a coordinated response across boundaries.
Mitigation: Proactive measures taken to lessen the severity of disasters, including engineering improvements, policy changes, and community planning initiatives.
Mass Casualty Incident (MCI): An event that results in more casualties than the local healthcare system can manage using standard procedures, necessitating a scalable and coordinated response.
Medical Surge: The rapid expansion of medical services and capacity to meet a sudden increase in patient volume during an emergency.
N
National Response Framework (NRF): A guide outlining the roles and responsibilities of federal, state, and local agencies in the United States during emergencies and disasters, ensuring a coordinated national response.
Needs Assessment: A systematic process to determine the specific requirements and priorities of a community or organization in response to an emergency.
O
Operational Planning: The detailed process of planning specific actions, resource allocations, and timelines to effectively manage an ongoing emergency response.
Outreach: Activities and communications aimed at informing, educating, and engaging the public and stakeholders in emergency preparedness and response initiatives.
P
Preparedness: The proactive measures and planning undertaken before an emergency occurs to ensure that individuals, organizations, and communities are ready to respond effectively.
Public Information Officer (PIO): The designated spokesperson responsible for managing communications between emergency response agencies, the media, and the public during an incident.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Specialized clothing and equipment (e.g., masks, gloves, suits) designed to protect individuals from exposure to hazards during an emergency.
Pandemic: A widespread outbreak of an infectious disease that affects large populations across multiple countries or continents, requiring coordinated public health and emergency responses.
Psychological First Aid (PFA): Immediate, compassionate support provided to individuals affected by an emergency to help reduce initial distress and foster short- and long-term recovery.
Q
Quick Response Team (QRT): A specialized group of responders who are rapidly deployed to assess and address emergencies, often focusing on critical, time-sensitive tasks.
Quarantine: The restriction of movement of individuals who may have been exposed to a contagious disease, used to prevent the spread of infection.
R
Response: The immediate actions taken during or immediately following an emergency to protect life, property, and the environment, including rescue, relief, and medical services.
Recovery: The process of returning a community or system to normal or improved conditions after a disaster, encompassing rebuilding, rehabilitation, and long-term support efforts.
Resilience: The capacity of individuals, communities, and systems to absorb, adapt to, and recover from the impacts of emergencies and disasters.
Risk Communication: The exchange of information about potential hazards and risks between authorities and the public, aimed at promoting informed decision-making during emergencies.
Risk Assessment: The systematic evaluation of potential hazards and vulnerabilities, used to determine the likelihood and impact of emergencies and guide preparedness planning.
S
Shelter-in-Place: A protective action that involves staying indoors or within a designated safe area during an emergency to avoid exposure to hazards outside.
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP): Established, written instructions that detail routine procedures and responses to emergencies to ensure consistency and effectiveness.
Situation Report (SitRep): Regular updates provided by emergency response leaders that summarize current conditions, actions taken, and anticipated needs during an incident.
Surge Capacity: The ability of a system—particularly in healthcare—to expand its operations quickly in response to an increased demand during emergencies.
T
Triage: The process of sorting and prioritizing patients or tasks based on the severity of conditions or urgency, ensuring that those most in need receive prompt attention.
Training and Exercises: Simulated drills, scenarios, and educational programs designed to test and improve the skills and readiness of emergency responders and organizations.
U
Unified Command: A structure that allows multiple agencies or organizations to share command responsibilities and work together seamlessly during a complex emergency.
Urban Search and Rescue (USAR): Specialized teams trained to locate, extricate, and provide initial medical stabilization to victims trapped in collapsed structures or confined spaces.
V
Vulnerability Assessment: A systematic process of identifying weaknesses within a community, system, or structure that could increase the risk or impact of a disaster.
W
Warning Systems: Technologies, protocols, and communication networks designed to alert the public and emergency services of imminent or ongoing hazards.
Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD): Chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear agents capable of causing large-scale harm to populations and infrastructure.
Z
Zoning: Land-use planning regulations that designate specific areas for various purposes, often used to minimize risk by restricting development in high-hazard zones.
