Glossary of Terms
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A deviation from normal operations or activities associated with a hazard, which has
the potential to result in an emergency.
Written or verbal plans that reflect the overall incident goal (control objectives)
and incident strategy, objectives for the designated operational period, specific
tactical actions and assignments, and supporting information for the designated operational
period. They provide designated personnel with knowledge of the objectives to be achieved
and the strategy and steps to be used for achievement, hence improving coordination
across different levels of government and intrastate jurisdictional borders. Actions
plans not only provide direction but also provide a metric for measuring achievement
of objectives and overall system performance.
A detailed critical summary or analysis of a past event (such as a military action)
made for the purposes of re-assessing decisions and considering possible alternatives
for future reference
A division of government with a specific function offering a particular kind of assistance.
In the Incident Command System, agencies are defined either as jurisdictional (having
statutory responsibility for incident management) or as assisting or cooperating (providing
resources or other assistance). Governmental organizations are most often in charge
of an incident, though in certain circumstances private sector organizations may be
included. Additionally, nongovernmental organizations may be included to provide support.
An approach for prevention, protection, preparedness, response, and recovery that
addresses a full range of threats and hazards, including domestic terrorist attacks,
natural and manmade disasters, accidental disruptions, and other emergencies.
An organization established to oversee the management of multiple incidents that are
each being handled by a separate Incident Command System organization or to oversee
the management of a very large or evolving incident that has multiple incident management
teams engaged. An agency administrator/executive or other public official with jurisdictional
responsibility for the incident usually makes the decision to establish an Area Command.
An Area Command is activated only if necessary, depending on the complexity of the
incident and incident management span-of-control considerations.
An agency or organization providing personnel, services, or other resources to the
agency with direct responsibility for incident management.
The orderly line of authority within the ranks of the incident management organization.
The profession devoted to the preservation of cultural property for the future. Conservation
activities include examination, documentation, treatment, and preventive care, supported
by research and education.
An agency supplying assistance other than direct operational or support functions
or resources to the incident management effort.
A short period of extreme danger.
The process of identifying and documenting the extent of physical damage that a natural
or man-made disaster has caused to buildings and/or property.
The orderly, safe, and efficient return of an incident resource to its original location
and status.
A large scale calamity that requires immediate action. May result in significant loss,
damage, or destruction. An emergency that has gotten out of control.
The ordered movement of a resource or resources to an assigned operational mission,
or an administrative move from one location to another.
A serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action.
Includes Federal, State, territorial, tribal, sub-state regional, and local governments,
private-sector organizations, critical infrastructure owners and operators, nongovernmental
organizations, and all other organizations and individuals who assume an emergency
management role. Also known as emergency responders.
The physical location at which the coordination of information and resources to support
incident management (on-scene operations) activities normally takes place. An EOC
may be a temporary facility or may be located in a more central or permanently established
facility, perhaps at a higher level of organization within a jurisdiction. EOCs may
be organized by major functional disciplines (e.g., fire, law enforcement, and medical
services), by jurisdiction (e.g., Federal, State, regional, tribal, city, and county),
or some combination thereof.
An all-hazards document that specifies actions to be taken in the event of an emergency
or disaster event; identifies authorities, relationships, and the actions to be taken
by whom, what, when, and where, based on predetermined assumptions, objectives, and
existing capabilities.
The emergency plan documents the emergency management program and describes the provisions
for response to an Operational Emergency. It contains a brief, clear, and concise
description of the overall emergency organization, designation of responsibilities,
and procedures, including notifications, involved in coping with any or all aspects
of a potential credible operational emergency.
A functional area of response activity established to facilitate the delivery of federal
assistance required during the immediate response phase of a disaster to save lives,
protect property and public health, and maintain public safety. ESFs represent those
types of federal assistance that the state will most likely need because of the overwhelming
impact of a catastrophic or significant disaster on its own resources and response
capabilities, or because of the specialized or unique nature of the assistance required.
ESF missions are designed to supplement state and local response efforts.
Durable pocket or desk guide that contains essential information required to perform
specific assignments or functions.
A natural, technological, or social phenomenon that poses a threat.
Any material that is explosive, flammable, poisonous, corrosive, reactive, or radioactive
(or any combination) and requires special care in handling because of the hazards
posed to public health, safety, and/or the environment.
An event, accidentally or deliberately caused, that requires a response.
An oral or written plan containing general objectives reflecting the overall strategy
for managing an incident. It may include the identification of operational resources
and assignments. It may also include attachments that provide direction and important
information for management of the incident during one or more operational periods.
ICS term for the person, usually from the local jurisdiction, who is responsible for
overall management of an incident.
A standardized on-scene emergency management concept specifically designed to allow
its users to adopt an integrated organizational structure equal to the complexity
and demands of single or multiple incidents, without hindrance by jurisdictional boundaries.
The broad spectrum of activities and organizations providing effective and efficient
operations, coordination, and support applied at all levels of government, utilizing
both governmental and nongovernmental resources to plan for, respond to, and recover
from an incident, regardless of cause, size, or complexity.
A range or sphere of authority. Public agencies have jurisdiction at an incident related
to their legal responsibilities and authority. Jurisdictional authority at an incident
can be political or geographical (e.g., city, county, tribal, State, or Federal boundary
lines) or functional (e.g., law enforcement or public health).
A management approach that involves a five-step process for achieving the incident
goal. Management by objectives includes the following: establishing overarching incident
objectives; developing strategies based on overarching incident objectives; developing
and issuing assignments, plans, procedures, and protocols; establishing specific,
measurable tactics or tasks for various incident management functional activities
and directing efforts to attain them, in support of defined strategies; and documenting
results to measure performance and facilitate corrective action.
Those activities designed to alleviate the effects of a major disaster or emergency
or long-term activities to minimize the potentially adverse effects of future disaster
in affected areas.
The mechanism used to support Federal operations in a Stafford Act major disaster
or emergency declaration. It orders immediate, short-term emergency response assistance
when an applicable State or local government is overwhelmed by the event and lacks
the capability to perform, or contract for, the necessary work.
The process and procedures used by all organizations—Federal, State, tribal, and local—
for activating, assembling, and transporting all resources that have been requested
to respond to or support an incident.
A group of administrators or executives, or their appointed representatives, that
is typically authorized to commit agency resources and funds. A MAC Group can provide
coordinated decision-making and resource allocation among cooperating agencies and
may establish the priorities among incidents, harmonize agency policies, and provide
strategic guidance and direction to support incident management activities. MAC Groups
may also be known as multiagency committees, emergency management committees, or as
otherwise defined by the Multiagency Coordination System.
A system that provides the architecture to support coordination for incident prioritization,
critical resource allocation, communications systems integration, and information
coordination. The MACS assists agencies and organizations responding to an incident.
The elements of a MACS include facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications.
Two of the most commonly used elements are Emergency Operations Centers and MAC Groups.
An incident requiring action from multiple agencies that each have jurisdiction to
manage certain aspects of an incident. In the Incident Command System, these incidents
will be managed under a Unified Command.
Written or oral agreement between and among agencies/organizations and/or jurisdictions
that provides a mechanism to quickly obtain emergency assistance in the form of personnel,
equipment, materials, and other associated services. The primary objective is to facilitate
rapid, short-term deployment of emergency support prior to, during, and/or after an
incident.
A set of principles that provides a systematic, proactive approach guiding government
agencies at all levels, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to work
seamlessly to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the
effects of incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity, in order
to reduce the loss of life or property and harm to the environment.
A guide to how the United States conducts all hazards response.
The time scheduled for executing a given set of operation actions, as specified in
the Incident Action Plan. Operational periods can be of various lengths, although
usually they last 12 to 24 hours.
Those activities, programs, and systems that exist prior to an emergency that are
used to support and enhance response to an emergency or disaster.
A resource moved to an area near the expected incident site in response to anticipated
resource needs.
The protection of cultural property through activities that minimize chemical and
physical deterioration and damage and that prevent loss of informational content.
The primary goal of preservation is to prolong the existence of cultural property.
Those long-term activities and programs beyond the initial crisis period of an emergency
or disaster and designed to return all systems to normal status or to reconstitute
these systems to a new condition that is less vulnerable.
To return resources back to their original location.
Personnel and major items of equipment, supplies, and facilities available or potentially
available for assignment to incident operations and for which status is maintained.
Resources are described by kind and type and may be used in operational support or
supervisory capacities at an incident or at an emergency operations center.
Those activities and programs designed to address the immediate and short-term effects
of the onset of an emergency or disaster.
Treatment procedures intended to return cultural property to a known or assumed state,
often through the addition of nonoriginal material.
The possibility of suffering harm from a hazard.
The process of identifying the likelihood and consequences of an event to provide
the basis for informed decisions on a course of action.
The act of saving artifacts at risk of being completely destroyed.
An individual, a piece of equipment and its personnel complement, or a crew/team of
individuals with an identified work supervisor that can be used on an incident.
The number of resources for which a supervisor is responsible, usually expressed as
the ratio of supervisors to individuals. (Under the National Incident Management System,
an appropriate span of control is between 1:3 and 1:7, with optimal being 1:5; or
between 1:8 and 1:10 for many largescale law enforcement operations.)
Treatment procedures intended to maintain the integrity of cultural property and to
minimize deterioration.
A set of instructions having the force of a directive, covering those features of
operations which lend themselves to a definite or standardized procedure without loss
of effectiveness.
A complete reference document or an operations manual that provides the purpose, authorities,
duration, and details for the preferred method of performing a single function or
a number of interrelated functions in a uniform manner.
An agency that provides support and/or resource assistance to another agency. See
Assisting agency.
Any technology that may be used to support the National Incident Management System,
such as orthophoto mapping, remote automatic weather stations, infrared technology,
or communications.
An activity in which key personnel assigned emergency management roles and responsibilities
are gathered in a nonthreatening environment to discuss various simulated emergency
situations.
Any combination of resources assembled to support a specific mission or operational
need. All resource elements within a task force must have common communications and
a designated leader.
Natural or manmade occurrence, individual, entity, or action that has or indicates
the potential to harm life, information, operations, the environment, and/or property.
An organized process that matches needs with available resources according to a priority
scheme designed to achieve the end objective (i.e. goal) of the specific triage system.
Version of command established when incidents under an Area Command are multijurisdictional.
See Area Command.
The susceptibility to damage or injury from hazards.