State of Texas Acronyms

and Terms (STAT)

State of Texas Emergency Management Plan

July 2013

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This document is intended to provide guidance and is not prescriptive or

comprehensive. Federal, state, tribal and local agency personnel should use judgment and discretion to determine the most appropriate actions at the

time of the incident. The guidelines provided in this document are not intended to override local or regional plans, but should complement those

planning activities.

This document does not prohibit any jurisdiction from implementing additional requirements or operating procedures within that jurisdiction.

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Table of Contents

Preface ............................................................................................... iv

Overview and Purpose ........................................................................... 2

Glossary .............................................................................................. 3

Acronyms .......................................................................................... 62

Maintenance and Changes ................................................................... 87

Document Approval ............................................................................ 89

Contributors and Sources .................................................................... 90

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Preface

All organizations use specialized language. In order to facilitate effective

communication, this glossary contains common terms and acronyms used in the State of Texas Emergency Management Plan.

This document complies with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5

(HSPD-5) Management of Domestic Incidents and Presidential Policy Directive 8 (PPD-8) National Preparedness and takes into account the needs

of the whole community. The state and organizations involved operate within the principles of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) in

support of the National Response Framework (NRF).

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Using this Document

This document is part of the State of Texas Emergency Management Plan. This section explains how this supplement integrates with the

Plan and how and where to find additional supporting information.

This document is not designed to be read from cover to cover. Use this page

as a navigation tool to help quickly find the information you need.

Start here for background information, goals and assumptions. 05

Find an alphabetical list of definitions here. 06

Turn here for a list of acronyms. 65

When you see a reference arrow (↗), look at the bottom of the page for

guidance on where to find additional information from the State of Texas.

This document is a supplement to the State of Texas Emergency Management Plan which is composed of a basic plan, functional annexes,

hazard annexes and support annexes and is designed to integrate with local, regional, tribal and federal plans.

All sections of the plan contain links to connect related information. Each

section should be considered as part of one comprehensive document. The plan is available online at http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem.

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Overview and Purpose The State of Texas Emergency Management Plan contains language

that may be unfamiliar. This planning document provides Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) leadership with a

glossary of commonly used terms and acronyms within the basic

plan and its annexes.

Goal

Define the terms, organizations and acronyms commonly used in the basic

plan and its annexes.

Objectives

Promote common terminology.

Outline specific definitions. Provide a quick reference for all terms, organizations and acronyms that are

used in the State of Texas Emergency Management Plan.

Audience

Texas Emergency Management Council representatives.

State Operation Center (SOC) personnel. Disaster District Committee (DDC) Chairs.

Planning Assumption

Having one centralized location for all common term and acronym definitions

assists the state with establishing common terminology in support of National Incident Management System (NIMS) objectives.

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Glossary This section defines commonly used terms. All terms are listed in

alphabetical order, beginning with numeric listings.

The following table shows each term on the left with a definition on the right.

Term Definition

Numeric Listings

2-1-1 Texas A statewide call center that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Information is provided in

more than 90 different languages. See also: Health and Human Services Commission, State of Texas

Emergency Assistance Registry, Texas Information and Referral Network.

508 Compliance The development, procurement, maintenance or use

of electronic and information technology that is accessible to people with disabilities — whether

federal employees or members of the public — as required by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d). The accessibility standards

under Section 508 are adopted by Texas Government Code 2054 Subchapter M and apply to any electronic

and information resources developed or procured by state agencies, colleges and universities. See also: Effective Communication, Emergency Public

Information, Person With a Disability.

A

Access and Functional

Needs

Areas with which individuals may require additional

assistance before, during and after an incident including but not limited to maintaining independence, communication, transportation,

supervision and medical care. Individuals in need of additional response assistance may include those who

have disabilities, live in institutionalized settings, are seniors, are children, are from diverse cultures, are transportation disadvantaged, or have limited English

proficiency or are non-English speaking.

Access Control The process of applying a broad range of physical,

technological and cyber measures in order to control admittance to critical locations and systems by limiting access to only those individuals authorized to

carry out legitimate activities. Includes the definition of the area to be controlled; the development of

standards to determine appropriate access levels, including credentialing and badging; and law enforcement checkpoint management. See also:

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Term Definition

Badging, Credentialing, Reentry.

Action Request Form (ARF)

Form FF 90-136, used to request federal assistance through FEMA. See also: Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Activation An order to full-time duty. When relating to the military, includes members of the reserve

components serving on active duty or full-time training duty. See also: Federal Active Duty, State Active Duty.

Activities of Daily Living

Those tasks (e.g., eating, dressing and bathing without assistance) used to measure a person’s need

for care.

Adjutant General (TAG)

The senior military officer and de facto commander of the state's military forces. Reports directly to the

Governor of Texas. See also: Texas Military Forces.

Adjutant General’s

Department (AGD)

The staff and resources under the Adjutant General

(TAG). Responsibilities include providing military aid to state civil authorities and furnishing trained

military personnel from the state's military forces in case of national emergency or war. Located at Camp Mabry in Austin. See: Adjutant General, Texas

Military Forces.

Administrative Control The direction or exercise of authority over

subordinate or other organizations with respect to administration and support. Includes organization of service forces, control of resources and equipment,

personnel management, unit logistics, individual and unit training, readiness, mobilization, demobilization,

discipline and other matters not included in the operational missions of the subordinate or other organizations.

Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service

(AHPS)

See: National Weather Service-Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service.

After Action Report (AAR)

Retrospective analysis of goal-oriented actions. Exercised as part of performance evaluation and

improvement.

Agency A division of government with a specific function, or a

nongovernmental organization (e.g., private contractor or business) that provides some service for another.

Agency On-Scene Coordinator

See: State On-Scene Coordinator.

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Term Definition

Agreement-in-

Principal (AIP)/Pantex

The Pantex Plant is located 17 miles northeast of

Amarillo, Texas, in Carson County, and is charged with maintaining the safety, security and reliability of the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile. The facility is

managed and operated by B&W Pantex for the U.S. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security

Administration. The Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) Program at the Texas Division of Emergency

Management (TDEM) works in partnership with local elected officials and emergency managers, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas

Department of State Health Services, the State Energy Conservation Office, B&W Pantex, the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration to enhance preparedness and

response capabilities and to ensure the protection of the health, welfare and well-being of the citizens in

the surrounding area, the State of Texas and the nation should an incident take place at Pantex.

Agricultural Critical

Infrastructure

The agricultural assets, systems and networks —

whether physical or virtual — which are so vital to the country that incapacitation or destruction would cause

a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of these. See also: Critical

Infrastructure/Key Resources.

Agriculture The cultivation of land to produce crops; includes

horticulture, floriculture, viticulture, forestry and the raising or keeping of livestock or poultry. See also: Critical Infrastructure/Key Resources, Livestock.

AgriLife Extension Service or Prairie View

A&M University (PVAMU) County

Extension Agent -

Agriculture and Natural Resources

(CEA-ANR)

A representative of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service (ALEXT) or the Cooperative Extension

Program of Prairie View A&M University (CEP-PVAMU) working at the county level who serves as a professional educator, subject matter expert and

resource provider for agriculture and natural resources.

AgriLife Extension

Service or Prairie View A&M University

(PVAMU) County

Livestock Specialist

A representative of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

Service (ALEXT) or the Cooperative Extension Program of Prairie View A&M University (CEP-PVAMU), working at the county level, who serves as a

professional educator and subject matter resource provider.

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Term Definition

AirMail A program that uses high frequency radio bands to

send and receive messages or encrypted information packets over the ham radio system or participating marine and commercial services. See also: Ham

Radio.

All-Hazards Incident

Management Team (AHIMT)

A multi-agency, multijurisdictional team of trained

command, staff and unit leaders activated for incidents or events that extend beyond one

operational period. Manages the logistical, fiscal, planning and operational issues related to an event or incident. See also: Incident Management Team.

American Red Cross (ARC) Shelter Team

A group of volunteers trained in ARC shelter operations including registration, feeding, material

support services, health services, disaster mental health services, communications and dormitory management. Typically includes a shelter manager, a

senior associate, three shift leaders and 10-13 shelter workers per shift.

Animal Agriculture Response Partnering

Agency

The state agencies that work together to respond to animal and livestock emergencies. Includes the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), the Texas

Department of Agriculture (TDA), the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service (ALEXT) and the Office of

the Texas State Chemist (OTSC). Other state and federal agencies may be asked to assist, along with associated animal industry organizations and related

stakeholders.

Animal Issues

Committee (AIC) A group of specialists from a local jurisdiction who

have an interest in or responsibility for the care of animals. AICs are encouraged to prepare an evacuation or shelter plan, as appropriate, for animals

that may be affected by an incident.

Animal Response

Coordination Center (ARCC)

A coordination center located at the Texas Animal

Health Commission Central Office, in which representatives of key animal-related agencies and organizations work together to support Animal

Response Team (ART) feeding operations. See also: Animal Response Team, Texas Animal Health

Commission.

Animal Response Team

(ART)

A partnership of state agencies — including the Texas

Animal Health Commission, the Texas Department of Agriculture, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service (ALEXT), and the Texas A&M University College of

Veterinary Medicine along with other stakeholder

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Term Definition

organizations — that work together to respond to

emergency incidents impacting animals.

Animal Shelter A temporary facility for housing animals during a disaster. Animal shelters can be for large or small

animals, livestock, or household pets and are generally identified, activated and maintained in

accordance with local emergency management plans. See also: Collocated (Parallel) Pet Shelter, Household Pet, Large Animal Shelter, Livestock, Pet-Friendly

Shelter.

Antemortem Records 1. Records, samples and photographs taken prior to

death including fingerprints, dental x-rays, body tissue and medical records.

Area Command An organizational structure used to oversee the management of either multiple incidents that are

being handled individually by separate Incident Command System (ICS) organizations or a very large

or evolving incident engaging multiple Incident Management Teams (IMT). See also: Incident Command System, Incident Management Team.

Area Contingency Plan (ACP)

A plan, created with the assistance of the Texas General Land Office, to address the removal of worst-

case discharge of oil or a hazardous substance and mitigate or prevent a substantial threat of such discharge from a vessel, offshore facility or onshore

facility operating in or near the geographic area. See also: Texas General Land Office.

Area of Interest The area of concern to the commander including the area of influence, areas adjacent thereto, locations

extending into the territory of current or planned operations, and possibly noncontiguous areas where events may impact ongoing or planned operations.

See also: Area of Operations.

Area of Operations

(AO)

An operational area defined by the joint force

commander for land and naval forces. Does not typically encompass the entire operational area of the joint force commander, but should be large enough

for component commanders to accomplish their missions and protect their forces. See also: Area of

Interest, Tactical Control.

Armory A building from which a National Guard or reserve component trains during peacetime or assembles

during an activation in the event of a hazard or threat to the State of Texas.

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Term Definition

Assistive Technology Any item, piece of equipment, or system — whether

acquired commercially, modified or customized — that is commonly used to increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities of individuals with

disabilities.

B

Back Brief A briefing by subordinates to decision-making

personnel that explains how the subordinates intend to accomplish their tasks. Usually occurs after an operations order and after the subordinates have

developed a plan. The purpose is to define operational details and ensure two-way understanding. See also:

Operations Order.

Badging A part of the credentialing process that includes the issuance of a physical card, badge or label that

contains or displays identity, attributes and other pertinent data. See also: Access Control,

Credentialing.

BioSense A software application that tracks health problems in the U.S. as they evolve. Provides public health

officials with the data, information and tools needed to better prepare for and coordinate responses that

safeguard and improve the health of Americans.

Behavioral Health

Assistance Team

A specialized team that provides coordination and

delivery of disaster behavioral health services during a state or federally declared disaster.

BioWatch A federally-run program designed to detect the

release of pathogens into the air as part of a terrorist attack on major U.S. cities.

Black Start The process of restoring a power station after a total or partial shutdown without relying on the external electric power transmission network.

Black Water A type of water containing bodily or other biological wastes, as from toilets. Does not meet standards for

drinkability. See also: Potable Water.

Brackish Water A type of water having a somewhat salty taste from underground aquifers or from containing a mixture of

seawater and fresh water. Does not meet standards for drinkability unless processed by desalinization

units. See also: Desalination, Potable Water.

Bulk Distribution The movement of emergency relief items(e.g., food, water)through various staging areas to points of

distribution (POD).Carried out in coordination with

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Term Definition

federal, state, tribal, and local governmental entities;

Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD); and private sector organizations. See also: County Staging Area, Disaster District Central Staging Area,

Point of Distribution, Resource Staging Area, Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.

Bulk Water The supply of potable water that is transported by tank trucks during an emergency. See also: Potable

Water.

C

Canteen A mobile feeding kitchen unit, equipped in a variety of models. The average unit is capable of serving 1,500

meals per day. Smaller-model canteens are referred to as disaster response units (DRU). See also: Disaster Response Unit, Mobile Kitchen.

Caregiver An individual who provides assistance and/or care to a person who has one or more deficits in his or her

capacity to conduct activities of daily living or manage daily medical self-care. May include family members, friends and/or service-provider employees who may

or may not be paid for their services. See also: Activities of Daily Living.

Catastrophic Incident A natural or human-created event which tears at the fabric of society and results in extraordinary levels of

mass casualties, damage or disruption that severely affects the population, infrastructure, environment, economy, national morale and/or government

functions. May result in sustained nationwide impacts over a prolonged period of time; almost immediately

exceeds resources normally available to state, tribal, local and private-sector authorities in the impacted area; significantly interrupts governmental operations

and emergency services to such an extent that national security could be threatened; and may create

permanent cultural changes including diminished faith and hope in traditional support systems. See also: Critical Infrastructure/Key Resources.

Catered Feeding Feeding operations performed through contracts or agreements with commercial facilities. Usually not

dependent on government commodities.

Chaplain A member of the clergy (or lay representative of a religion) attached to a secular institution, who offers

spiritual care to all and pastoral care to those who invite it. See also: Emotional and Spiritual Care.

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Term Definition

Checklist A written enumeration of actions to be taken by an

individual or organization meant to aid memory rather than provide detailed instruction.

Collocated (Parallel)

Pet Shelter

A facility where animals are sheltered within or

adjacent to a human evacuation shelter and where pet owners are expected to care for their animals.

May be in an adjacent structure or located in the same building, but usually has a separate ventilation

system. See also: Animal Shelter.

Commingling The intermixing of body fragments or segments from more than one body.

Commodity Expendable, life-sustaining resources (e.g., ready-to-eat meals, water, ice)provided through state

Resource Staging Areas (RSA) to Disaster District Committee staging areas (DSA), county staging areas (CSA) and points of distribution (POD). See also:

County Staging Area, Disaster District Committee Staging Area, Point of Distribution, Resource Staging

Area.

Communications Coordination Group

(CCG)

A multi-agency group responsible for facilitating pre-disaster telecommunications planning in support of

joint, interagency and intergovernmental operations. Coordinates response during a disaster to ensure

operational communications networks.

Community A political or geographical entity with the authority to adopt and enforce laws and ordinances for the area

under its jurisdiction. A group of individuals who share a religion, a lifestyle, activity interests or other

characteristics in common.

Companion Animal See: Household Pet.

Comprehensive

Preparedness Guide (CPG)

A document published by the FEMA to provide

guidance and promote a common understanding of the fundamentals of risk-informed planning and

decision-making to help planners produce integrated, coordinated and synchronized plans. See also: Emergency Operations Plan, Federal Emergency

Management Agency, National Incident Management System, National Response Framework.

Concept of Operations (CONOPS)

A document describing the characteristics of a proposed system from the viewpoint of an individual

who will use that system. Includes strategy, relationships, operational procedures and lifecycle process details.

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Term Definition

Confirmation Brief A briefing that subordinate leaders give to their

commander immediately after receiving operation orders. The purpose is to verify their understanding of the commander’s intent, their specific responsibilities,

and the relationship between their units' tasks and the other units in the operation.

Consumable Medical Supplies (CMS)

Medical supplies (e.g., medications, diapers, bandages) that are ingested, injected or applied

and/or are used only one time.

Contingency Contract The process of obtaining goods, services and construction from commercial sources in support of

contingency operations. See also: Emergency Acquisition.

Continuity of Government (COG)

The principle of establishing defined procedures that allow a government to continue its essential operations in case of disaster. A plan to avoid or

minimize confusion and disorder in a power vacuum in the aftermath of a catastrophic event.

Continuity of Operations (COOP)

A plan to ensure that critical activities continue to be performed during a wide range of emergencies.

Contraflow An alteration to the normal flow of traffic, typically on

a controlled-access highway such as a freeway or expressway, to aid in emergency evacuation. See

also: Evacuation Traffic Management Plan.

Cooperative Extension Program (CEP)

A part of Prairie View A&M University that provides educational outreach activities in the counties

serviced.

Coordination Center A facility used to organize agency or jurisdictional

resources in support of one or more incidents.

County Extension Agent (CEA)

See: AgriLife Extension Service or Prairie View A&M University County Extension Agent-Agriculture and

Natural Resources.

County Livestock

Specialist

See: AgriLife Extension Service or Prairie View A&M

University County Livestock Specialist.

County Staging Area (CSA)

A location selected and operated by a county for temporary staging of basic commodities for bulk distribution following a disaster. Some counties may

elect to collocate with a single-site point of distribution (POD).See also: Point of Distribution.

Credentialing The process of establishing the qualifications of licensed professionals and assessing their background and legitimacy; also the administrative processes that

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Term Definition

results in issuing, using, monitoring, managing or

revoking any or all of the elements necessary for a person to be credentialed/badged and given access to established ingress- and egress-controlled areas. See

also: Access Control, Badging.

Crisis Communications Organizational or agency communications during a

crisis that serves to provide an immediate response to an unexpected and threatening event.

Crisis Counseling and Training Program

A grant-funded federal program that assists individuals and communities in recovering from disasters by providing outreach, crisis counseling,

psycho-education and referrals in federally declared disaster areas.

Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication

(CERC)

Training program created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to share lessons learned during public health emergencies and share

best practices from the fields of risk and crisis communication.

Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)

An adaptive, short-term psychological healing process focused solely on an immediate and identifiable problem.

Critical Infrastructure/Key

Resources (CIKR)

Those physical or virtual systems and assets so vital to the state or jurisdiction that their incapacitation or

destruction would have a debilitating impact on state or jurisdictional security, economic security, public health/safety or any combination thereof. See also:

Agriculture, Agricultural Critical Infrastructure, Catastrophic Incident, Infrastructure, Terrorist

Incident.

Critical Incident Stress Management

An adaptive, short-term psychological helping-process that focuses solely on an immediate and identifiable

problem. Can include pre-incident preparedness to acute crisis management to post-crisis follow-up. The

purpose is to enable people to return to their daily routine more quickly and with less likelihood of experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. See also:

First Responder.

Critical Transportation

Needs (CTN) Evacuee

An individual who is unable to secure transportation

to an area of safety and requires government transportation assistance to leave an area that is

under an evacuation order.

Crude Oil The oil or condensate produced from oil or gas wells upstream of refinery facilities.

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Term Definition

Cyber- A prefix used to mean the “electronic” or computer-

related counterpart of a pre-existing object, idea or service, e.g., cybercrime, cyberterrorism.

Cyberspace The global network of interdependent information

technology infrastructures, telecommunications networks and computer processing systems in which

online communication takes place.

D

Dam A barrier built across a watercourse for the purpose of impounding, controlling or diverting the flow of water.

Damage Assessment The process used to determine the number of injuries

and deaths, damage to public and private property and status to key facilities and services (e.g.,

hospitals, fire stations, communications networks, utilities) resulting from a disaster.

Deactivation The act of shutting down the facilities and

infrastructure of an incident response effort; a trigger point when teams go from active to inactive status.

Decontamination The process of freeing an individual or object of

contaminating substances, e.g., war gas, radioactive material, hazardous chemicals, biological agents.

Sometimes called “decon.”

Defense Support of

Civil Authorities (DSCA)

The process by which for a limited time period during

a disaster U.S. military resources can be used to assist in missions normally carried out by civil authorities, e.g., response to natural and human-

created disasters, law enforcement support, special events. Allows for assistance with personnel or

equipment.

Demobilization A period during which deployed teams are administratively cleared to go home, travel from the

incident area back to home station, complete necessary maintenance of equipment and return

vehicles to storage or staging areas.

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

A molecule that encodes the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living

organisms and many viruses.

Department of Aging

and Disability Services (DADS)

The state agency that administers long-term services

and support for people who are aging as well as for people with intellectual and physical disabilities. Also licenses and regulates providers of such services and

administers the state’s guardianship program. Overseen by the Texas Health and Human Services

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Term Definition

Commission (HHSC). See also: Guardianship

Program, Health and Human Services Commission.

Department of Assistive and

Rehabilitative Services (DARS)

The state agency that administers quality of life programs for Texans with disabilities and families who

have children under age 3 with developmental delays. Programs include rehabilitation services (e.g.,

therapy, technology, independent living services, vocational support, school to work transition

planning, job training), blind services, early childhood intervention services and disability determination services. Overseen by the Texas Health and Human

Services Commission (HHSC). See also: Health and Human Services Commission.

Department of Family and Protective

Services (DFPS)

The state agency that administers programs to protect children, the elderly and people with disabilities from abuse, neglect and exploitation. Also

works to protect children in daycare, foster care and other types of 24 hour care. Programs include adult

protective services, child protective services, child care licensing, and prevention and early intervention. Overseen by the Texas Health and Human Services

Commission (HHSC). See also: Health and Human Services Commission.

Department of Homeland Security

(DHS)

The federal agency that oversees national efforts to prevent terrorist attacks within the U.S., reduce America’s vulnerability to terrorism, minimize

damage, and recover from attacks that do occur.

Department of Public

Safety (DPS)

The state agency responsible for Texas law

enforcement, vehicle regulation, emergency planning and response, counterterrorism and many other functions. See also: Texas Division of Emergency

Management.

Department of State

Health Services (DSHS)

A department of the government of the State of

Texas responsible for oversight and implementation of public health and behavioral health services in Texas. Created in 2003 with the merging of four state

agencies: the Texas Department of Health, the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation,

the Texas Health Care Information Council, and the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

Department Operations Center

(DOC)

A school site or single-discipline operations center. May be found at any level above the field response level.

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Term Definition

Desalination (also

Desalinization)

The process of removing salt and other minerals from

brackish and/or seawater to make it suitable for human consumption and/or industrial use. The most common desalination methods employ reverse-

osmosis, in which salt water is forced through a membrane that allows water molecules to pass but

blocks the molecules of salt and other minerals.

Disability See: Person with a Disability.

Disaster A natural or human-created hazard that results in an event causing significant physical damage or

destruction, loss of life or drastic change to the environment. Can cause damage to life and property;

destroy the economic, social and cultural life of individuals; and exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own

resources. See also: Rapid Onset Disaster, Slow Onset Disaster.

Disaster Behavioral Health (DBH)

The provision of mental health, substance abuse and stress management to disaster survivors and responders.

Disaster Declaration A document signed by executive authority which

triggers the availability of certain federal resources.

Disaster District Any of the 24 sections of the State of Texas that have

been grouped together by county for emergency management and crisis response purposes. See also: Disaster District Center Staging Area, Disaster District

Committee.

Disaster District

Committee Staging Area (DSA)

A location predesignated by each Disaster District

Committee (DDC) and used for check-in and staging of personnel and equipment requested by each DDC. See also: Disaster District, Disaster District

Committee.

Disaster District

Committee (DDC)

Formed in accordance with Chapter 418 of the Texas

Government Code; comprised of members of the Emergency Management Council (EMC) including

representatives of state agencies, boards, commissions and organized volunteer groups; chaired by the Highway Patrol commanding officer of each

district, who reports to the assistant director of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). See also:

Disaster District, Emergency Management Council, Department of Public Safety.

Disaster Medical A team of volunteer medical professionals and

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Term Definition

Assistance Team

(DMAT)

support personnel equipped with deployable

equipment and supplies that can move quickly to a disaster area and provide medical care.

Disaster Mortuary

Services (DMORT) Team

A team of mortuary service and medical examiner

personnel who provide body storage and victim identification services after major or catastrophic

disasters.

Disaster Recovery

Center

A readily accessible facility or mobile office where

applicants may go for information about assistance programs following a disaster.

Disaster Response Unit (DRU)

See: Canteen.

Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance

Program (D-SNAP)

A program that provides help buying groceries to eligible low- to moderate-income households who have lost income or sustained damages following a

disaster and who do not normally receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

food stamp benefits. Overseen by the state agency that administers the SNAP. Requires USDA approval for operation in counties that have received a

presidential disaster declaration for individual assistance. Texas can request approval to operate D-

SNAP once disaster survivors have returned to their homes, their utilities are restored and commercial food supply channels (e.g., grocery stores) have

reopened.

Dissociation A continuum of psychological states described as a

sense of detachment between mind and emotions or mind and body. Characterized by a sense of the world as a dreamlike or unreal place. May be accompanied

by poor memory of specific events.

Donation Management

Program

A program designed to manage and coordinate

unsolicited donations and spontaneous volunteers during the response and recovery phases of a disaster.

Donations Steering Committee (DSC)

A voluntary-agency coordinating entity established by FEMA and composed of federal, state and local

emergency management personnel assisted by private voluntary organizations to facilitate the flow of donations during a disaster.

Donations Coordination Team

(DCT)

The executive board of Texas Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (TxVOAD) that administers the

donations management database.

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Term Definition

Donations Steering

Committee (DSC)

A committee comprised of stakeholders who assist

and direct a donations management program during a disaster. See also: Donations Management Program.

Drought An extended period of months or years when a region

experiences deficiency in its water supply whether surface or underground water. Has an adverse impact

on vegetation, animals and the human population.

Durable Medical

Equipment (DME)

Medical equipment (e.g., walkers, canes, wheelchairs,

etc.) used by persons with a disability to maintain their usual level of independence.

E

Earthquake The sudden trembling of ground produced by abrupt displacement of rock masses, usually within the upper 10 to 20 miles of the earth’s surface.

Effective

Communication

Under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act

1990 (ADA) and guidance from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), all state and local governments must take steps to ensure all

communications — written and spoken — are as clear and understandable to people with disabilities as they

are for people who do not have disabilities (e.g., accessibility of emergency video programming to persons with hearing and visual disabilities, American

Sign Language Interpreters for people who are deaf, printing materials in large print or Braille, developing

websites that meet 508 compliance). See also: 508 Compliance, Access and Functional Needs, Person With a Disability.

Electronic and Information Resources

(EIR)

Any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment used in the creation,

conversion or duplication of data or information (e.g., telephones, information kiosks and transaction

machines, websites, multimedia, copiers and fax machines). Does not include equipment that contains embedded information technology used as an integral

part of the product, but for which the principal function is something other than the acquisition,

storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission or reception of data or information (e.g., heating,

ventilation and air conditioning equipment or medical equipment that relies on information technology).

July 16, 2013 STAT 18 | P a g e

Term Definition

Electronic and

Information Communications

Technology (EIT)

See: Electronic and Information Resources.

Emergency/Emergency Incident

Any incident, human-caused or natural, that requires responsive action to protect life or property. Defined

by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act as an occasion or instance

for which, in the determination of the president, federal assistance is needed to supplement state and local efforts and capabilities to save lives and to

protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part

of the country (e.g., terrorist attacks, terrorist threats, wild land and urban interface fires, floods, hazardous material spills, nuclear events, aircraft

accidents, earthquakes, hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes, blizzards and ice storms, war-related

disasters, public health and medical emergencies). See also: Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.

Emergency Acquisition The process by which goods and services are obtained during disaster relief, either to facilitate defense

against or recovery from attacks on the country or in any situation where the President of the United States issues an emergency or major disaster declaration.

See also: Contingency Contract.

Emergency Alert

System (EAS)

A national public warning system that requires

broadcasters, cable television systems, wireless cable systems, satellite digital audio radio service providers, and direct broadcast satellite providers to

give the president full communications capability to address the American public during a national

emergency. May be used by state and local authorities to deliver important emergency information, such as AMBER alerts and weather

information targeted to specific areas.

Emergency Assistance Assistance required by individuals, families and

communities beyond the scope of mass care services traditionally provided at the local level, e.g.,

reunification, special needs, pet and service animal sheltering, coordination of donated goods and services. See also: Mass Care.

July 16, 2013 STAT 19 | P a g e

Term Definition

Emergency

Management Assistance Compact

(EMAC)

The nation's state-to-state mutual aid system. Offers

assistance during governor-declared states of emergency through a responsive, straightforward system that allows states to send personnel,

equipment, and commodities to help disaster relief efforts in other states.

Emergency Management

Coordinator (EMC)

The individual within each political subdivision who plans and directs disaster response or crisis

management activities; provides disaster preparedness training; prepares emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods,

earthquakes), technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) or wartime

disasters or catastrophic incidents.

Emergency Management Director

(EMD)

The individual within each political subdivision who has coordination responsibility for jurisdictional

emergency management. Per Chapter 418 of the Texas Government Code, county judges and mayors

of municipalities are designated Emergency Management Directors (EMD) of their jurisdictions.

Emergency Managers

Weather Information Network (EMWIN)

A computer-based backup warning system for the

Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (TLETS) that pulls from the National Weather Service

(NWS) satellite feed. The State Operations Center (SOC) may receive messages on this system and relay information, as appropriate. See also: National

Weather Service, State Operations Center, Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications System.

Emergency Medical Services

Personnel, facilities and equipment required to ensure proper medical care for the sick and injured from the time of injury to the time of final disposition including

those services immediately required to ensure proper medical care and specialized treatment for patients in

a hospital and coordination of related hospital services.

Emergency Medical

Task Force (EMTF)

An emergency response capability built by the

Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and supported by local emergency response teams and

assets. Each EMTF team is managed by a regional EMTF coordinator. These eight (8) regional

Emergency Medical Task Force teams have four response capabilities: Ambulance Strike Team, Mobile Medical Unit, Ambus (up to two per region) and Nurse

Strike Teams.

July 16, 2013 STAT 20 | P a g e

Term Definition

Emergency Operations

Center(EOC)

The physical location where the coordination of

information and resources to support incident management activities normally takes place. May be a temporary facility or located in a more central or

permanently established facility, perhaps at a higher level of organization within a jurisdiction. May be

organized by major functional disciplines (e.g., fire, law enforcement, medical services), by jurisdiction

(e.g., federal, state, regional, county, city, tribal) or some combination thereof.

Emergency Operations

Plan (EOP)

A plan that each jurisdiction has and is required to

maintain for responding to appropriate hazards.

Emergency Public

Information

A class of information disseminated primarily in

anticipation of a crisis or during a disaster. In addition to providing situational awareness, it frequently includes directive requirements for the general public.

Must provide effective communication to support individuals with disabilities. See also: 508

Compliance, Effective Communication, Person With a Disability.

Emergency Response

Official (ERO)

An employee of a federal, state, local, regional or

tribal agency or of a private-sector or nonprofit organization who is authorized to perform emergency

management tasks.

Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV)

An American Red Cross (ARC) disaster relief unit providing mobile or stationary feedings, distribution of

commodities, casework and/or communications. See also: American Red Cross.

Emergency Shutdown Device (ESD)

A device that closes all facility (e.g., oil, gas) operations from either local or remote locations.

Emergency Support

Function (ESF)

A functional-grouping structure designed as part of

the National Response Framework (NRF) to help coordinate federal interagency support to augment

state and local response efforts. See also: National Response Framework. 1. Transportation

2. Communications 3. Public Works and Engineering

4. Firefighting 5. Emergency Management

6. Mass Care, Emergency Assistance, Housing and Human Services

7. Logistics Management and Resource Support

8. Public Health and Medical Services

July 16, 2013 STAT 21 | P a g e

Term Definition

9. Search and Rescue

10.Oil and Hazardous Materials Response 11.Agriculture and Natural Resources 12.Energy

13.Public Safety and Security 14.Long-Term Community Recovery

15.External Affairs

Emergency Tracking

Network (TxETN)

The state evacuee and resource tracking system for

emergency response operations. Developed to ensure accountability of all state and local transported evacuees during the evacuation process and to assist

with locating and reuniting evacuees with their families.

Emotional and Spiritual Care

The psychological first aid, pastoral care and stress-management techniques provided by trained clergy, chaplains, crisis responders and behavioral health

professionals during disaster response and recovery operations. Provided to persons of all faiths, cultures

and backgrounds. Includes referrals to behavioral health professionals for persons requiring more comprehensive behavioral health services. See also:

Chaplain.

Emotional Support

Animal (ESA)

An animal that provides therapeutic benefit to a

person with a mental disability. Does not require any specific training; the mere presence of the animal is enough to provide some benefit to the person with a

disability. A common example is a dog whose presence has a beneficial effect on the anxiety of a

person with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Because the definition of service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is more

rigorous, ESAs do not currently qualify as service animals under the ADA. See also: Person With a

Disability, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Energy The production and provision of electrical power, natural gas, petroleum products and fuels.

Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA)

An agency of the federal government whose purpose is to ensure that all citizens are protected from

significant risks to human health and to the environment where they live, learn and work; that

national efforts to reduce environmental risk are based on the best available scientific information; and that federal laws protecting human health and the

environment are enforced fairly and effectively.

July 16, 2013 STAT 22 | P a g e

Term Definition

ePlan The online software application Emergency

Management Coordinators (EMC) use to submit and track their jurisdictional emergency planning documents (e.g., Basic Plan, Annexes A-V) provided

for review by Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM) planners. Also used to track

judges’, mayors’, EMCs’ and other officials’ contact information. See also: Emergency Management

Coordinator, Texas Department of Emergency Management.

Essential Elements of

Information (EEI)

The most critical information needed in order to assist

in reaching a logical decision.

Evacuation The withdrawal, dispersal or removal of civilians — as well as their pets and possessions — from dangerous

or potentially dangerous areas.

Evacuation Area A geographic area identified by officials as being at

risk from hazards, such as the storm surge associated with hurricanes. Delineated by local jurisdictions and defined by geographic or governmental boundaries

(e.g., roads, railroads, rivers, city/county jurisdictional lines) or ZIP codes. Sometimes referred

to as evacuation zones. See also: Evacuation.

Evacuation Clearance Time

The amount of time needed to safely clear all evacuating traffic to safe areas.

Evacuation Comfort Station

A designated rest area on an evacuation route that offers water and ice to evacuees. May offer portable

rest room facilities and additional services, depending upon volunteer capabilities. No fuel services are offered.

Evacuation Shelter A short-term facility opened for temporary housing of individuals who have evacuated due to an impending

threat.

Evacuation Traffic

Management Plan

A plan issued at the Disaster District Committee

(DDC) level to designate specific evacuation routes, describe law enforcement assignments, and incorporate traffic control or contraflow procedures to

ensure the efficient movement of traffic during evacuations. See also: Contraflow, Evacuation.

Evacuation Zone See: Evacuation Area.

Evacuees All persons removed or moving from areas threatened or struck by a disaster.

July 16, 2013 STAT 23 | P a g e

Term Definition

Event A planned, nonemergency activity. Incident Command

System (ICS) can be used to manage a wide range of events, e.g., parades, concerts, sporting events. See also: Incident Command System.

F

Family Assistance Center (FAC)

A centralized location that provides information and assistance about missing or unaccounted for persons

and deceased, and supports the reunification of loved ones.

Federal Active Duty

(FAD)

The status under which Military Forces are activated

by a presidential declaration of disaster. See also: Activation.

Federal Assistance to Individual and

Households Program

(IHP)

A federal/state program administered by FEMA and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) that grants up to $31,900.00 to individuals

who sustain property loss or damage because of a major disaster. Includes assistance for housing and

other needs (e.g., personal property, transportation, medical or funeral needs).

Federal Bureau of

Investigation (FBI)

The FBI focuses on threats that challenge the

foundations of U.S. society or involve dangers too large or complex for any local or state authority to

handle alone. In executing the following priorities, the FBI — as both a national security and law

enforcement organization — will produce and use intelligence to protect the nation from threats and to bring to justice those who violate the law.

Federal Communications

Commission

A U.S. government agency established by the Communications Act of 1934 and overseen by

Congress to regulate interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and

U.S. territories.

Federal Coordinating

Officer

The official appointed by the president to execute

Stafford Act authorities including the commitment of resources from FEMA and mission assignments of other federal departments or agencies. See also:

Federal Emergency Management Agency, Stafford Act.

Federal Emergency Management Agency

(FEMA)

An agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) responsible for coordinating the response to disasters that occur in the country and

overwhelm the resources of local and state authorities. See also: Department of Homeland

July 16, 2013 STAT 24 | P a g e

Term Definition

Security.

Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC or

OSC)

The federal official predesignated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to coordinate responses under

subpart D of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP); or the

government official designated to coordinate and direct removal actions under subpart E of the NCP. See also: Environmental Protection Agency, National

Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan.

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC)

A reimbursement designation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to fund community-based organizations that provide

medical care to underserved populations, migrant and seasonal agricultural workers, the homeless and

public-housing residents.

Field Kitchen A tractor-trailer or tent kitchen capable of mass food production, e.g., Southern Baptist Disaster Relief field

kitchens. See also: Hub and Spoke, Mobile Kitchen.

First Responder The individuals who in the early stages of an incident

are responsible for the protection and preservation of life, property, evidence and the environment.

Includes emergency response providers as well as emergency management, public health, clinical care, public works and other skilled support personnel

(e.g., equipment operators) that provide immediate support services during prevention, response and

recovery operations.

Fixed Feeding Site A stationary location for delivering food service. May also be a permanent facility (e.g. Church, school) that

is used as a shelter.

Flood A general and temporary condition of partial or

complete inundation or normally dry land areas from overflow of inland or tidal waters, unusual or rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters, or

mudslides/mudflows caused by accumulation of water.

Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)

An agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that works to end hunger and obesity through the administration of 15 federal nutrition assistance

programs including WIC, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and school meals.

July 16, 2013 STAT 25 | P a g e

Term Definition

Food Bank A location for storing the food stocks that exist

throughout jurisdictions to support every-day, non-disaster feeding needs. Can be used to augment an operation.

Food Emergency Response Network

(FERN)

A network of federal, state and local food-testing laboratories able to respond to emergencies involving

biological, chemical or radiological contamination of food.

Food Safety Certified Unit Leader

A supervisor or manager certified in ServSafe or equivalent level course who oversees feeding operations. See also: ServSafe.

Food Service Delivery Unit (FSDU)

An operational vehicle and team capable of delivering prepared meals. Typically works in conjunction with a

stationary kitchen, where food is prepared for distribution. Many voluntary agencies (e.g., American Red Cross, The Salvation Army) have specially

designed emergency vehicles to perform this function. In catastrophic incidents other vehicles

(e.g., vans) may be used to deliver food and augment overall capacity.

Forklift A powered industrial truck used to lift and transport

materials by means of steel fingers inserted under the load. Also called a lift truck, a fork truck, or a tow-

motor.

Forward Coordinating Element (FCE)

A group of skilled professionals that assists local emergency managers with the coordination and

deployment of medical transportation assets sent into the area and establishes the flow of information

regarding patient transfers back to receiving sites.

Fuel Committee A group of private sector partners — representing the refiner and supplier, supply and terminal, retail, and

tank truck carrier sectors — that ensures the availability and distribution of fuel during emergency

incidents.

Fuel Coordination Team

See: Fuel Committee.

Functional Needs Support (FNS)

See: Functional Needs Support Services.

Functional Needs Support Services

(FNSS)

Any of the services that enable children and adults — with or without disabilities — who have access and

functional needs to maintain their health, safety and independence in a general population shelter (e.g., personal assistance services, durable medical

July 16, 2013 STAT 26 | P a g e

Term Definition

equipment, consumable medical supplies, effective

communication). People requiring FNSS may have sensory, physical, mental health, cognitive and/or intellectual disabilities affecting their capability to

function independently without assistance. The elderly, women in the late stages of pregnancy, and

persons requiring communication assistance and/or bariatric support may benefit from FNSS as well.

G

Gas Distribution

System

A network that provides natural gas to residential,

commercial and other customers.

General Population Shelter

A facility designed to house members of the public without regard to age, gender, health condition or disability.

Governor’s Authorized Representative

An individual empowered by a governor to execute all necessary documents for disaster assistance on

behalf of the state, coordinate and supervise the state disaster assistance program and identify the state’s critical information needs.

Guardianship Program A legal process that provides a court-appointed person or entity who makes protective decisions on

behalf of a person with diminished capacity including facilities placement, medical decisions and estate management. Administered by the Texas Department

of Aging and Disability Services (DADS). See also: Department of Aging and Disability Services.

Gray Water Wastewater generated from domestic activities (e.g., laundry, dishwashing, bathing) that can be recycled onsite for uses such as landscape irrigation. Not safe

for human or animal consumption. See also: Potable Water.

H

H-/H+ The amount of time prior to or following the onset of hurricane hazards. Example: “The shelter is designed to be operational from approximately H-24 to H+72.”

Ham Radio A commonly used term for amateur radio. See also: Military Affiliate Radio System.

Hazard Any real or potential condition that can cause injury,

illness or death of any personnel, or damage to or loss of equipment or property.

Hazard Hour (H-Hour) The specific hour when a particular hazard has occurred or is expected to occur.

July 16, 2013 STAT 27 | P a g e

Term Definition

Hazardous Material

(HazMat)

A material (e.g., flammable, poisonous) that would be

a danger to life or to the environment if released without precautions. Defined in detail by the National Response Framework (NRF). See also: Hazardous

Substance, National Response Framework.

Hazardous Materials

Emergency Preparedness (HMEP)

Grant

The Federal Hazardous Material Law authorizes the

U.S. Department of Transportation, through the Research and Special Programs Administration, to

provide assistance to public sector employees through training and planning grants. The purpose of the HMEP grant program is to increase effectiveness

in safely and efficiently handling hazardous materials accidents and incidents; enhance implementation of

the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA); and encourage a comprehensive approach to emergency training and

planning by incorporating the unique challenges of responses to transportation situations.

Hazardous Substance A substance that — because of quantity, concentration, physical or chemical characteristics — may pose a threat to human health or to the

environment when improperly treated, stored, transported or disposed of; including those defined as

hazardous under federal, state and municipal laws. A more detailed definition may be found in the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency

Plan (NCP) pursuant to section 311(b)(2)(A) of the Clean Water Act. See also: Hazardous Material,

National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan.

HAZUS A geographic information system (GIS)-based

software application that calculates potential damage estimates for hurricane wind, coastal flooding, river

flooding and earthquakes.

Hazus-Multi Hazard (Hazus-MH)

A nationally applicable standardized methodology to estimate potential losses from earthquakes, hurricane

winds and floods developed by FEMA under contract with the National Institute of Building Sciences

(NIBS). See also: Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Institute of Building Sciences.

Health Alert Network See: Public Health Information Network.

Health and Human Services Commission

(HHSC)

The state agency responsible for overseeing the operations of the health and human services system

which is composed of the HHSC, the Department of

July 16, 2013 STAT 28 | P a g e

Term Definition

Aging and Disability Services (DADS), the Department

of State Health Services (DSHS), the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) and the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).

Also directly administers several programs including disaster assistance grants. See also: Department of

Aging and Disability Services, Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Family

and Protective Services, Department of State Health Services. Federal Assistance to Individual and Households Program.

Health Service Region One of 11 geographic areas designated by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and

directed by a physician who may assume the role of Health Authority in Texas counties without a local health authority. See also: Department of State

Health Services.

Home and Community

Support Services Agency (HCSSA)

An agency that provides home health, hospice or

personal assistance services for pay or other consideration in a client's residence, an independent

living environment or another appropriate location.

Homeland Defense

(HD)

The protection of U.S. sovereignty, territory, domestic

population and critical infrastructure against external threats and aggression, or other threats, as directed

by the President of the United States.

Homeland Security See: Department of Homeland Security.

Homeland Security Presidential Directive

Five (HSPD-5)

A presidential order that establishes a single, comprehensive national Incident Management System (IMS)and requires all federal departments to make

adoption of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) by state, tribal and local organizations

a condition for federal preparedness assistance through grants, contracts and other activities. See

also: Incident Command System, National Incident Management System.

Host Shelter

Jurisdiction

A jurisdiction that provides coordinated mass care

and shelter support to evacuating coastal communities during a hurricane.

Household Pet A domesticated animal — such as a dog, cat, bird,

rabbit, rodent or turtle — that is traditionally kept in the home for pleasure rather than for commercial

purposes. Can travel in commercial carriers and be housed in temporary facilities. Does not include reptiles (except turtles), amphibians, fish,

July 16, 2013 STAT 29 | P a g e

Term Definition

insects/arachnids, farm animals (including horses) or

animals kept for racing purposes. See also: Animal Shelter.

Hub and Spoke A system for the preparation of large quantities of

food. The hub is typically a field kitchen such as those provided by Southern Baptist Disaster Relief that is

capable of cooking thousands of meals at a time. Infrastructure to support the kitchen — such as dry,

freezer and refrigerated storage trailers and a potable supply of water — is necessary. The spokes of the system are a fleet of mobile delivery vehicles, such as

Red Cross emergency response vehicles (ERV), which pick up the prepared food and deliver it to disaster

survivors and rescue workers. In order for a hub and spoke system to operate at maximum efficiency, sufficient mobile delivery vehicles and a supply of

insulated food containers must be readily available to transport the food. See also: Emergency Response

Vehicle, Field Kitchen, Mobile Delivery Vehicle.

HURREVAC Decision-support software used by the National Hurricane Program administered by FEMA, the U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and the National Hurricane Center (NHC) run by the National Oceanic

and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Displays hurricane forecasts and advisory information in conjunction with evacuation timing information

derived from hurricane evacuation studies. See also: Federal Emergency Management Agency, National

Hurricane Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Hurricane A tropical cyclone with sustained, one-minute wind

speeds of 74mph or greater that blow in a large spiral around a relatively calm center or eye. See also:

Hurricane Warning, Hurricane Watch, Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, Tropical Cyclone.

Hurricane Planner Person who monitors and predicts hurricane behavior

during a State Operations Center (SOC) activation. See also: State Operations Center.

Hurricane Warning

An announcement issued by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) that requires immediate action because

a hurricane is either occurring or about to occur within a specified area. See also: Hurricane, National Hurricane Center.

July 16, 2013 STAT 30 | P a g e

Term Definition

Hurricane Watch

An announcement issued by the National Hurricane

Center (NHC) that conditions are favorable for a hurricane to occur within a specified area. See also: Hurricane, National Hurricane Center.

Hydration Service A specialized form of food provisioning established to help keep people within a disaster area healthy.

Follows strict guidelines about what can be served and focuses primarily on providing beverages which

replenish electrolytes (e.g., potassium), enhance energy and rehydrate the body. Hydration services may also provide limited food items, such as energy

bars and candy, which are prepackaged and provide a quick energy boost. Hydration service may be

provided when: Consumption of prepared meals is not safe, such as

when airborne contaminants are present.

Heat stress is a danger. A local health department has restricted food

service. Site security prohibits food service.

I

Immediate Care Strike

Team

A group of responders who manage a distribution site

for life-sustaining resources (e.g., food, ice, water) in areas where those items are not available

immediately after an incident.

Immediate Services Program (ISP)

Supplemental funding for crisis counseling is available to state mental health authorities through two grant

mechanisms: (1) the Immediate Services Program (ISP) which provides funds for up to 60 days of

services immediately following a disaster declaration; and (2) the Regular Services Program (RSP) which provides funds for up to nine months following a

disaster declaration. While SAMHSA provides technical assistance for an ISP, the monitoring

responsibility remains with FEMA. FEMA has designated SAMHSA as the authority responsible for monitoring all RSP programs.

Incident An occurrence or event, natural, technological or human-caused, that requires a response to protect

life, property, or the environment (e.g., major disasters, emergencies, terrorist attacks, terrorist threats, civil unrest, wildland and urban fires, floods,

hazardous materials [HAZMAT] spills, nuclear accidents, aircraft accidents, earthquakes, hurricanes,

tornadoes, tropical storms, tsunamis, war-related

July 16, 2013 STAT 31 | P a g e

Term Definition

disasters, public health and medical emergencies,

other occurrences requiring an emergency response).

Incident Action Plan (IAP)

An oral or written plan containing general objectives that reflect the overall strategy for managing an

incident. May include identification of operational resources and assignments as well as attachments

that provide direction and important information for management of the incident during one or more

operational periods.

Incident Command System (ICS)

A system to coordinate emergency preparedness and incident management among various federal, state

and local agencies. Enables facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures and communications to

operate within a common organizational structure and aid in the management of resources and planning during incidents, unhindered by artificial jurisdictional

boundaries. See also: Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5, Incident Commander, Joint Information

Center, National Incident Management System, National Response Framework, Unified Command.

Incident Commander

(IC)

The individual responsible for all incident activities,

including the development of strategies and tactics and the ordering and release of resources. Has overall

authority and responsibility for conducting incident operations and is responsible for managing all incident operations at the incident site. See also:

Incident Command System.

Incident Fire of State

Significance (IFSS) Support Group

A group of individuals with technical expertise

selected by the Texas Catastrophic Fire Steering Committee (TCFSC) to serve in an advisory capacity to an Industrial Fire of State Significance (IFSS). See

also: Industrial Fire of State Significance, Texas Catastrophic Fire Steering Committee.

Incident Management Assistance Team

(IMAT)

A national- or regional-based team composed of subject matter experts (SME) and incident management professionals, usually composed of

personnel from multiple federal departments and agencies, that provides incident management support

during a major incident.

Incident Management

Team (IMT)

Provides the command and control infrastructure to

manage logistical, fiscal, planning, operational, safety and community issues related to an emergency. As an incident becomes more complex, additional

resources are required along with increasingly higher levels of training and capability in accordance with the

July 16, 2013 STAT 32 | P a g e

Term Definition

complexity of the emergency.

Incident of National Significance

An actual or potential high-impact event that requires a coordinated and effective response by an appropriate combination of federal, state, local, tribal,

nongovernmental and/or private sector entities in order to save lives, minimize danger, and provide the

basis for long-term community recovery and mitigation activities.

Individual Assistance A type of program made available during a federally

declared disaster; designed to help meet survivors’ sustenance, shelter and medical needs during their

path to recovery.

Individual With a Disability

See: Person With a Disability.

Industrial Fire of State Significance (IFSS)

A catastrophic fire or fire-related incident that is beyond the resource capabilities of local organizations

or involves broad-based terrorism or considerable public and/or political pressure.

Information

Communications Technology (ITC)

See: Electronic and Information Resources.

Infrastructure

The essential, life-sustaining structures that support a society (e.g., roads, bridges, water supply, sewers,

electrical grids, telecommunications). See also: Critical Infrastructure/Key Resources.

Inspector An individual who works in the field with animal issues, e.g., a Texas Animal Health Commission(TAHC) animal health field inspector, a

U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service-Veterinary Service (USDA-

APHIS-VS) animal health technician, a U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service-Animal Care (USDA-APHIS-AC)

inspector, a Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) field inspector.

Insulated Food/Beverage

Container

A specialized, food-service-grade container designed to hold food at safe temperatures for serving. Commonly referred to by the manufacturers’ brand

name(e.g., Cambro or Carlisle),although other manufacturers produce similar products.

International Labor Organization (ILO) Seafarer's ID Card

The ILO Seafarer’s ID card is used by sailors aboard vessels registered abroad. Some moderate-risk countries do not have controlled registration and

July 16, 2013 STAT 33 | P a g e

Term Definition

issuance practices and some high-risk countries’ ID

cards (such as Cuba and Iran) are not accepted per the US Department of State.

Interstate Any activity involving two or more states.

Intrastate Any activity occurring within a state.

Intravenous Therapy

(IV)

The word "intravenous" as a noun refers to an

intravenous fluid drip, a solution (usually a balanced electrolyte solution) administered directly into the venous circulation. Also called a drip.

Investigator A Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) livestock theft investigator, also known as a

“special ranger” or “brand inspector.”

Isolation Separating and restricting the movement of people with a specific communicable disease to contain the

spread of the disease. People in isolation may be cared for in their homes, hospitals, designated health

care facilities, or other dedicated facilities. See also: Quarantine.

J

Joint Assistance

Center (JAC)

A group of organizations that coordinates services for

a small population (e.g., 15-50 families) and provides immediate direct assistance to survivors of a disaster.

Joint Field Office (JFO) A temporary federal facility established locally to provide a central point for federal, state, local and tribal executives with responsibility for incident

oversight, direction and/or assistance to effectively coordinate protection, prevention, preparedness,

response and recovery actions.

Joint Information Center (JIC)

A facility for conducting public information operations during emergency responses and other situations in

which multiple organizations need to collaborate to provide timely, useful and accurate information to the

public and other stakeholders; the central point of contact for all news media at the scene of the incident. Public information officials from all

participating agencies should collocate here.

Joint Information

System (JIS)

A framework for organizing, integrating and

coordinating the delivery of public information. Integrates incident information and public affairs into cohesive, consistent, coordinated and timely

messages during crisis or incident operations. Provides a structure and system for developing and

delivering coordinated interagency messages;

July 16, 2013 STAT 34 | P a g e

Term Definition

developing, recommending, and executing public

information plans and strategies on behalf of the incident commander (IC); advising the IC concerning public affairs issues that could affect a response

effort; and controlling rumors and inaccurate information that could undermine public confidence in

the emergency response effort. See also: Incident Commander, Incident Command System.

Jon Boat A narrow, flat-bottomed, square-ended boat usually propelled by a pole or paddle and used on inland waterways. It may be utilized during a response to

assist in assessment operations, animal rescue operations, as well as delivery of feed and/or water to

stranded animals.

Jurisdiction 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, public health).

K

Knot A unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour;

approximately 1.151 mph. Commonly used in meteorology, and in maritime and air navigation.

L

Laboratory Response

Network (LRN)

The LRN is charged with the task of maintaining an

integrated network of state and local public health, federal, military, and international laboratories that

can respond to bioterrorism, chemical terrorism and other public health emergencies.

Large Animal Shelter An animal shelter facility established primarily to

house livestock, poultry, exotic animals and animals for which proper is not usually provided in a pet

shelter. See also: Animal Shelter, Livestock.

Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR)

LIDAR is an active remote sensing system that can be operated in either a profiling or scanning mode using

pulses of light to illuminate the terrain. LIDAR data collection involves mounting an airborne laser

scanning system onboard an aircraft along with a kinematic global positioning system (GPS) receiver to locate an x, y, z position and an inertial navigation

system to monitor the pitch, roll, and heading of the aircraft.

July 16, 2013 STAT 35 | P a g e

Term Definition

Lines of

Communication (LOC)

A route (e.g., land, water air) that connects an

operating military force with a base of operations and along which supplies and military forces move.

LinkedIn An online social networking service for people in professional occupations. See also: Social Media.

Liquid Product The gasoline, diesel, propane and other liquid fuels downstream of processing and refinery facilities.

Livestock Domesticated animals raised to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor, e.g., horses, cattle,

sheep, goats, swine, and poultry.

Livestock Supply Point A facility typically supervised by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service (ALEXT) and established, if required, for temporary storage of supplies to support

the care of livestock adversely affected by a disaster. See also: Livestock, Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

Local Government A county, municipality, city, town, township, local public authority, school district, special district, intrastate district, council of governments (regardless

of whether the council of governments is incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation under state law),

regional or interstate government entity, or agency or instrumentality of a local government. A rural community, unincorporated town/village or other

public entity.

Local Health Authority

(LHA)

A position established by law for enforcing public

health laws. Held by physicians appointed by local governments for two-year terms.

Local Health Department (LHD)

An agency that is usually part of a political subdivision (e.g., city or county) with authority over public

health-related activities within the jurisdiction. It may also be a multijurisdictional agency serving multiple political subdivisions.

Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA)

An entity within a specified region responsible for supervising and ensuring the provision of mental

health care services in one or more local service areas.

Logistics Staging Site (LSS)

A state-operated warehouse facility where supplies, resources and commodities are received, staged and distributed to support state disaster response

operations. (Texas currently operates one in San Antonio and one in Lufkin.)

July 16, 2013 STAT 36 | P a g e

Term Definition

Long Term Shelter A facility conducting shelter operations to house

evacuees following an emergency incident, until temporary or permanent housing can be established; typically located close to an impacted area that has

been determined safe for reentry. Long-term shelters may remain open for three to six weeks after an

incident or until temporary housing becomes available. Cots and hot meals are usually available.

The American Red Cross (ARC) standard for post-impact shelters is 40 square feet per evacuee. See also: American Red Cross, Reentry.

Lower Explosive Limit (LEL)

The LEL depends on the mixture of product vapor and oxygen necessary to produce fire of explosion in the

presence of an ignition source. LEL is expressed as the percent of product vapor by volume in air.

Logistics Resource

Tracker (LRT)

A tracking device that monitors resources provided

during an incident or event

M

Major Disaster A term defined under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster

Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122) as any natural catastrophe in any part of the

country (e.g., hurricane, tornado, storm, high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm,

drought) or any fire, flood or explosion — regardless of cause — which, in the determination of the

president, creates damage of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant major disaster assistance to supplement the efforts and available resources of

states, tribes, local governments and disaster relief organizations in alleviating damage, loss, hardship or

suffering. See also: Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.

Mass Care Set of actions taken to protect evacuees and other

disaster survivors from the effects of the disaster. Includes mass evacuation, mass sheltering, mass

feeding, access and functional needs support, and household pet and service animal coordination. See also: Access and Functional Needs, Animal Shelter,

Evacuation, Hub and Spoke, Mass Feeding, Reentry, Shelter Hub System.

Mass Care Shelter A shelter designed to meet the basic human needs of the general population impacted by a catastrophic

event.

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Term Definition

Mass Casualty Incident Any event in which emergency medical resources

(e.g., personnel, equipment) are overwhelmed by the number and severity of injuries. See also: Mass Disaster.

Mass Disaster A human-created or natural disaster in which so many people are injured that local emergency

medical services may be overwhelmed or destroyed. See also: Mass Casualty Incident, Mass Fatality

Incident.

Mass Feeding The preparation and distribution of food to meet the needs of affected populations during a disaster,

emergency or incident requiring sheltering.

Mass Fatality Incident An event involving more dead bodies and/or body parts than can be located, identified and processed

for final disposition by available response resources. See also: Mass Disaster.

Meal A single serving of food consisting of an 8 ounce

entrée, a 6 ounce vegetable and a 6 ounce fruit.

Medical Evacuee An individual — with one or more chronic or acute health conditions or disabilities — requiring

transportation assistance during evacuation and a level of sustained medical care and resources beyond the basic first aid and functional needs support

available in general-population shelters. See also: Medical Shelter.

Medical Incident Support Team (M-IST)

A liaison team pre-deployed to the Disaster District Committees (DDC) and local Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) to provide assistance for ESF-8

coordination. M-ISTs will be the primary conduit for the DDC to coordinate ambulance and other medical

assets during evacuation procedures. See also: Disaster District Committee, Emergency Operations Center, Emergency Support Function.

Medical Shelter A facility specifically designed to care for medical evacuees. See: Medical Evacuee.

Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS)

A Department of Defense-sponsored program, operated by the Army, Navy and Air Force, consisting of licensed amateur radio operators who provide

auxiliary or emergency communications on a local, national and international basis as an adjunct to

normal communications.

July 16, 2013 STAT 38 | P a g e

Term Definition

Mitigation Activities designed to reduce or eliminate risks to

people or property or to lessen the actual or potential effects or consequences of an incident. Mitigation measures may be implemented prior to, during or

after an incident. Formed by lessons learned from prior incidents. Involves ongoing actions to reduce

exposure to, probability of or potential loss from hazards. May include zoning and building codes,

floodplain buyouts, and analysis of hazard-related data to determine where it is safe to build or locate temporary facilities. Can also include efforts to

educate governments, businesses and the public on measures they can take to reduce loss and injury.

Mobile Delivery Vehicle A vehicle capable of delivering hot or cold food, but with very limited or no independent food preparation capability, e.g., American Red Cross emergency

response vehicles (ERVs), The Salvation Army disaster response units (DRUs). Some catering

companies and job-site feeding trucks also have mobile delivery vehicles, which should be explored as an option. See also: Disaster Response Unit,

Emergency Response Vehicle, Mobile Kitchen.

Mobile Feeding A system for distributing meals to residents and first

responders of disaster-impacted areas. Often through the use of specialized delivery vehicles such as the American Red Cross emergency response vehicles

(ERVs) or the Salvation Army disaster response units (DRUs). Advantages include:

Provides a quick response. Enables high saturation of affected areas. Enables disaster workers to respond to otherwise

isolated or sparsely populated areas. Allows mass care responders to service multiple

locations with limited resources.

See also: Disaster Response Unit, Emergency Response Vehicle, Mobile Kitchen.

Mobile Kitchen A vehicle with self-contained cooking apparatus that can feed people independent of other resources. See

also: Canteen, Field Kitchen, Mobile Delivery Vehicle, Mobile Feeding.

July 16, 2013 STAT 39 | P a g e

Term Definition

Motor Carrier Division

(MCD)

A "motor carrier" is defined as an individual,

association, corporation, or other legal entity that controls, operates, or directs the operation of one or more commercial motor vehicles that transport

persons or cargo over a road or highway in this state. As a commercial motor vehicle operator, you may be

required to register your vehicle as a motor carrier. See also: Texas Department of Transportation.

Multi-Agency Coordination Center

(MACC)

A coordination and control element that prepares for and responds to incidents on a regional basis. Established by the county judges and mayors from a

multijurisdictional area who also appoint a coordinator to manage operations. See also: Emergency

Management Coordinator, Emergency Management Director.

N

National Contingency

Plan (NCP)

See: National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution

Contingency Plan.

National Disaster Medical System

(NDMS)

Partnership between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), and the U.S.

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to manage the Federal government's medical response to major

emergencies and disasters. Includes patient movement and definitive care.

National Hurricane

Center (NHC)

The division of the National Weather Service (NWS)

responsible for tracking and predicting tropical weather systems. Located at Florida International

University in Miami, Florida. See also: National Weather Service.

National Incident

Management System

(NIMS)

Coordinates emergency preparedness and incident

management among various federal, state and local

agencies. Provides a consistent nationwide approach for federal, state, local, and tribal governments, the private sector and nongovernmental organizations to

work effectively and efficiently together to prepare for, respond to and recover from domestic incidents,

regardless of cause, size or complexity. To provide for interoperability and compatibility among federal, state, local and tribal capabilities, NIMS includes a

core set of concepts, principles and terminology. See also: Incident Command System.

July 16, 2013 STAT 40 | P a g e

Term Definition

National Institute of

Building Sciences (NIBS)

A nonprofit, nongovernmental organization authorized

by congress to connect representatives of government, the professions, industry, labor and consumer interests, and regulatory agencies in order

to identify and resolve problems and potential problems that hamper the construction of safe,

affordable structures for housing, commerce and industry throughout the country.

National Law Enforcement

Telecommunications

System (NLETS)

A computerized message-switching system of state law enforcement agencies providing criminal-justice-related information.

National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Weather Radio

A nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting

continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service (NWS) office. Broadcasts official warnings, watches, forecasts and

other hazard information 24 hours a day, seven days a week. See also: National Weather Service.

National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency

Plan (NCP)

The federal government’s blueprint for responding to both oil spills and hazardous substance releases. Commonly referred to as the National Contingency

Plan. See also: National Response Center.

National Public Safety

Planning Advisory Committee (NPSPAC)

A limited, area-wide 800 MHz band radio frequency

used to conduct 2-way communications in support of mutual aid agreements; connecting an area warning center (AWC) with city, county, state, federal,

military, law enforcement and criminal justice agencies in Texas. Supplemental to the warning

network’s primary “voice-only” system.

National Response Center

A national communications hub for activities related to oil and hazardous substance response actions.

Receives and transmits notices of oil and hazardous substance releases to the appropriate federal and

state agencies. See also: National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan.

National Response

Framework (NRF)

A guide to how the nation conducts all-hazards

incident response including the development of policies, plans and procedures governing how to

effectively allocate and provide resources. See also: Incident Command System.

National Volunteer Organizations Active in

Disaster (NVOAD)

See: Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster.

July 16, 2013 STAT 41 | P a g e

Term Definition

National Warning

System (NAWAS)

A 24-hour, nationwide, dedicated, multiple-telephone-

line warning system provided by FEMA and operated by North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD). See also: Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications

System, Texas Warning System.

National Weather

Service (NWS)

Part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA); comprised of national and regional centers, and 122 local weather forecast

offices; responsible for providing forecasts, public warnings, and other products to organizations and the public for the purposes of protection, safety and

general information. Headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland. Formerly known as the Weather Bureau.

National Weather Service-Advanced

Hydrologic Prediction

Service (NWS-AHPS)

A class of information provided by the National Weather Service to assist in the prediction of floods.

Natural Gas The gaseous hydrocarbons produced from an oil or

gas well. Production, transmission and distribution of natural gas may require various kinds of production and measurement equipment, gas gathering systems,

gas processing plants, natural gas transmission pipelines, gas storage fields and other facilities.

NEXUS Cards NEXUS cards are WHTI-compliant documents for land and sea travel, as well as air travel when traveling to and from airports using the NEXUS program, and

provide expedited travel via land, air or sea to approved members between the U.S. and Canadian

border.

Nongovernmental Organization (NGO)

A general term for entities including faith-based organizations, corporations, nonprofits and any group

that is not officially part of any jurisdictional government.

Nonprofit Organization

(NPO)

An organization that uses surplus revenues to

improve its services rather than pay dividends to investors. Eligible for certain programs (e.g., grants,

government surplus, tax exemptions) when registered under U.S. Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c).

O

Office of the Texas State Chemist (OTSC)

A division of the state government that protects consumers and enhances agribusiness through its feed and fertilizer regulatory compliance program,

July 16, 2013 STAT 42 | P a g e

Term Definition

surveillance and monitoring of animal-human health

and environmental hazards, and preparedness planning.

Operational Control Command authority that can be delegated as needed

to organize, assign tasks and provide direction to accomplish a complex mission.

Operations Order An executable list of objectives and the associated plan for accomplishing these objectives that directs

the conduct of operations for the current and/or next operational period.

Operational Period The period of time scheduled for the execution of a

given set of actions as specified in the Incident Action Plan (IAP). Usually not more than24 hours. See also:

Incident Action Plan.

Outreach, Screening, Assessment and

Referral Center (OSAR)

The first point of contact for those seeking substance abuse treatment services. Provides coordinated

access to a continuum of substance abuse services.

P

Pallet Jack A manual, hydraulic, wheeled tool used to lift and

move pallets.

Parallel Pet Shelter See: Collocated (Parallel) Pet Shelter.

Personal Assistance Services (PAS)

Routine ongoing care or services required by an individual in a residence or independent living

environment that enable the individual to engage in the activities of daily living or to perform the physical

functions required for independent living including respite services. The term includes personal care.

Personal Care The provision of one or more of the following services

required by an individual in a residence or independent living environment: bathing, dressing,

grooming, feeding, exercising, toileting, positioning, assistance with self-administered medications, routine hair and skin care, and transfer or ambulation.

Personal Identification Verification (PIV)

A true PIV credential is one that has been issued by an approved infrastructure to a federal executive

branch entity and meets the identity-vetting, technology and secure-issuance processes outlined by the FIPS 201 standard. The PIV identity vetting

process requires a National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI). Based on this the PIV credential is

considered the most highly-trusted credential of the group.

July 16, 2013 STAT 43 | P a g e

Term Definition

PIV Compatible (PIV-

C)

A PIV-C credential meets the technical requirements

of the PIV model but not the identity-vetting process. This type of credential usually has the ability to function with readers, software and other products

used for PIV and PIV-I credentials but has not gone through the secure issuance process used for PIV and

PIV-I credentials. Therefore these credentials do not provide the assurance required to be trusted by the

federal government and are considered the least trustworthy of the group.

PIV Interoperable

(PIV-I)

A PIV-I credential has been issued by an approved

infrastructure and meets the technical and secure issuance processes set forth by the model. The PIV-I

identity-vetting process does not require a National Agency Check with Authorities (NACI) but instead uses documents on the I-9 employment eligibility

verification form (e.g., birth certificate). Therefore PIV-I credentials do not carry the full assurance of the

PIV credential but do have a trust factor due to compliance with FIPS 201 issuance and technology standards. PIV-I credentials are issued mostly to

state, local, tribal and territorial governments and nongovernmental entities as well as future issuance

to the federal, judicial and legislative branches.

Person With a Disability

Federal laws define a person with a disability as, "any person who has a physical or mental impairment that

substantially limits one or more major life activities; has a record of such impairment; or is regarded as

having such an impairment."Major life activities include walking, talking, hearing, seeing, breathing, learning, performing manual tasks and caring for

oneself. See also: Emotional Support Animal, Functional Needs Support Services, Post-Traumatic

Stress Disorder, Service Animal.

Pet-Friendly (Collocated) Shelter

See: Collocated (Parallel) Pet Shelter.

Picnic Pack An individual, plastic, fin-sealed disposable pouch

containing a napkin, disposable fork, knife and spoon for use when serving meals. Can be specifically ordered to match menu as appropriate. Options

include a wet wipe, soup spoons, and no knife or fork. See also: Service Pack.

Planning Assumptions Expected parameters used in the development of response and recovery plans, processes and procedures.

July 16, 2013 STAT 44 | P a g e

Term Definition

Point of Distribution

(POD)

An area selected and operated by a jurisdiction as a

temporary staging location for distribution of basic commodities, supplies and/or information to disaster survivors. Continuous drive-through sites where the

public does not get out of their vehicle; rather they drive through the site, and volunteers load resources

into the trunks of cars.

Point-to-Point Shelter A component of the shelter hub system consisting of

predesignated sites identified by local jurisdictions. Coordinated and documented by agreements between evacuating areas and receiving jurisdictions to ensure

unpublicized shelter accommodations for evacuees involved in mass transportation operations. See also:

Shelter Hub System.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

A severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological

trauma. That event may involve the threat of death to oneself or to someone else — or to one’s own or

someone else’s physical, sexual or psychological integrity — overwhelming the individual’s ability to cope. See also: Person With a Disability.

Post-Landfall Shelter A facility opened following landfall of a hurricane or tropical storm to meet the immediate needs of

disaster survivors.

Potable Water A class of water that is clean; free of contaminants and waste; and suitable for drinking, food

preparation, bathing or cleaning of food preparation surfaces. See also: Black Water, Brackish Water, Bulk

Water, Gray Water, Sewage, Wastewater.

Pre-Landfall Shelter A pre-identified facility, opened to serve as a temporary place of safety and shelter prior to the

onset of hurricane hazards. Designed to be operational from approximately H-24 to post-landfall

H+72. See also: H-/H+.

Preparedness The process of identifying the personnel, training and equipment needed to plan, build, deliver, sustain and

improve operational capabilities. See also: National Incident Management System.

Prevention Actions to avoid an incident or intervene to stop an incident from occurring.

Protection Actions to reduce or eliminate a threat to people,

property and the environment. May occur before, during or after an incident to prevent, minimize or

July 16, 2013 STAT 45 | P a g e

Term Definition

contain the impact of an event.

Public Health Information Network

A statewide electronic communications system designed to provide rapid notification and secure sharing of preliminary information about emerging

public health incidents to hospitals, urgent care centers, laboratories and public health agencies. Also

called Health Alert Network (HAN).

Public Information Emergency Response

(PIER)

A software application designed for information management, crisis communications, business

continuity, disaster recovery, public relations, mass notification, news monitoring, press release

distribution and the management of documents, contacts, inquiries and media. Widely used in the drilling and refining industries. See also: Public

Information Emergency Response Administrator.

Public Information

Emergency Response (PIER) Administrator

The individual who acts as lead controller of the PIER

system and/or is given the highest level of user permissions. See also: Public Information Emergency Response.

Public Safety Answering Point

(PSAP)

An emergency call center, usually offering 911 services. Operated by local government organizations

— usually the county sheriff’s office or municipal police department.

Public Works

Assessment Team

A team of technical experts in one or more public-

works disciplines that deploys to a disaster-stricken area in order to assist local jurisdictions with

assessment of critical infrastructure and essential functions of government.

Public Works Resource

Team

The specialized personnel, tools and equipment

required for response capability in one of several public works disciplines, e.g., certified

water/wastewater personnel, inspectors, road-maintenance crews.

Public Works Response Team (PWRT)

A group of specialists with the resources and expertise to support assessment and damage repair in the planning for and recovery from a catastrophic

incident. Includes liaison and planning support in the State Operations Center (SOC) and on-scene

assessment and operational support. See also: State Operations Center.

Q

Quarantine

Separating and restricting the movement of well

people who may have been exposed to an infectious agent and may be infected but are not yet ill. Usually

July 16, 2013 STAT 46 | P a g e

Term Definition

occurs in the home but can be in a dedicated facility,

hospital, specific areas or communities. The term quarantine also can be applied to restrictions of movement into or out of buildings, other structures

and public conveyances. See also: Isolation.

R

R+72 Hour The time, three days after the state’s incident

management team(s) enter an impacted area, when the most immediate needs are expected to have been met and incident management teams (IMT) can begin

a gradual departure from the impacted area(s) depending on local needs. See also: Incident

Management Team.

Radiological Emergency

Preparedness (REP) Program

Texas is currently home to two commercial nuclear power plants and two research reactors. TDEM’s

Technological Hazards Unit works closely with each power plant licensee, the local jurisdictions and

county emergency management officials near each respective facility, the Texas Department of State Health Service’s Radiation Control Program, FEMA

Region VI’s REP Program, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region IV to ensure the health and

safety of citizens living around commercial nuclear power plants will be adequately protected in the

event of an accident at the nuclear power plant.

Rapid Onset Disaster A disaster that strikes with only hours or minutes of warning time. See also: Disaster.

Rapid Response Team (RRT)

A designated team — in Texas, comprised of staff from the Department of State Health Services (DSHS)

and the Office of the Texas State Chemist (OTSC) — who can be assembled quickly to deliver critical care and expertise in response to grave conditions. Trained

through the Incident Command System (ICS) to investigate and identify food-borne illness outbreaks

quickly and to mitigate effects of such illnesses.

Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service

(RACES)

A standby radio service created by FEMA and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that

provides radio communications to authorized officials from local or state civil-preparedness agencies in

times of emergency.

Reception Center A predesignated facility within a shelter hub where evacuees entering a city or county are processed.

Here evacuees are registered, triaged and directed to an appropriate shelter. See also: Shelter Hub System.

July 16, 2013 STAT 47 | P a g e

Term Definition

Recovery A complex process involving the development,

coordination and execution of service- and site-restoration plans; reconstitution of government operations and services; individual, private-sector,

nongovernmental, and public-assistance programs to provide housing and promote restoration; long-term

care and treatment of affected persons; additional measures for social, political, environmental and

economic restoration; incident evaluation to identify lessons learned; post-incident reporting; and the development of initiatives to mitigate the effects of

future incidents. See also: Mitigation.

Reentry Hour (R-Hour) The point in time at which hazardous conditions

subside. See also: Reentry.

Regional Advisory

Committee (RAC)

An organized group of healthcare entities and other

concerned citizens who work to organize and improve trauma care within at least one specific trauma

service area (TSA), more than one TSA or parts of one or more TSA. Responsible for developing,

implementing and monitoring a regional emergency medical services trauma system plan. Objectives include reducing the incidence of trauma through

education, collecting and analyzing data, and improving performance. There are 22 RACs within

the State of Texas. See also: Trauma Service Area.

Regional Medical Operations Center

(RMOC)

A unit that provides operational support for public health and medical response; including support for

coordination, control, response assets and recovery. The State Medical Operations Center (SMOC)

activates and deploys Command Assistance Teams (CAT) for support in Health Service Regions and the RMOCs.

Repopulation The coordinated, safe return of the whole community to areas evacuated because of a disaster. Includes

medical evacuees and individuals with access and functional needs. See also: Access and Functional Needs, Medical Evacuee.

Resilience/Resiliency The ability to resist, absorb, recover from or adapt to adverse conditions.

Resource Equipment, personnel or commodities ordered to support an incident or event.

July 16, 2013 STAT 48 | P a g e

Term Definition

Resource Management A system for identifying available resources at all

jurisdictional levels to enable timely and efficient access in order to prepare for, respond to or recover from an incident.

Resource Staging Area (RSA)

A warehouse-facility or commodity-truck staging area where personnel monitor the inventory and

distribution of commodities in order to provide sufficient supplies to multiple Disaster District

Committee staging areas (DSA), county staging areas (CSA) and points of distribution (POD) for distribution to the public. See also: County Staging Area, Disaster

District Committee Staging Area, Point of Distribution.

Responder Reentry The phased return of disaster response personnel, the

private sector, residents and voluntary agencies with a role in disaster recovery. Reentry operations typically take place between the end of a threat and

the beginning of repopulation operations. See also: Access Control, Long-Term Shelter, Mass Care,

Reentry Hour.

Response Immediate actions to save and sustain lives, protect property and the environment, and meet basic human

needs. Includes execution of plans and actions to support short-term recovery. See also: Mitigation.

Risk The potential for an occurrence to result in an unwanted outcome.

Risk Analysis A systematic examination of the components and

characteristics of risk.

Risk Area Evacuation areas that have boundaries tied directly to

anticipated risk, e.g., storm surge from a tropical storm or hurricane.

Risk Assessment A product or process that collects information and assigns values to risks for the purpose of informing

priorities, developing or comparing courses of action, and informing decision-making.

Risk Communications An interactive process of exchanging information and opinions among individuals, groups and institutions to

provide audiences with information about the expected type (good or bad) and magnitude (weak or strong) of an outcome from behavior or exposure.

Risk Identification The process of finding, recognizing and describing potential risks.

July 16, 2013 STAT 49 | P a g e

Term Definition

Risk Management The process of identifying, analyzing, assessing and

communicating risk and accepting, avoiding, transferring or controlling it to an acceptable level at an acceptable cost.

Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and

Emergency Assistance Act

Constitutes the statutory authority for most Federal disaster response activities especially as they pertain

to FEMA programs. Amended the Disaster Relief Act of 1974 (in 1988) to encourage states and localities

to develop comprehensive disaster preparedness plans, prepare for better intergovernmental coordination in the face of a disaster, encourage the

use of insurance coverage and provide federal assistance programs for losses due to a disaster.

Created the system in place today by which a presidential declaration triggers financial and physical assistance through FEMA. Gives FEMA the

responsibility for coordinating government-wide relief efforts. Commonly referred to as the Stafford Act.

S

Saffir-Simpson

Hurricane Wind Scale

A one-through-five rating system based on a

hurricane’s sustained wind speed; estimates potential property damage. Hurricanes reaching category three

and higher are considered major hurricanes because of the potential for significant loss of life and damage.

Category one and two storms are still dangerous, however, and still require preventive measures. See also: Hurricane.

Scenario A hypothetical situation composed of a hazard, an entity impacted by that hazard and associated

conditions including consequences.

Scenario-Based Planning

A strategic planning approach that uses simulation games to assess hazard vulnerability.

Search and Rescue (SAR)

An operation intended to rescue individuals and move them to a safer location in the immediate area, particularly persons who do not initially evacuate and

may later request evacuation assistance as conditions worsen due to an approaching storm. Such requests

are expected to increase once a storm makes landfall, and survivors may require rescue and transport to medical care and shelters.

Secure Electronic Network for Travelers

Rapid Inspection (SENTRI)

SENTRI provides expedited CBP processing for pre-approved, low-risk travelers. Applicants must

voluntarily undergo a thorough biographical background check against criminal, law enforcement,

July 16, 2013 STAT 50 | P a g e

Term Definition

customs, immigration, and terrorist indices; a 10-

fingerprint law enforcement check; and a personal interview with a CBP Officer.

Senior Official The elected or appointed official who by statute is

charged with implementing and administering laws, ordinances and regulations for a jurisdiction, e.g., mayor, city manager.

Service Animal A dog or miniature horse that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a

disability, e.g., guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting

and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with post-

traumatic stress disorder during an anxiety attack. Federal statutes require service animals be allowed

into all public areas except where their presence would compromise safety or sterile conditions. See also: Person With a Disability.

Service Pack An individual, plastic, fin-sealed disposable pouch containing a napkin, disposable fork, knife and spoon

for use when serving meals. See also: Picnic Pack.

ServSafe A food safety training and certification program from the National Restaurant Association Educational

Foundation (NRAEF). See also: Food Safety Certified Unit Leader.

Sewage Water-carried waste, in solution or suspension, that is

intended to be removed from a community. Also known as wastewater. See also: Potable Water,

Wastewater.

Shelter A short-term lodging facility opened for evacuees

prior to, during and after an incident. Shelters are typically places where mass care operations are conducted and are generally located away from

known hazards. See also: Animal Shelter, Mass Care, Medical Shelter, Shelter Hub System.

Shelter Hub A pre-identified city possessing sufficient infrastructure and resources to logistically support and deploy resources for large-scale evacuations and

mass care operations. Generally located along a coastal evacuation route and away from potential

hazards. See also: Shelter Hub System.

July 16, 2013 STAT 51 | P a g e

Term Definition

Shelter Hub System A system designed to address the demands of a

catastrophic incident. The hubs are pre-identified geographic locations established along evacuation routes possessing adequate infrastructure and

resources to support massive evacuations. Large shelters normally have an operating capacity of 300

or more evacuees. See also: Point-to-Point Shelter, Shelter, Shelter Hub, Reception Center.

Shelter Push Package An assortment of expendable and nonexpendable items, available in multiple configurations, deployed to help establish or support shelter operations.

Slow Onset Disaster A disaster that presents advanced warning of days, weeks or even months; which allows time for evacuation. See: Disaster.

Social Distancing The coordinated effort to reduce the risk of exposure to contagions by limiting interaction of individuals

through event cancellation, building closure or limiting access to buildings or parts of a building.

Supplemental Nutrition

Assistance Program (SNAP)

A federal aid program, administered by the U.S.

Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide financial assistance for purchasing food to low- and no-income

citizens. Administered by the USDA, although benefits are distributed by individual states. Formerly known as the Food Stamp program.

Social Media A classification of internet-based software applications that introduces substantial and pervasive change to

the capacity for communication between organizations, communities and individuals by

allowing users to create and exchange content and by employing highly interactive mobile and web-based platforms through which individuals and communities

can co-create, share, discuss and modify user-generated content from anywhere.

Span of Control The area of activity or number of functions, people or things for which an individual or organization is responsible.

Specialty Animal A dog (or certain other animal species) trained and used for its unique capabilities, e.g., substance or

cadaver detection, rescue.

Spontaneous Evacuation

The voluntary departure by persons from an at-risk area prior to an evacuation recommendation or a

mandatory order from an elected official.

July 16, 2013 STAT 52 | P a g e

Term Definition

Stafford Act See: Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and

Emergency Assistance Act.

Standard Operating Guideline (SOG)

A reference document or 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.

State Any state of the U.S. including the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the

Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, a

Native American Tribe or organization — with recognition that a tribe’s right of self-government flows from the inherent sovereignty of tribes as

nations with a unique and direct relationship with the federal government — and any possession of the U.S.

State Coordinating Officer (SCO)

The individual appointed by the governor to coordinate state disaster assistance efforts with those of the federal government.

State Active Duty (SAD)

The status under which Texas Military Forces (TXMF) are activated by the governor’s state authority in

support of state operations. See also: Activation.

State Distributing Agency

A state agency authorized by agreement with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to distribute USDA

Foods to eligible recipient agencies and recipients.

State Emergency

Management Council

An organization composed of representatives of 27

state agencies and the American Red Cross (ARC), chaired by the Director of the Texas Division of

Emergency Management (TDEM). See also: American Red Cross, State Operations Center, Texas Department of Emergency Management.

State Fuel Team A cooperative effort between the private sector and government that helps state agencies coordinate fuel

services during disasters. See also: State Operations Center, State Operations Center Fuel Desk.

State Medical

Operations Center (SMOC)

A unit that supports the State Operations Center

(SOC) by coordinating state-level public health and medical activities during disasters. Staffed by

Department of State Health Services (DSHS) personnel and representatives from all agencies housed under the Health and Human Services

Commission (HHSC). Includes the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), the

July 16, 2013 STAT 53 | P a g e

Term Definition

Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS)

and the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). DSHS representatives also serve as liaisons at the SOC. See also: State Operations Center.

State of Texas Assistance Request

(STAR) form

An online input process that uses WebEOC capabilities to empower local municipalities to request resources,

information and mission assignments faster and with more visibility from the state level down. Replaces the

ICS-213 general message form.

State of Texas Emergency Assistance

Registry (2-1-1)

Voluntary state program that allows citizens to register and provide information (e.g, emergency

contacts; communication barriers; and disability, functional or medical needs) to assist with emergency

assistance activities. See also: 2-1-1 Texas and/or TIRN.

State On-Scene

Coordinator (SOSC)

A state official designated by the appropriate state

agency with jurisdiction to coordinate and direct a state-funded response or oversee a private response

to a discharge or spill. Also referred to as agency on-scene coordinator.

State Operations

Center (SOC)

A facility located at the Department of Public Safety

(DPS) headquarters in Austin. Serves as the state warning point (SWP) and primary state direction and

control facility. Operates 24/7 to monitor and make notifications about threats; provides information on emergency incidents to local, state and federal

officials; and coordinates state emergency assistance to local governments that have experienced an

emergency situation that exceeds local response resources. In response to major emergencies, the SOC management team convenes with state

agencies, federal liaison teams, and the volunteer groups that make up the State Emergency

Management Council (SEMC) to identify, mobilize and deploy state and volunteer group resources. See also: Public Works Response Team, State Emergency

Management Council, State Operations Center Management Team, State Operations Center Fuel

Desk, State Warning Point.

State Operations

Center (SOC) Fuel Desk

Operations desk within the State Operations Center

(SOC) for the fuel team. See also: State Fuel Team, State Operations Center.

State Operations

Center (SOC) Management Team

The group of professionals responsible for the

facilitation of overall policy, coordination and support of incident response. See also: State Operations

July 16, 2013 STAT 54 | P a g e

Term Definition

Center.

State Warning Point

(SWP)

A part of the National Warning System (NAWAS) that

receives civil emergency warnings from FEMA and relays them through the Texas Warning System (TEWAS). Housed at the State Operations Center

(SOC) in Austin. See also: Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Warning System, State

Operations Center, Texas Warning System.

State of Texas

Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR)

In the event of an emergency which requires

evacuation, some individuals may need additional assistance leaving their homes. The State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (formerly the

Transportation Assistance Registry) allows residents to provide information on their specific situation to

emergency management officials who can help them get what they need in order to evacuate to safety. Also, facilities who care for the most vulnerable of our

residents can register their facilities with emergency responders, to help when planning for, and

responding to disasters.

Storm Surge An offshore, seawater rise caused by hurricanes and tropical storms that can lead to massive coastal

flooding. Due to shallow depths offshore, much of the Texas coast is especially vulnerable to this type of

hazard. See also: Hazard, Tropical Cyclone.

Sustainability Refers to decision-making that does not reduce the options of future generations, but passes on to them

a natural, economic and social environment that provides a high quality of life.

T

Tactical Control Command authority over assigned forces or military capability made available for tasking; limited to detailed direction and control of maneuvers within the

operational area necessary to accomplish missions or tasks assigned. Provides sufficient authority for

controlling and directing the application of force or tactical use of combat support assets within the assigned mission or task. See also: Area of

Operations.

Temporary Fuel

Location

A pre-identified site along a major evacuation route

established to provide refueling support for state evacuation and disaster response resources.

Temporary Housing A short-term, single-family dwelling, e.g., hotel room, apartment, tent, travel trailer.

July 16, 2013 STAT 55 | P a g e

Term Definition

Terrorism/Terrorist

Incident

Activity/event that endangers human life or is

potentially destructive of critical infrastructure or key resources; is in violation of the criminal laws of the U.S.(or of any state); and is intended to intimidate or

coerce a government, the civilian population or any segment thereof in furtherance of political or social

objectives. See also: Critical Infrastructure/Key Resources.

Texas A&M Engineering Extension

Service (TEEX)

An institution that develops a skilled and trained workforce to enhance public safety, security and economic growth of the state and nation through

training, technical assistance and emergency response. See also: Texas Task Force One.

Texas Air National Guard

A separate reserve component of the U.S. Air Force operated and maintained by the State of Texas under the command of the Adjutant General. See also:

Adjutant General, Texas Military Forces.

Texas Animal Health

Commission (TAHC)

A division of state government responsible for

protecting the health of Texas livestock, keeping pests from reoccurring as major livestock health hazards, and assuring the marketability and mobility

of Texas livestock. TAHC coordinates response to assist pets and other animals during an incident or

event. See also: Livestock.

Texas Army National Guard

An armed forces branch that can be deployed by either the Governor of Texas or the President of the

United States, depending on where they are needed most. Able to respond to domestic emergencies,

combat missions, counterdrug efforts, reconstruction missions and more. See also: Texas Military Forces.

Texas Catastrophic

Fire Steering Committee

A working group composed of representatives from

the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), mutual aid associations, Texas A&M Engineering

Extension Service (TEEX), Texas A&M Forest Service (TFS), the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the Texas Fire Chief’s Association

(TFCA), the Industrial Fire Training Board, and the Industrial Fire of State Significance (IFSS) Support

Group. See also: Environmental Protection Agency, Industrial Fire of State Significance, Texas

Commission on Environmental Quality.

Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug

Abuse

See: Department of State Health Services.

July 16, 2013 STAT 56 | P a g e

Term Definition

Texas Commission on

Environmental Quality (TCEQ)

The state agency responsible for protecting public

health and natural resources in a manner consistent with sustainable economic development. TCEQ assists with environmental emergencies during an incident or

event.

Texas Department of

Aging and Disability Services

See: Department of Aging and Disability Services.

Texas Department of Assistive and

Rehabilitative Services

See: Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services.

Texas Department of Family and Protective

Services

See: Department of Family and Protective Services.

Texas Department of Health

See: Department of State Health Services.

Texas Department of

Housing and Community Affairs

(TDHCA)

The TDHCA coordinates temporary alternative

housing during an incident or event.

Texas Department of Mental Health and

Mental Retardation

See: Department of State Health Services.

Texas Department of

State Health Services

See: Department of State Health Services.

Texas Division of Emergency

Management (TDEM)

A division of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) that coordinates the state emergency management

program which is intended to ensure the state and its local governments respond to and recover from emergencies and disasters, as well as implement

plans and programs to help prevent or lessen the impact of future emergencies and disasters. See also:

Department of Public Safety.

Texas General Land Office (GLO)

The state agency responsible for managing public lands, overseeing leasing contracts that financially

benefit Texas public school education, and preserving archival holdings of land grant records and maps that

date to the 18th century. See also: Area Contingency Plan.

Texas Health and

Human Services Commission

See: Health and Human Services Commission.

July 16, 2013 STAT 57 | P a g e

Term Definition

Texas Health Care

Information Council

See: Department of State Health Services.

Texas Information and

Referral Network (TIRN)

A program of the Texas Health and Human Services

Commission (HHSC) that helps citizens use a phone or the Internet to connect with accurate, well-

organized and easy-to-find information from over 60,000 state and local health and human services programs. See also: 2-1-1 Texas.

Texas Law Enforcement

Telecommunications System (TLETS)

A statewide telecommunications network connecting the state warning point (SWP) with city, county,

state, federal, military, law enforcement and criminal justice agencies in Texas. The warning network’s primary “textual hard copy” system. See also: State

Warning Point.

Texas Military Forces

(TXMF)

The joint military resources of the State of Texas

commanded by the Adjutant General of Texas. See also: Adjutant General, Adjutant General’s Department, Texas Army National Guard, Texas Air

National Guard, Texas Military Forces J3, Texas Military Forces J5, Texas Military Forces Shelter

Team, Texas State Guard.

Texas Military Forces (TXMF) J3

A TXMF staff liaison titled as the Director of Operations who serves as the Emergency

Management Coordinator (EMC) for the Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA). See also:

Defense Support of Civil Authorities, Emergency Management Coordinator, Texas Military Forces.

Texas Military Forces (TXMF)J5

A TXMF staff liaison who serves as a planner for the Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA). This position may also serve as the Emergency

Management Coordinator (EMC) for the DSCA. See also: Texas Military Forces.

Texas Military Forces (TXMF) Shelter Team

A group of TXMF personnel trained in shelter and mass care operations. Typically includes one shelter manager and seven shelter personnel per shift for a

500-person shelter. See also: Texas Military Forces.

Texas Public Health

Risk Assessment Tool (TPHRAT)

A tool that enable search jurisdiction to assess its

current risk to identified hazards and define mitigation efforts based on Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations.

Texas State Guard (TXSG)

A branch of the TXMF that provides mission-ready military forces to assist state and local authorities in

times of state emergencies with homeland security

July 16, 2013 STAT 58 | P a g e

Term Definition

and community service through Defense Support to

Civil Authorities (DSCA). See also: Texas Military Forces.

Texas Task Force One

(TX-TF1)

A team, under the Texas A&M Engineering Extension

Service (TEEX), of disaster response and rescue specialists drawn from fire and EMS departments all

over Texas.

Texas Volunteer

Organizations Active in Disaster (Texas VOAD)

Texas chapter of the national group Volunteer

Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD). See also: Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster.

Texas Warning System (TEWAS)

A state-level extension of the National Warning System (NAWAS). The warning network’s primary

“voice only” system. See also: National Warning System.

Threat and Hazard

Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA)

A comprehensive, standardized approach to risk

assessment that provides a means to make risk management a routine part of preparedness tasks

across the spectrum of homeland security and emergency management.

Tiered Reentry The process of categorizing responders, recovery

personnel, businesses and residents into tiers based upon safety considerations and priority of access to

disaster areas. Tiered reentry allows for quick deployment of resources and minimizes public exposure to hazardous conditions. The state uses a

four-tier system to permit phased access to impacted areas following a disaster.

Tornado A local atmospheric storm, generally of short duration, formed by winds rotating at very high speeds (65-300 mph) usually in a counter-clockwise

direction. Marked at vortex by visible whirlpool-like column of winds up to several hundred yards wide.

Trauma Service Area (TSA)

Legislatively mandated geographic organizations of at least three Texas counties that contain at least one general trauma facility that provides coordinated

emergency medical services. Can extend beyond the territorial limits of Texas into other states or Mexico.

There are 22 TSAs within the State of Texas.

Tropical Cyclone A rotating, closed, organized atmospheric system with surface wind circulation around a well-defined center.

See also: Hurricane, Storm Surge, Tropical Depression, Tropical Storm.

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Term Definition

Tropical Depression A tropical cyclone with wind speeds of 38 mph or less.

Generally not severe enough to require emergency response. See also: Tropical Cyclone.

Tropical Storm A tropical cyclone with wind speeds between 39 and 73 mph. See also: Tropical Cyclone.

Tsunami Sea waves produced by an undersea earthquake. Can reach significant height resulting in damage or

devastation to coastal cities and low-lying coastal areas.

U

Uncertainty The degree to which a calculated, estimated or

observed value may deviate from the true value.

United States Coast

Guard

One of the seven uniformed services in the U.S.

Armed Forces. Has both a maritime law enforcement mission — with jurisdiction in domestic and

international waters — and a federal regulatory agency mission. Operates under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) during peacetime but can

be transferred to the Department of the Navy by the president at any time or by congress during time of

war.

Unified Command An authority structure in which the role of incident commander is shared by two or more individuals,

each having authority in a different responding agency. Allows agencies to work together and

establish a common set of objectives, strategies and a single incident action plan (IAP). See also: Incident Commander, Incident Command System.

United States Environmental

Protection Agency

See: Environmental Protection Agency.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

See: Unmanned Aircraft System.

Unmanned Aircraft System

A complex unmanned reconnaissance or attack system, including ground stations and air vehicles. Previously known as unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

USDA Foods A classification of consumables for the school lunch

program located within schools and state-designated warehouses. The state distributing agency has the

authority to release these foods to voluntary organizations for use in mass feeding. Under limited

July 16, 2013 STAT 60 | P a g e

Term Definition

circumstances, and with approval from the Food and

Nutrition Service agency (FNS), USDA foods used in other nutrition assistance programs (e.g., the Emergency Food Assistance Program) can be used to

provide a household disaster food distribution program. See also: State Distributing Agency.

V

Veterinary Medical Assistance Team

(VMAT)

Highly trained teams established by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Foundation

(AVMF) to assist the USDA and states in the control, treatment and eradication of animal disease

outbreaks. Responsibilities include humane euthanasia, epidemiology, assessment of medical needs of animals, medical treatment and stabilization

of animals, animal disease surveillance, zoonotic disease surveillance and public health assessment,

technical assistance to assure food and water quality, hazard mitigation, biological and chemical terrorism surveillance, animal decontamination, and medical

treatment for working dogs.

Voluntary Agency

Liaison (VAL)

An individual who works with local, state and national

volunteer organizations as well as other state agencies to help coordinate long-term recovery in

areas affected by disaster.

Volunteer Organizations Active in

Disaster (VOAD)

A humanitarian association of independent voluntary organizations that may be active in all phases of

disaster. Aims to facilitate and maximize the ability of members to serve the communities and people of

Texas with more effective service and more efficient utilization of resources.

Vulnerability A physical feature or operational attribute that

renders an entity open to exploitation or susceptible to a given hazard.

W

Warning The alerting of emergency response personnel and

the public to the threat of extraordinary danger and the related effects that specific hazards may cause.

Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Program

A federal program that regulates transportation of Transuranic (TRU) waste along the interstate highway system to a protective storage facility in the

Chihuahuan desert of New Mexico, far from major population areas. The route designated through Texas encompasses over 650 miles through 20 counties and

July 16, 2013 STAT 61 | P a g e

Term Definition

40 municipal jurisdictions.

Wastewater Water that has been used (e.g., for washing, flushing or in a manufacturing process) and thereby contains waste products. Not suitable for drinking. See also:

Potable Water, Sewage.

Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Weapons (e.g, high explosive, nuclear, biological, chemical or radiological) that can kill and bring

significant harm to a large number of humans (or other life forms) and/or cause great damage to

human-created structures (e.g., buildings), natural structures (e.g., mountains), or the biosphere in general.

WebEOC A web-enabled and locally-configurable incident and event management system that provides real-time

sharing.

Z

Zoonosis A disease communicable from animals to humans

under natural conditions.

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Acronyms This section expands commonly used acronyms and abbreviations.

All terms are listed in alphabetical order.

The following table shows each acronym on the left with its definition on the right.

Acronym Definition

Numerical

2-1-1/TIRN Texas Information and Referral Network

A

AABB American Association of Blood Banks

AAFFS Animals, Agriculture, Food, and Feed Safety

AAR After Action Report

AC Animal Care

ACC American Chemistry Council

ACG Air Coordination Group

ACO Animal Control Officer

ACP Area Contingency Plan

ACS Adventist Community Services

ACS Alternate Care Site

ACS American Community Survey (U.S. Census)

ADA Americans with Disabilities Act

AFO Area Field Office

AFRCC Air Force Rescue Coordination Center

AGD Adjutant General’s Department

AHIMT All-Hazards Incident Management Team

AHPS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service

AIC Animal Issues Committee

AIDS Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

AIP Agreement-in-Principal

ALEXT Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

ALERT Air Land Emergency Response Team

ALNOT Alert Notice

AM Ante Mortem

AMBUS Ambulance Bus

July 16, 2013 STAT 63 | P a g e

Acronym Definition

AMI Automated Measurement Instrument

AMOPS Ambulance Operations Plan

AO Area of Operations

AOBD Air Operations Branch Director

APHIS Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA)

APIO Assistant Public Information Officer

ARC American Red Cross

ARCC Animal Response Coordination Center

ARES Amateur Radio Emergency Service

ARF Action Request Form

ART Animal Response Team

ASCO Assistant State Coordinator for Operations

ASGS Air Support Group Supervisor

ASL American Sign Language

ASOF Assistant Safety Officer

ASPR Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (DHHS)

ATSDR Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

AVMA American Veterinary Medical Association

AVMF American Veterinary Medical Foundation

AWC Area Warning Center

B

BBS Bulletin Board System

BCFS Baptist Child and Family Services

BCP Body Collection Point

BNE Board of Nurse Examiners

BOO Base of Operations

C

CAA Clean Air Act

CAFO Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation

CAMEO Computer Aided Management of Emergency Operations

CAP Civil Air Patrol

CARP Community Animal Response Plan

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Acronym Definition

CART Communication Access Realtime Translation

CAT Command Assistance Team

CBO Community Based Organization

CBRNE Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive

CC Citizen Corps

CCG Communications Coordination Group

CCU Communications Coordination Unit

CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CDL U.S. State/US Territory Commercial Driver License

CEA AgriLife County Extension Agent

CEA-ANR AgriLife County Externsion Agent — Agricultural and Natural Resources

CEMP Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan

CEP Cooperative Extension Program (PVAMU)

CEPPO Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office

CERC Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication

CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation,

and Liability Act of 1980 (Superfund)

CERFP CBRNE Enhanced Response Force Package

CERT Community Emergency Response Team

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

CHEMTREC Chemical Transportation Emergency Center

CHRIS Chemical Hazard Response Information System

CIKR Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources

CIS U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services

CIS Criminal Intelligence Service

CISM Critical Incident Stress Management

CMA Chemical Manufacturers Association

CMD Command

CMIS Coordination of Multiple Incident Sites – Concept of Operations Plan

CMOC Catastrophic Medical Operations Center

CMS Consumable Medical Supplies

CNG Compressed Natural Gas

July 16, 2013 STAT 65 | P a g e

Acronym Definition

COAD Continuation on Active Duty

COG Continuity of Government

COH DHHS City of Houston Department of Health and Human Services

COH OEM City of Houston Office of Emergency Management

COML Communications Unit Leader

COMP Claims Unit Leader

COMP Compensation Unit Leader

CONOPS Concept of Operations

COOP Continuity of Operations

COST Cost Unit Leader

COTP Captain of the Port (USCG)

CPA Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

CPG Comprehensive Preparedness Guide

CPNPP Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant

CRTK Community Right-to-Know

CSA County Staging Area

CST Civil Support Team

CSTE Council for State and Territorial Epidemiologists

CTN Critical Transportation Need

CUL Cost Unit Leader

CWA Clean Water Act

CVMBS College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

D

DAC Disaster Assistance Center

DAD Deputy Assistant Director (Department of Public Safety)

DADS Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services

DAP Disaster Assistance Policy

DAP Disaster Assistance Program

DAR Damage Assessment Report (USDA)

DARS Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services

DART Damage Assessment and Restoration Team

DBH Disaster Behavioral Health

DC District Coordinator

July 16, 2013 STAT 66 | P a g e

Acronym Definition

DCT Donations Coordination Team

DDC Disaster DistrictChair/Committee

DFO Disaster Field Office

DFPS Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

DHHS U.S.Department of Health and Human Services

DHS U.S. Department of Homeland Security

DINS Damage Inspection Technical Specialist

DIR Department of Information Resources

DIVS Division/Group Supervisor

DMAT Disaster Medical Assistance Team

DMDC Defense Manpower Data Center Defense Manpower Data Center(U.S. Defense Department)

DME Durable Medical Equipment

DMOBL Demobilization Unit Leader

DMORT Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team

DMV Division of Motor Vehicles

DNA Deoxyribonucleic Acid

DOC Department Operations Center

DOCL Documentation Unit Leader

DoD U.S. Department of Defense

DOE U.S. Department of Energy

DOl U.S. Department of Interior

DOJ U.S. Department of Justice

DOL U.S. Department of Labor

DOS U.S. Department of State

DOS Disk Operating System

DOSC Deputy Operations Section Chief (USCG)

DOT U.S. Department of Transportation

DPC Deputy Plans Coordinator

DPIC Deputy Incident Commander

DPS Department of Public Safety (Texas)

DPS PROC DPS Procurement

DRA Disability Related Assistance

July 16, 2013 STAT 67 | P a g e

Acronym Definition

DRC Disaster Recovery Center

DRU Disaster Response Unit

DSA Disaster District Committee Staging Area

DSC Donations Steering Committee

DSCA Defense Support of Civil Authorities

DSHS Department of State Health Services

D-SNAP Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

DVR Deceased Victim Record

E

EAS Emergency Alert System

ECC Emergency Communication Coordinator

EEI Essential Elements of Information

EFSS Emergency Facility Support Services

EHS Extremely Hazardous Substance (a list maintained by EPA)

EIR Electronic and Information Resources

EIT Electronic and Information Communication Technology

ELT Emergency Locator Transmitter

EMA Emergency Management Assistance (from FEMA)

EMAC Emergency Management Assistance Compact

EMAT Emergency Management Association of Texas

EMC Emergency Management Coordinator

EMC Emergency Management Council

EMD Emergency Management Director

EMI Emergency Management Institute

EMP Emergency Management Plan

EMS Emergency Medical Services

EMS Emergency Medical System

EMTF Emergency Medical Task Force

ENSP Environmental Specialist

ENVL Environmental Unit Leader

EMWIN Emergency Managers’ Weather Information Network

EMEDS CM Expeditionary Medical Systems – Consequence

Management

July 16, 2013 STAT 68 | P a g e

Acronym Definition

EOC Emergency Operations Center

EOP Emergency Operations Plan

EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPCRA Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (SARA Title III)

EPD Emergency Planning District

EPI Emergency Planning Information

EPI Epidemiology

EPIC El Paso Intelligence Center

EPIP Emergency Public Information Plan

EPI-X The Epidemic Information Exchange

EQ Environmental Quality

ERCOT Electric Reliability Council of Texas

ERNS Emergency Response Notification System

ERO Emergency Response Official

ERT Emergency Response Team

ERT Evidence Response Team

ERT-A FEMA Emergency Response TeamAdvance Element

ERTP Environmental Response Training Program

ERV Emergency Response Vehicle

ESA Emotional Support Animal

ESAR-VHP Emergency System for the Advance Registration of

Volunteer Health Professionals

ESBDIR Emergency Services Branch Director

ESD Emergency Shutdown Device

ESF Emergency Support Function

ESRD End Stage Renal Disease

ETO Exercise Training Officer

F

FAA Federal Aviation Administration

FAC Family Assistance Center

FACL Facilities Unit Leader

FAST Functional Assessment Service Team

July 16, 2013 STAT 69 | P a g e

Acronym Definition

FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation

FBO Faith-Based Organization

FCC Federal Communications Commission

FCE Forward Coordinating Element

FCO Federal Coordinating Officer

FD Fire Department

FDA Food and Drug Administration

FDUL Food Unit Leader

FEAD Foreign and Emerging Animal Disease

FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA GPD FEMA Grant Programs Directorate

FERN Food Emergency Response Network

FIFRA Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act

FIN Finance Section

FIPS 201 Federal Information Processing Standard Publication 201

FMA Flood Mitigation Assistance

FMP Flood Mitigation Plan

FMS Federal Medical Station

FNARS FEMA National Radio System

FNS Food and Nutrition Service (USDA)

FNSS Functional Needs Support Services

FOBS Field Observer

FODCO Field Operations Division Central Office

FOG Field Operating Guide

FOG Field Operations Guide

FOIA Freedom of Information Act

FOSC Federal On-Scene Coordinator

FOUO For Official Use Only

FQHC Federally Qualified Health Centers

FRERP Federal Radiological Emergency Response Plan

FRP Federal Response Plan

FSA Farm Service Agency

FSC FinanceSection Chief

July 16, 2013 STAT 70 | P a g e

Acronym Definition

FSDU Food Service Delivery Unit

FUL Food Unit Leader

FWPCA Federal Water Pollution Control Act

FY Fiscal Year

G

GAAC Government Affairs Advisory Council

GAR Governor’s Authorized Representative

GCME Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office

GDEM Governor’s Division of Emergency Management

GETS Government Emergency Telecommunications Service

GIS Geographic Information System

GLO Texas General Land Office

GPS Global Positioning System

GSA General Services Administration

GSUL Ground Support Unit Leader

H

HAHEMC Houston Area Hospitals Emergency Management Collaborative

HAN Health Alert Network

HAZCOM Hazard Communications Program

HAZMAT Hazardous Materials

HAZMIT Hazard Mitigation

HAZWOPER Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response

HAZUS-MH Hazus-Multi Hazard

HB House Bill

HCA Hospital Corporation of America

HCIFS Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences

HCOHSEM Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency

Management

HCPHES Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services

HCS Hazard Communication Standard

HCSSA Home and Community Support Services Agency

HCTRA Harris County Toll Road Authority

HD Homeland Defense

July 16, 2013 STAT 71 | P a g e

Acronym Definition

HDHHS Houston Department of Health and Human Services

HEC Houston Emergency Center

H-GAC Houston-Galveston Area Council

H-HOUR Hazard Hour

HHS U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

HHSC Health and Human Services Commission

HICS Hospital Incident Command System

HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus

HMEP Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness

HMGP Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

HMTA Hazardous Materials Transportation Uniform Safety Act

(old usage for HMEP)

HPD Houston Police Department

HPP Hospital Preparedness Program

HR Hour

HR Human Remains

HRG Hospital Receiving Group

HSBD Human Services Branch Director

HSIN-CI Homeland Security Information Network – Critical Infrastructure

HSOC Homeland Security Operations Center

HSPD Homeland Security Presidential Directive

HSPD-5 Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5, Management

of Domestic Incidents

HSR Health Service Region

HSUS Humane Society of the United States

HVAC Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning

I

IA Individual Assistance

IAO Individual Assistance Officer

IAP Incident Action Plan

IBAT Independent Bankers Association of Texas

IBHS Institute for Business & Home Safety

July 16, 2013 STAT 72 | P a g e

Acronym Definition

IBRRC International Bird Rescue Research Center

IC Incident Commander

ICA Independent Cattleman’s Association

ICP Incident Command Post

ICP Infection Control Practitioner

ICS Incident Command System

ICU Intensive Care Unit

ID Identification

IDLH Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health

IED Improvised Explosive Device

IFSS Industrial Fire of State Significance

IFTB Industrial Fire Training Board

IHP Federal Assistance to Individual and Households Program

IIMG Interagency Incident Management Group

ILI Influenza-Like Illness

ILO International Labor Organization

IMAT Incident Management Assistance Team

IMS Incident Management System

IMT Incident Management Team

INRP Initial National Response Plan

INTO Intelligence Officer

IP Improvement Plan

IRS Internal Revenue Service

ISD Independent School District

ISO Independent System Operator

ISP Immediate Services Program

IT Information Technology

ITC Information Communications Technology

IV Intravenous Therapy

J

JAC Joint Assistance Center

JFO Joint Field Office

JIC Joint Information Center

July 16, 2013 STAT 73 | P a g e

Acronym Definition

JIS Joint Information System

JP Justice of the Peace

K

KM Kilometer

KT Knot

L

LCRA Lower Colorado River Authority

LE Law Enforcement

LEL Lower Explosive Limit

LEPC Local Emergency Planning Committee

LHA Local Health Authority

LHD Local Health Department

LIDAR Light Detection and Ranging

LIP Licensed Individual Practitioners

LMHA Local Mental Health Authority

LNG Liquefied Natural Gas

LNO Liaison Officer

LOC Lines of Communication

LOFR FEMA Liaison Officer

LOGS Logistics Section

LOSC Local On-Scene Coordinator

LPG Liquefied Petroleum Gas

LRGV Lower Rio Grande Valley

LRN Laboratory Response Network

LRT Logistics Resource Tracker

LSC Logistics Supply Chief

LSP Livestock Supply Point

LSS Logistics Staging Site

M

MA Mortuary Affairs

MAA Mutual Aid Agreement

MAC Multi-Agency Coordination

MACC Multi-Agency Coordination Center

July 16, 2013 STAT 74 | P a g e

Acronym Definition

MACS Multi-Agency Coordination System

MAP Mitigation Action Plan

MARS Military Affiliate Radio System

MAW Multi-Agency Warehouse

MCD Motor Carrier Division

MCFSD Montgomery County Forensic Services Department

MCI Mass Casualty Incident

MCP Mobile Command Post

ME Medical Examiner

MEDL Medical Unit Leader

METRO Metropolitan Transit Authority

MFI Mass Fatality Incident

MFM Mass Fatality Management

MHMRA Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority of Harris

County

MHZ Megahertz

M-IST Medical Incident Support Team

MITPLAN Mitigation Plan

MMRS Metropolitan Medical Response System

MOA Memorandum of Agreement

MOC Medical Operations Center

MOU Memorandum of Understanding

MPV Multiple Patient Vehicle

MRC Medical Reserve Corps

MRN Morgue Reference Number

MS1 Medical Service 1

MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet

MSHA Mine Safety and Health Administration

N

NACI National Agency Check with Authorities

NAWAS National Warning System

NACI National Agency Check with Authorities

NBS NEDSS-Based System

July 16, 2013 STAT 75 | P a g e

Acronym Definition

NCCC National Civilian Community Corps

NCP National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution

Contingency Plan

NDMS National Disaster Medical System

NDOW Natural Disaster Operational Workgroup

NEDSS National Electronic Disease Surveillance System

NEPA National Environmental Policy Act

NFIP National Flood Insurance Program

NG National Guard

NGO Nongovernmental Organization

NHC National Hurricane Center

NIBS National Institute of Building Sciences

NIC National Integration Center

NIEHS National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences

NIMS National Incident Management System

NIMSCAST National Incident Management System Compliance Assistance Support Tool

NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

NIPP National Infrastructure Protection Plan

NLETS National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System

NLS Noxious Liquid Substance

NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOC National Operations Center

NOK Next of Kin

NORAD North American Aerospace Defense

NORS National Outbreak Reporting System

NPG National Preparedness Goal

NPO Nonprofit Organization

NPP Nuclear Power Plant

NPRM Notice of Proposed Rule Making

NPSPAC National Public Safety Planning Advisory Committee

NRAEF National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation

July 16, 2013 STAT 76 | P a g e

Acronym Definition

NRC National Response Center

NRC Nuclear Regulatory Commission

NRCC National Response Coordination Center

NRCS National Resources Conservation Service (USDA)

NRDA National Resource Damage Assessment

NRDM National Retail Data Monitor

NRF National Response Framework

NRP National Response Plan

NRT National Response Team

NSF National Strike Force (USCG)

NSFCC National Strike Force Coordination Center (USCG)

NSSE National Security Special Event(s)

NTSB National Transportation Safety Board

NUREG Nuclear Regulation Guidance Documents

NVOAD National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

NWS National Weather Service

NWS-AHPS National Weather Service-Advanced Hydrologic Prediction

Service

O

OAG Texas Office of the Attorney General

OCA Off-site Consequences Analysis

OEM Office of Emergency Management

ONA Other Needs Assistance

OPA 90 Oil Pollution Act of 1990

OPBD Operations Branch Director

OPS Operations Section Chief

ORCA Office of Rural Community Affairs

OSAR Outreach, Screening, Assessment and Referral Center

OSC On-Scene Coordinator

OSF One Star Foundation

OSHA Occupational Health and Safety Administration

OSPRA Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act

OTSC Office of the Texas State Chemist (Texas AgriLife

July 16, 2013 STAT 77 | P a g e

Acronym Definition

Research)

P

PA Public Assistance

PAHPA Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act

PAO Public Assistance Officer

PAPR Powered Air Purifying Respirator

PAS Personal Assistance Services

PC Personal Computer

PD Police Department

PDM Pre-Disaster Mitigation

PDM-C Pre-Disaster Mitigation-Competitive

PEP Primary Entry Point

PFO Principal Federal Officer

PIAT Public Information Assist Team (USCG)

PIER Public Information Emergency Response

PIO Personal Identification Operation

PIO Public Information Officer

PIV Personal Identification Verification

PIV-C PIV Compatible

PIV-I PIV Interoperable

PL Public Law

PM Postmortem

POC Point-of-Contact

POD Point of Distribution

PPE Personal Protection Equipment

PPM Parts Per Million

PPQ Plant Protection and Quarantine (APHIS)

PREP Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness

PROC Procurement Section

PROC Procurement Unit Leader

PRP Potentially Responsible Party

PSA Public Service Announcement

PSAP Public Safety Answering Point

July 16, 2013 STAT 78 | P a g e

Acronym Definition

PSC Plans Section Chief/Coordinator

PSM Process Safety Management

PSTT Personnel Support Tow Vehicle

PTP Point to Point

PUC Public Utility Commission

PVAMU Prairie View A&M University (TAMUS)

PW Project Worksheet

PWRT Public Works Response Team

Q

QA Quality Assurance

R

RAC Regional Advisory Committees

RACES Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service

RAC-Q Southeast Texas RAC

RAC-R East Texas Gulf Coast RAC

RAU Rapid Assessment Unit

RCC Regional Calling Center

RCCP Regional Catastrophic Coordination Plan

RCPGP Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program

RCPI Regional Catastrophic Planning Initiative

RCPT Regional Catastrophic Planning Team

RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

RCV-Q Regional Communications Vehicle (in RAC)Q

RDD Radiological Dispersal Device

REM Radiological Emergency Management

REMR Regional Emergency Medical Response – Concept of

Operations Plan

REP Radiological Emergency Preparedness

RESL Resource Unit Leader

RFC Repetitive Flood Claims

RFID Radio Frequency Identification

R-HOUR Reentry Hour

RHSCC Regional Homeland Security Coordinating Council

July 16, 2013 STAT 79 | P a g e

Acronym Definition

RICP Regional Interoperable Communications Plan

RIDS Response Information Database System

RLO Regional Liaison Officer has changed to District Coordinator (DC)

RM Reported Missing

RMFM Regional Mass Fatality Management

RMOC Regional Medical Operations Center

RMP Risk Management Program/Plan

ROC Regional Operations Center

RODS Real-time Outbreak Detection and Surveillance

RP Responsible Party

RPIC Responsible Party Incident Commander

RPT Regional Planning Team

RQ Reportable Quantity

RRC Railroad Commission of Texas

RRT Regional Response Team

RRT Rapid Response Team

RRTF Rapid Response Task Force

RSA Resources Staging Area

RSAR-H Regional Search and Rescue for Catastrophic Hurricanes

RSAR-IED Regional Search and Rescue for Improvised Explosive Devices

RSP Regular Services Program

RTK Right-to-Know

S

SAD State Active Duty

SAF State Aircraft Pooling Board has been consolidated into TxDOT as part of the Aviation Division.

SAME Specific Area Message Encoding

SAO State Auditor’s Office

SAR Search and Rescue

SARA Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986

SAT-1 Satellite 1

SBA Small Business Administration

July 16, 2013 STAT 80 | P a g e

Acronym Definition

SBTC Southern Baptists of Texas Convention

SC State Coordinator

SCADA Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition

SCBA Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus

SCC State Crisis Consortium

SCKN Status/Check-In Recorder

SCO State Coordinating Officer

SCTL Scientific Unit Leader

SECO State Energy Conservation Office

SEMC State Emergency Management Council

SENTRI Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection

SEP Supplemental Environment Project

SERC State Emergency Response Commission

SETRAC Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council

SHMO State Hazard Mitigation Officer

SIC Standard Industrial Classification

SIIS Southwestern Insurance Information Service

SIIS Spill Incident Information System

SIT Situation

SIT Spontaneous Ignition Temperature

SITL Situation Unit Leader

SITREP Situation Report

SITSTAT Situation Status Report

SLA State and Local Assistance (from FEMA; previously EMA)

SLRM State and Local Records Management Division

SM Social Media

SME Subject Matter Expert

SMOC State Medical Operations Center

SMP State Management Plan

SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

SNCA Sabine-Neches Chiefs’ Association

SNS Strategic National Stockpile

SMT State Management Team

July 16, 2013 STAT 81 | P a g e

Acronym Definition

SO Safety Officer

SO Sheriff’s Office

SOC Security Operations Center

SOC State Operations Center

SOFR Safety Officer

SOG Standard Operating Guideline

SONC Spill of National Significance

SOP Standard Operating Procedures

SOSC State On-Scene Coordinator

SPR State Preparedness Report

SSC Scientific Support Coordinator (NOAA)

SSLC State Supported Living Centers

STAM Staging Area Manager

STAR State of Texas Assistance Request

START Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment

STEAR State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry

STEL Short Term Exposure Limit

STPEGS South Texas Project Electrical Generating Station

STRAC Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council

SUBD Support Branch Director

SUL Supply Unit Leader

SUPERFUND See CERCLA

SVBD Service Branch Director

SWP State Warning Point

T

TAC Texas Administrative Code

TACA Texas Animal Control Association

TAD Texas Association of Dairymen

TAG Adjutant General

TAHC Texas Animal Health Commission

TAMU-CVM Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine

TAMUS Texas A&M University System

TANF Temporary Assistance to Needy Families

July 16, 2013 STAT 82 | P a g e

Acronym Definition

TAR Transportation Assistance Registry

TAS Texas Accessibility Standards

TAT Technical Assistance Team (EPA)

TBM Texas Baptist Men

TBPC Texas Building and Procurement Commission is no longer

a Texas agency. The functions have been divided into the Texas Facility Commission (TFC) and the Comptroller’s

Office.

TBSOC Texas Border Security Operations

TCDD Texas Council on Developmental Disabilities

TCEQ Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

TCFA Texas Cattle Feeders Association

TCFP Texas Commission on Fire Protection

TCFSC Texas Catastrophic Fire Steering Committee

TCRA Texas Community Right-to-Know Act

TDA Texas Department of Agriculture

TDA Texas Disaster Act

TDCJ Texas Department of Criminal Justice

TDCJ-LE Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement

TDED Texas Department of Economic Development

TDD Telecommunications Device for the Deaf

TDEM Texas Division of Emergency Management

TDHCA Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

TDI Texas Department of Insurance

TDLR Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation

TDVR Texas Disaster Volunteer Registry

TEA Texas Education Agency

TECO Thermal Energy Corporation

TEEX Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service

TELETS Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications System

TEMP Texas Emergency Management Plan

TEPP Transportation Emergency Preparedness Program

TERC Texas Emergency Response Center (See TCEQ)

TERC Texas Energy Reliability Council

July 16, 2013 STAT 83 | P a g e

Acronym Definition

TERC Transportation Emergency Rescue Committee

Texas TRANSCAER Texas Transportation Community Awareness Emergency

Response

TEWAS Texas Warning System

TEXFIRS Texas Fire Incident Reporting System

TFB Texas Farm Bureau

TFC Texas Facilities Commission

TFC Texas Fusion Center

TFCA Texas Fire Chiefs Association

TFDA Texas Funeral Directors Association

TFL Temporary Fuel Location

TFLD Task Force Leader

TFS Texas A&M Forest Service

TMHMR Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental

Retardation. This agency was part of the Texas Health and Human Services Enterprise consolidation in 2006. Services are now provided primarily by DSHS and DADS.

THCA Texas Hazard Communication Act

THIRA Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

THP Texas Highway Patrol

THSP Technical Specialist

TICP Tactical Interoperable Communication Plan

TIFMAS Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System

TIPRO Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners

Association

TIRN Texas Information Referral Network

TITLE III See SARA

TJJD Texas Juvenile Justice Department

TLC Texas Lottery Commission

TLETS Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications System

TMC Texas Medical Center

TMG Traffic Management Group

TMP Traffic Management Plan

TOMA Texas Open Meetings Act

July 16, 2013 STAT 84 | P a g e

Acronym Definition

TPASS Texas Procurement and Support Services

TPCA Texas Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store

Association

TPF Texas Poultry Federation

TPHRAT Texas Public Health Risk Assessment Tool

TPPA Texas Pork Producers Association

TPQ Threshold Planning Quantity

TPWD Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

TRANSCAER Transportation Community Awareness Emergency

Response

TRC Texas Rehabilitation Commission was combined with the Texas Commission for the Blind and is now called DARS.

TRI Toxic Release Inventory

TRRN Texas Regional Response Network

TTY Teletype

TTY Teletypewriter

TSA The/Texas Salvation Army

TSA U.S. Transportation Security Administration

TSA Trauma Service Area

TSAAC Texas Security Alert and Analysis Center

TSA-Q See: RAC-Q

TSA-R See: RAC-R

TSBME Texas State Board of Medical Examiners

TSCRA Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association

TSDC Texas State Disaster Coalition Catastrophe Plan

TSGRA Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association

TSLAC Texas State Library and Archives Commission

TSSWCB Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board

TUL Time Unit Leader

TVMA Texas Veterinary Medical Association

TWIC U.S. Transportation Worker ID Card

TWIRP Texas WebEOC Interoperability Project

TWC Texas Water Code

TWC Texas Workforce Commission

July 16, 2013 STAT 85 | P a g e

Acronym Definition

TWDB Texas Water Development Board

TXARNG Texas Army National Guard

TXCAP Texas Coalition for Animal Protection

TxDOT Texas Department of Transportation

TxDPS Texas Department of Public Safety

TxETN Texas Emergency Tracking Network

TXGS Texas Geographical Society

TXMF Texas Military Forces

TXOGA Texas Oil and Gas Association

TXSART Texas State Animal Resource Team

TXSG Texas State Guard

TX-TF1 Texas Task Force One

Texas VOAD Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

TXWARN Texas Water/Wastewater Response Network

U

UASI Urban Area Security Initiative

UAV Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

UC Unified Command

UCGS Unified Coordination Group Staff

US United States

USACE United State Army Corps of Engineers

USAR Urban Search and Rescue

USC United States Code

USCG United States Coast Guard

USDA United States Department of Agriculture

USDA-APHIS USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

USDA-APHIS-AC USDA-APHIS Animal Care

USDA-APHIS-VS USDA-APHIS Veterinary Service

USEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency

USGS United States Geological Survey

UTCSR/GIS University of Texas Center for Space Research/Global Information Systems

UTMB University of Texas Medical Branch

July 16, 2013 STAT 86 | P a g e

Acronym Definition

UTSPH University of Texas School of Public Health

UWT United Way of Texas

V

VA Department of Veterans’ Affairs

VAL Voluntary Agency Liaison

VBIED Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device

VHA Veterans Health Administration

VHF Very High Frequency

VIC Victim Identification Center

VIP Victim Identification Program

VIPS Volunteers in Police Service

VISTA Volunteers in Service Active to America

VET Veterinary Emergency Team

VFD Volunteer Fire Department

VMAT Veterinary Medical Assistance Team

VOAD Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

VS Veterinary Services (APHIS)

W

WebEOC Web Emergency Operations Center

WHTI Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)

WIPP Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

WMD Weapons of Mass Destruction

WS Wildlife Services (APHIS)

Maintenance and Changes This section describes the process by which this document is

maintained and updated.

Development Section 418 of the Texas Government Code defines TDEM as the responsible

agent for emergency planning and coordination in the State of Texas. As such TDEM is responsible for ensuring the appropriate development and

distribution of this document and any changes thereto. In addition each Emergency Management Council agency is responsible for the development

and maintenance of appropriate planning documents to address responsibilities assigned in this plan including standard operating guidelines.

Maintenance TDEM will authorize and issue changes to this document until such time as it is superseded. This document and all attachments are living documents.

Council member representatives are responsible for participating in plan reviews and are required to provide information concerning capability

changes that impact their emergency management responsibilities.

TDEM coordinates updates and maintains the plan after receiving feedback and updates from partner agencies. According to Texas Government Code

section 418.188 Post Disaster Evaluation state agencies, political subdivisions and interjurisdictional agencies are required to conduct an

evaluation of their response to a disaster, identify areas of improvement,

and issue a report of the evaluation to TDEM no later than 90 days after TDEM makes the request. That report may be translated into plan updates.

Training, Exercise and After Action Reports This plan shall be exercised annually to provide practical, controlled and operational experience to those who have responsibilities. This requirement

is applicable to the State Operations Center and each disaster district emergency operations center. Following the conclusion of any significant

emergency, incident or exercise, primary agency representatives will conduct an after action report (AAR) of the group’s activities during that

emergency, incident or exercise. Support agencies will provide written or oral input and the primary agency representative will consolidate all inputs

into a final written AAR.

Record Keeping Primary and support agencies must ensure all records necessary for emergency management operations are obtainable, and that duplicate

records are held at alternate locations.

July 16, 2013 STAT 88 | P a g e

Record of Changes

Change Number

Date of Change

Change Made Initials and

Date Entered

July 16, 2013 STAT 89 | P a g e

Document Approval

On behalf of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, I am pleased to

present the State of Texas Terms and Acronyms (STAT) book. This glossary serves to facilitate effective communication across agencies, organizations

and the whole community.

This supplement to the State of Texas Emergency Management Plan is a living document that will be updated as necessary based on lessons learned

during actual incidents and exercises and other changes in organization, technology or capabilities.

Sincerely,

W. Nim Kidd, CEM®

Chief

July 16, 2013 STAT 90 | P a g e

Contributors and Sources This section provides a list of contributors and sources used in the development of this accompaniment to the State Emergency

Management Plan.

Agency Name American Red Cross Liza C. Chigos

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention N/A

Federal Emergency Management Agency N/A

Harris County Office of Emergency Management Kristina Clark

Ammy Gierzak

Lockheed Martin Kelly King

National Hurricane Center N/A

National Institute of Building Services N/A

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration N/A

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster N/A

National Weather Service N/A

NY, NJ, CT, PA Regional Logistics Program Jim Penta

Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council Jeff Newbold

Texas A&M University System Andy Vestal

Texas Animal Health Commission Amanda Bernhard

Holly Hughes-Garza

Jeff Turner

Texas Baptist Men Disaster Relief Mark Boucher

Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services Russell Cook

Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services William O’Neill

Texas Division of Emergency Management Kiran Dhanji

James K. Greer

Jessica Hooker

Nim Kidd

Jonathan King

Jo Manning

Clarisa Marcee

Mike R. Miller

Chris Moore

Melanie Moss

Bill Perry

Tom Polonis

Chuck Phinney

Dede Powell

Larry Shine

Miles Tollison

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services N/A

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation Robert Posey

Texas Department of Public Safety N/A

July 16, 2013 STAT 91 | P a g e

Texas Department of State Health Services Katie Sanches

Shannon Smalls

Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities Angela English

Texas Health and Human Services Commission N/A

Texas Information and Referral Network N/A

Texas Military Forces Ruben Alonzo

Tory House

Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster Nikki Beneke

United States Department of Homeland Security N/A

USDA Food and Nutrition Service N/A

July 16, 2013 STAT 92 | P a g e

July 16, 2013 STAT 93 | P a g e

For More Information

For more information on this supplement to the State of Texas Emergency

Management Plan contact Jessica Hooker at jessica.hooker@dps.texas.gov.

Please direct general questions to unit supervisor Kiran Dhanji at kiran.dhanji@dps.texas.gov.

www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/preparedness/plansunit.htm

Produced by the Texas Division of Emergency Management

State and Federal Plans Unit www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem

Produced by the Texas Division of Emergency Management

State and Federal Plans Unit www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem