Abatement The process of reducing or minimizing public health dangers and nuisances, usually supported by regulation or legislation, e.g., noise abatement, smoke abatement.

Abu Nidal Split from the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1974, it since has launched terror attacks in more than 20 nations and killed or wounded more than 900 people.

Abu Sayyaf "Bearer of the Sword." A small, Philippine, Islamic, group fighting to establish an Iranian-style, Islamic, state in Mindanao. The group finances its operations mainly through robbery, piracy and ransom kidnappings. After a year of offensives, the number of Abu Sayyaf dwindled to 60 from about 1,000 in early June, 2002. Their leader, Abu Sabaya, was believed to have been killed by U.S. trained troops in a raid in the Philippines in mid-June 2002.

Accident An unanticipated event, commonly leading to injury, in traffic, the workplace, or a domestic or recreational setting. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that the risk of accidents is often predictable; they are therefore preventable.

Acid bombs A crude bomb made by combining muriatic acid with aluminum strips in a 2-liter soda bottle. It is made from ingredients easily available.

Actinide Are radioactive elements with an atomic number larger than 88.

Active immunity Resistance developed in response to stimulus by an antigen (infecting agent or vaccine) and usually characterized by the presence of antibody produced by the host. See also host. Compare passive immunity.

Active immunization The administration of a vaccine to stimulate the host immune system to develop immunity (protection) against a specific pathogen or toxin. As of January 1999, vaccines are available for the following potential biological warfare agents: anthrax, Argentine hemorrhagic fever, botulinum toxin, plague, Q fever, Rift Valley Fever, smallpox, tularemia, Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE), and yellow fever. See also chemoprophylaxis; immunization.

Acute 1. Referring to a health effect, sudden onset, often brief; sometimes loosely used to mean severe. 2. Referring to exposure, brief, intense, or short-term; sometimes specifically referring to a brief exposure of high intensity. Compare to chronic.

Advanced Life Support (ALS) Medical procedures performed by emergency medical technicians-paramedics that include the advanced diagnosis and protocol-driven treatment of a patient in the field. See also emergency medical technician-paramedic.

Adverse reaction An undesirable or unwanted consequence of a preventive, diagnostic or therapeutic procedure, e.g., adverse reaction to smallpox vaccination. See also side effect.

Aerosol A fine mist or spray, which contains minute particles.

Aflatoxin Toxin created by bacteria that grow on stored foods, especially on rice, peanuts, and cottonseeds.

Agency An agency is a division of government with a specific function or non-governmental organization (e.g., private contractor, business, etc.) that offers a particular kind of assistance. In ICS, agencies are defined as jurisdictional (having statutory responsibility for incident mitigation) or assisting and/or cooperating (providing resources and/or assistance).

Agent of disease A factor, such as a microorganism, chemical substance, or form of radiation, whose presence, excessive presence, or (in deficiency diseases) relative absence is essential for the occurrence of a disease. See also bacterial agent; disease; toxin agent; viral agent.

Aggregate surveillance The surveillance of a disease or health event by collecting summary data on groups of cases, e.g., general practitioners taking part in surveillance schemes are asked to report the number of cases of specified diseases seen over a specified period of time.

Agro-terrorism Terrorist attacks which affect the food supply by destroying crops. Generally, such attacks use animal diseases (i.e., anthrax), natural pests (i.e. the potato beetle), molds or other plant diseases, or defoliation agents (i.e., Agent Orange).

Airborne Carried by or through the air.

Airborne infection A mechanism of transmission of an infectious agent by particles, dust, or droplet nuclei suspended in the air. See also transmission of infection.

Airborne precautions Standard Precautions plus: placing the patient in a private room that has negative air pressure, at least six air changes/hour, and appropriate filtration of air before it is discharged from the room; use of respiratory protection when entering the room; limiting movement and transport of the patient; and using a mask on the patient if he or she needs to be moved. See also Standard Precautions.

Alarm procedure A means of alerting concerned parties to a disaster. Various optical and acoustical means of alarm are available, including flags, lights, sirens, radio, and telephone.

Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya (The Islamic Group, IG) Islamic which emerged spontaneously during the 1970's in Egyptian jails and later in Egyptian universities. After President Sadat released most of the Islamic prisoners from prisons in 1971, groups of militants organized themselves in groups and cells, and al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya was one of them.

Al-Jihad This Egyptian group seeks an Islamic state and attacks U.S. and Israeli interests in Egypt and abroad.

Al Qaeda (Al-Qaida)"The Base." An international terrorist group founded in approximately 1989 and dedicated to opposing non-Islamic governments with force and violence. One of the principal goals of Al Qaeda was to drive the United States armed forces out of the Saudi Arabian peninsula and Somalia by violence. Currently wanted for several terrorist attacks, including those on the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania as well as the first and second World Trade Center bombings, the attack on the Pentagon.

Alpha particle Two neutrons and two protons bound as a single particle emitted from the nucleus of certain radioactive isotopes in the process of decay or disintegration.

Alpha radiation The least penetrating type of nuclear radiation. Not considered dangerous unless particles enter the body.

Ammonium nitrate-fuel oil (ANFO) A powerful explosive made by mixing fertilizer and fuel oil. The type of bomb used in the first World Trade Center attack as well as Oklahoma City bombing.

Ambulance service providers Individuals, groups of individuals, corporations, partnerships, associates, trusts, joint venturers, units of local government, or other public or private ownership entities that own and operate a business or service using one or more ambulances or EMS vehicles.

American Red Cross A humanitarian organization, led by volunteers, that provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. It does this through services that are consistent with its Congressional Charter and the Principles of the International Red Cross Movement. See also Emergency Support Function Mass Care (ESF 6).

Anthrax Often fatal infectious disease contracted from animals. Anthrax spores have such a long survival period; the incubation period is short; disability is severe. All this combine to make anthrax a bio-weapon developed by several nations.

Antiterrorism Defensive measures used to reduce the vulnerability of individuals and property to terrorism.

Antiballistic missile Missile used specifically for intercepting ballistic missiles.

Antidote A remedy to counteract the effects of poison.

Antigen A substance (protein, polysaccharide, glycolipid, tissue transplant, etc.) which stimulates an immune response by the body. The immune system recognizes such substances as foreign and produces antibodies to fight them.

Antitoxin An antibody that neutralizes a biological agent.

Apathy Indifference to prompts to action--common in disaster preparedness among governmental bodies and the public. See also governmental apathy; public apathy.

Apathy, governmental See governmental apathy.

Apathy, public See public apathy.

Applied epidemiology The application and evaluation of epidemiologic discoveries and methods in public health and health care settings. It includes applications of etiologic research, priority setting and evaluation of health programs, policies, and services. It is epidemiologic practice aimed at protecting and /or improving the health of a defined population. It usually involves identifying and investigating health problems, monitoring for changes in health status, and/or evaluating the outcomes of interventions. It is general conducted in a time frame determined by the need to protect the health of an exposed population and an administrative context that results in public health action. See also epidemiology; field epidemiology.

Area Command An organization established to 1) oversee the management of multiple incidents that are each being handled by an Incident Command System organization or 2) to oversee the management of a very large incident that has multiple Incident management Teams assigned to it. Area Command has the responsibility to see overall strategy and priorities, allocate critical resources based on priorities, ensure that incidents are properly managed, and ensure that objectives are met and strategies followed.

Armed Islamic Group (GIA) Algerian Islamic extremist group which aims to overthrow the secular regime in Algeria and replace it with an Islamic state. The GIA began its violent activities in early 1992 after Algiers voided the victory of the largest Islamic party, Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), in the December 1991 legislative elections.

Assassination Murder of leadership figures or other prominent people forpolitical purposes.

Assay 1.The quantitative or qualitative evaluation of a hazardous substance in water, food, soil, and air. 2. The results of such an evaluation. See also bioassay.

Assessment, damage See damage assessment.

Assets A term used for all resources required, including human, to adequately respond to a disaster.

Associate hospitals Are those that participate in an approved EMS system in accordance with the EMS system program plan, fulfilling the same clinical communications requirements as the resource hospital. The associate hospitals have neither the primary responsibility for conducting training programs nor the responsibility for the overall operation of the EMS system program. See also resource hospitals.

Asymmetric threat The use of crude or low-tech methods to attack a superior or high-tech enemy.

Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation (AVLIS) A method of uranium enrichment that uses a laser to excite and ionize a uranium atom of a specific uranium isotope so it can be selectively removed. The AVLIS process uses uranium metal vapor and a tunable laser. See MLIS.

Attack rate The cumulative incidence of infection in a group observed over a period during an epidemic. This "rate" can be determined empirically by identifying clinical cases and/or by means of seroepidemiology. Because its time dimension is uncertain or arbitrarily decided, it should probably not be described as a rate. See also infection rate; secondary attack rate; seroepidemiology.

Attenuation Weakening (dilution) of the concentration, as of an antigen in a vaccine.

Aum Supreme Truth Also known as Aum Shinri-kyo, the group, led by Shoko Asahara, gained infamy for loosing sarin nerve agent in the Tokyo subway system, killing 12 people and injuring up to 6,000.

Autonomy, respect for See respect for autonomy.

Axis of Evil Iran, Iraq, and North Korea as mentioned by President G.W. Bush during his State of the Union speech in 2002 as nations that were a threat to U.S. security due to harboring terrorism.

Bacteria Microorganisms that lack a nucleus and have a cell wall composed of peptidoglycan, a protein sugar molecule, living in soil, water, organic matter or the bodies of plants and animals and being autotrophic or parasitic.

Bacterial agent A live pathogenic organism that can cause disease, illness, or death.

Ballistic missile Rocket-powered guided delivery instrument for use against ground targets. Due to the fact that that they are difficult to deter, these missiles are the optimal delivery systems for weapons of mass destruction. A large part of its flight is a freefall (or ballistic) trajectory.

Base The location at which primary logistics functions for an incident are coordinated and administered. There is only one Base per incident (Incident name or other designator will be added to the term Base). The Incident Command Post may be collocated with the Base.

Basque Fatherland and Liberty Known by Basque initials, ETA, the group was founded in 1959 with the aim of establishing an independent, Marxist homeland in the border area between Spain and France.

Becquerel (Bq) A unit of nuclear activity. For example, 1 Bq represents the amount of radioactive substance that disintegrates in one second. This unit replaces the curie.

Behavioral epidemic An epidemic attributable to the power of suggestion or to culturally determined behavioral patterns, as opposed to invading microorganisms or physical agents. The communicable nature of the behavior is dependent not only on person-to-person transmission of the behavioral pattern but also on group reinforcement, as with alcohol or drug use. Behavioral epidemics may be difficult to differentiate from, or may complicate, outbreaks of organic disease, for example, due to contamination of the environment by a toxic substance. See also epidemic.

Beta particle A charged particle emitted from the nucleus of certain unstable atomic nuclei (radioactive elements), having the charge and mass of an electron.

Bioassay The quantitative evaluation of the potency of a substance by assessing its effects on tissues, cells, live experimental animals, or humans. See also assay.

Biological contamination The presence of an infectious agent on a body surface or on an environmental surface. See also contamination.

Biological fluids Fluids that have human or animal origin, most commonly encountered at crime scenes (e.g., blood, mucus, perspiration, saliva, semen, vaginal fluid and urine).

Biological warfare The intentional use of viruses, bacteria, other microorganisms, or toxins derived from living organisms to cause death or disease in humans, animals, or plants (US Army Field Manual definition). See also biological warfare agent.

Biological warfare agent A pathogen (microorganism capable of causing disease) or toxin derived from a living organism that is deliberately used to produce disease or death in humans, animals, or plants. See also biological warfare; bioterrorism.

Biological warfare agent classifications By their effects (e.g., lethal agents produce death in all or most victims, or incapacitating agents, which produce severe disease, but not death); by their taxonomy; by their mode of delivery (aerosol, food- or waterborne, vector borne, or injection); or by the clinical syndrome they produce (such as pneumonia agents and systemic disease agents.)

Biological warfare agent identification methods Isolation of the etiologic agent by culture (possible in one to two days for some agents); detection of agents by enzyme immunoassay, mass spectrometry, animal inoculation, or other methods; antibody detection (specific immunoglobulin [IgM] may appear within three days); genome detection by PCR; detection of metabolic products of the infectious or toxic agent in clinical specimens.

Bio-terrorism 1. The unlawful release of biological agents with the intent to intimidate or coerce a government or civilian population to further political or social objectives. Humans, animals, and plants are often targets. 2. Use of microorganisms or toxins to kill or sicken people, animals or plants. The main difference between biological terrorism and conventional terrorism (i.e. bombs, hijackings, etc.) is the duration from the time of attack to the presentation of victims of the attack. Depending on the agent, the incubation period can be up to 60 days. It is highly probable that hospitals, not traditional first responders, will be the first to recognize a bio-terrorism event secondary to the unfolding epidemiology and gradual increase in attack rates of a communicable agent. See also terrorism.

Biochemical warfare Collective term for use of both chemical warfare and biological warfare weapons.

Bio-chem-terrorism Terrorism using biological or chemical agents as weapons.

Biological ammunition Designed specifically to release a biological agent used as the warhead for biological weapons. Biological ammunition may take many forms, such as a missile warhead or bomb.

Biological attack The deliberate release of germs or other biological substances that cause illness.

Biological Weapons Convention Officially known as the "Convention on the Prohibition of Development, Production, and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and Destruction." The BWC works toward general and complete disarmament, including the prohibition and elimination of all types of weapons of mass destruction.

Bio-warfare The use of biological agents to cause harm to targeted people either directly, by bringing the people into contact with the agents or indirectly, by infecting other animals and plants, which would in turn cause harm to the people.

Blister agents Agents which cause pain and incapacitation instead of death and might be used to injury many people at once, thereby overloading medical facilities and causing fear in the population. Mustard gas is the best known blister agent.

Blood agents Are those based on cyanide compounds. They are likely to be used more for assassination than for terrorism.

Blood Borne Pathogen Infectious, disease-causing microorganisms that may be found or transported in biological fluids.

Born classified Term applied to Restricted Data, a category of information deemed "classified from its inception" under the Atomic Energy Act.

Botulism The botulinum toxin is exceedingly lethal and quite simple to produce. It takes just a small amount of the toxin to destroy the central nervous system. Botulism may be contracted by the ingestion of contaminated food or through breaks or cuts in the skin. Food supply contamination or aerosol dissemination of the botulinum toxin are the two ways most likely to be used by terrorists.

Branch The organizational level having functional or geographic responsibility for major parts of incident operations. The Branch level is organizationally between Section and Division/Group in the Operations Section, and between section and Units in the Logistic Section. Branches are identified by the use of Roman numerals or by functional name (e.g., medical, security, etc.).

Business Continuity is the process of planning to ensure that an organisation can survive, by providing an acceptable level of service throughout, an event that causes interruption to normal business processes.

Bush Doctrine The policy that holds responsible nations which harbor or support terrorist organizations and says that such countries are considered hostile to the United States. From President Bush's speech: "A country that harbors terrorists will either deliver the terrorists or share in their fate. ... People have to choose sides. They are either with the terrorists, or they're with us."

BWC. Officially known as the "Convention on the Prohibition of Development, Production, and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and Destruction." The BWC works toward general and complete disarmament, including the prohibition and elimination of all types of weapons of mass destruction.

CANADIAN DEUTERIUM - URANIUM REACTOR (CANDU): A Canadian designed power reactor that uses natural uranium fuel and heavy water as a moderator and coolant. CANDU reactors are in service in Canada, Argentina and Pakistan. This reactor can be refueled while on-line, an attractive feature, especially for small power grids. Of possible proliferation concern is the operator's ability to produce weapons-grade plutonium by controlling the amount of time the fuel spends in the reactor, and removing this spent-fuel without having to shut down the reactor.

Car bomb An automobile used as a weapon by detonation of bombs

Carrier A person or animal that harbors a specific infectious agent in the absence of discernible clinical disease and serves as a potential source of infection.

Case In epidemiology, a person in the population or study group identified as having the particular disease, health disorder, or condition under investigation. See also index case.

Case definition A set of diagnostic criteria that must be fulfilled in order to identify a person as a case of a particular disease. Case definition can be based on clinical, laboratory, or combined clinical and laboratory criteria, or a scoring system with points for each criterion that matches the features of the disease. See also case.

Case fatality rate The proportion of cases of a specified condition that is fatal within a specified time. See also case; fatality rate.

Case-finding A standard procedure in control of certain contagious diseases, e.g., tuberculosis, plague, smallpox, whereby diligent efforts are made to locate and treat persons who have had close or intimate contact with a known cases. Also, seeking persons who have been exposed to risk of other epidemic conditions or outbreaks, such as food poisoning. Synonym: contact tracing. See also case.

Case, index See index case.

Casualty Any person suffering physical and/or psychological damage that leads to death, injury, or material loss.

Casualty clearing station A collecting point for victims that is located in the immediate vicinity of a disaster site where triage and medical treatment can be provided.

Catchment area Region from which the clients of a particular health facility are
taken. Such a region may be well or ill defined. See also community.

Cell The smallest unit within a guerrilla or terrorist group. A cell generally consists of two to five people dedicated to a terrorist cause. The formation of cells is born of the concept that an apparent "leaderless resistance" makes it hard for counterterrorists to penetrate.

Central holding area A location where ambulances leave to pick patients up from the casualty clearing station, or deliver patients to neighboring hospitals according to a victim distribution plan.

Centrifuge A rotating vessel for uranium enrichment. The heavier U238 isotopes in the UF6 gas tend to concentrate at the walls of the centrifuge as it spins. Scopes are placed inside the centrifuge to selectively separate the U238 and U235 isotopes.

Chain of Command A series of management positions in order of authority.

Chain of Custody A process used to maintain and document the chronological history of the evidence (Documents should include name or initials of the individual collecting the evidence, each person or entity subsequently having custody of it, dates the items were collected or transferred, agency and case number, victim or suspect’s name, and a brief description of the item).

Checklist Enumeration of actions to be taken by an individual or organization, meant to aid memory rather than provide detailed instruction (FEMA definition).

Chemical agent Toxic substances intended to be used for operations to debilitate, immobilize, or kill military or civilian personnel.

Chemical ammunition Munitions, commonly a missile, bomb, rocket, or artillery shell, designed to deliver chemical agents.

Chemical attack The intentional release of toxic liquid, gas or solid in order to poison the environment or people.

Chemical threat Compounds that may pose bodily harm if touched, ingested, inhaled or ignited. These compounds may be encountered at a clandestine laboratory, or through a homemade bomb or tankard leakage (e.g., ether, alcohol, nitroglycerin, ammonium sulfate, red phosphorous, cleaning supplies, gasoline or unlabeled chemicals).

Chemical weapons Are weapons that produce effects on living targets via toxic chemical properties. Examples would be sarin, VX nerve gas, or mustard gas.

Chemoprophylaxis The administration of an antibiotic agent to prevent an infection, or to prevent an incubating infection from progressing to disease, or to eliminate a carrier state to prevent transmission and disease in others. Chemoprophylaxis is currently available for anthrax, plague, Q fever, and tularemia.

Chem-terrorism The use of chemical agents in a terrorist operation. Well-known chemical agents include sarin and VX nerve gas.

Chief executive official The official of the community who is charged with authority to implement and administer laws, ordinances, and regulations for the community. He or she may be a mayor, city manager, etc. (FEMA definition).

Choking agent Compounds that injure primarily in the respiratory tract (i.e., nose, throat, and lungs). In extreme cases membranes swell up, lungs become filled with liquid, and death results from lack of oxygen.

Chronic 1. Referring to a health-related state, lasting a long time. 2. Referring to exposure, prolonged or long-term, often with specific reference to low intensity. 3. The US National Center for Health Statistics defines a "chronic" condition as one of three months' duration or longer. Compare to acute.

Clean/sanitize The process of removing biological and/or chemical contaminants from tools and/or equipment (e.g., using a mixture of 10:1 household water and bleach).
Clinical epidemiologist A specialist in clinical epidemiology. See clinical epidemiology.

Clinical epidemiology 1. Epidemiological study conducted in a clinical setting , usually by clinicians, with patients as the subjects of a study. 2. The application of epidemiological principles and methods to problems encountered in clinical medicine. Clinical epidemiology uses the information from classical epidemiology to aid decision-making about identified cases of disease. See also epidemiology.

Cluster An aggregation of relatively uncommon events or diseases in space and/or
time in amounts that are believed or perceived to be greater than could be expected by chance.

Clustering A closely grouped series of events or cases of a disease or other health-related phenomena with well-defined distribution patterns in relation to time or place or both. The term is normally used to describe aggregation of relatively uncommon events or diseases, e.g., plague, smallpox.

Command The act of directing and/or controlling resources by virtue of explicit legal, agency, or delegated authority. May also refer to the Incident Commander.

Command and control model The managerial approach for thinking and acting that has a military focus - that strong leadership would overcome the resulting chaos of a disaster. Historically, U.S. disaster planning developed in response to the threat of enemy attack, so it was only natural that such planning had a military focus and those with a military background were given its responsibility. The military model's application to the civilian context, with its traditional preferences for private sector autonomy, decentralization of political decision-making, and local control, is undergoing reexamination. See also control; Incident Command System; span of control.

Command, unity of See unity of command.

Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) was established as an independent accrediting authority in 1979 by the four major law enforcement membership associations: International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP); National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE); National Sheriffs' Association (NSA); and Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). The Executive Directors of these four associations appoint members to the Commission annually; an endorsement requires a majority vote for each appointment. The overall purpose of the Commission's accreditation program is to improve delivery of law enforcement service by offering a body of standards, developed by law enforcement practitioners, covering a wide range of up-to-date law enforcement topics. It recognizes professional achievements by offering an orderly process for addressing and complying with applicable standards.

Common source epidemic An outbreak due to exposure of a group of persons to a noxious influence that is common to the individuals in the group. When the exposure is brief and essentially simultaneous, the resultant cases all develop within one incubation period of the disease. Synonym: point source epidemic or point epidemic. See also epidemic.

Common vehicle spread Transmission of a disease agent (e.g., infectious pathogen, toxic chemical) from a source that is common to those who acquire the disease. Common vehicles include air, water, food, and injected substances.

Communicable disease An illness due to a specific infectious agent or its toxic products that arises through transmission of that agent or its products from an infected person, animal, or reservoir to a susceptible host, either directly or indirectly through an intermediate plan or animal host, vector, or the inanimate environment. Synonym: infectious disease. See also transmission of infection.

Communicable period The time during which an infectious agent may be transferred directly or indirectly from an infected person to another person, from an infected animal to humans, or from an infected person to an animal, including insects. See also transmission of infection.

Communications, integrated See integrated communications.

Community 1. A group of individuals organized into a unit, or manifesting some unifying trait or common interest; loosely, the locality or catchment area population for which a service is provided, or more broadly, the state, nation, or body politic (Last's epidemiology definition). 2. A political entity that has the authority to adopt and enforce laws and ordinances for the area under its jurisdiction. In most cases, the community is an incorporated town, city, township, village, or unincorporated area of a county. However, each State defines its own political subdivisions and forms of government (FEMA definition). See also catchment area.

Community profile The characteristics of the local environment that are prone to a chemical or nuclear accident. These characteristics can include population density; age distribution; number of roadways, railways, and waterways; type of buildings; and local relief agencies. See also community.

Complex 21 Designation for the Nuclear Weapon Complex when current plans for reorganization are realized, expected to occur around the turn of the century.

Concurrent disinfection See disinfection.

Confidentiality The obligation not to disclose information; the right of a person to withhold information from others. Information in medical records, case registries, and other data files and bases is generally confidential, and epidemiologists are required to obtain permission before being given access to it. This may be the informed consent of the person to whom the records relate or the permission of an institutional review board. See also respect for autonomy; informed consent.

CONPLAN (U. S. Government Interagency Domestic Terrorism Concept of Operations Plan) CONPLAN is designed to provide overall guidance to Federal, State and local agencies concerning how the Federal government would respond to a potential or actual terrorist threat or incident that occurs in the United States, particularly one involving WMD. The CONPLAN outlines an organized and unified capability for a timely, coordinated response by Federal agencies to a terrorist threat or act. It establishes conceptual guidance for assessing and monitoring a developing threat, notifying appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies of the nature of the threat, and deploying the requisite advisory and technical resources to assist the Lead Federal Agency (LFA) in facilitating interagency/interdepartmental coordination of a crisis and consequence management response. Lastly, it defines the relationships between structures under which the Federal government will marshal crisis and consequence management resources to respond to a threatened or actual terrorist incident.

Consequence management An emergency management function that includes measures to protect public health and safety, restore essential government services, and provide emergency relief to governments in the event of terrorism. Consequence management responses are managed by FEMA and use protocols established under the Federal Response Plan (FRP). Consequence management efforts can also include support missions as described in other Federal operations plans, such as predictive modeling, protective action recommendations, and mass decontamination.

Contact A person or animal that has been in such association with an infected person or animal or a contaminated environment as to have had opportunity to acquire the infection. See also direct contact; indirect contact; primary contact.

Contact, direct See direct contact.

Contact, indirect See indirect contact.

Contact precautions Standard Precautions plus placing the patient in a private room or with someone with the same infection, if possible; using gloves when entering the room; changing gloves after contact with infective material; using gown when entering the room if contact with patient is anticipated or if the patient has diarrhea, a colostomy, or wound drainage not covered by a dressing; limiting the movement or transport of the patient form the room; ensuring that patient care items, bedside equipment, and frequently touched surfaces receive daily cleaning; dedicating use of noncritical patient-care equipment, to a single patient, or cohort of patients with the same pathogen - if not feasible, adequate disinfection between patients is necessary. See also airborne precautions; disinfection; Standard Precautions.

Contact, primary See primary contact.

Contact tracing See case finding.

Contagion The transmission of infection by direct contact, droplet spread, or contaminated fomites. See also fomite; transmission of infection.

Contagious Transmitted by contact; in common usage, "highly infectious."

Containment The concept of regional eradication of communicable disease, first proposed by Soper in 1949 for the elimination of smallpox. Containment of a world wide communicable disease demands a globally coordinated effort so that countries that have effected an interruption of transmission do not become reinfected following importation from neighboring endemic areas.

Contamination 1. The presence of an infectious agent on a body surface; also in or on clothes, bedding, toys, surgical instruments or dressings, or other inanimate articles or substances including water, milk and food. (Last's epidemiological definition) 2. The undesirable deposition of a chemical, biological, or radiological material on the surface of structures, areas, objects, or people (FEMA definition). See also biological contamination; infection.

Contingency plan An emergency plan developed in expectation of a disaster. Contingency plans are often based on risk assessments, the availability of human and material resources, community preparedness, and local and international response capabilities.

Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP). A COOP provides guidance on the system restoration for emergencies, disasters, mobilization, and for maintaining a state of readiness to provide the necessary level of information processing support commensurate with the mission requirements/priorities identified by the respective functional proponent. This term is traditionally used by the Federal Government and its supporting agencies to describe activities otherwise known as Disaster Recovery, Business Continuity, Business Resumption, or Contingency Planning.

Control 1. To regulate restrain, correct, restore to normal. 2. Applied to many communicable and some non-communicable conditions, control means ongoing operations or programs aimed at reducing incidence and/or prevalence, or eliminating such conditions. See also command and control model; span of control.

Control, span of See span of control.

Convergence The tendency in disasters for persons, material, and communications to flow towards the disaster site. See also informational convergence; material convergence; personal convergence.

Convergence, informational See informational convergence.

Convergence, material See material convergence.

Convergence, personal See personal convergence.

Coordinate A systematic exchange of information among principal participants in order to carry out a unified response in the event of an emergency.

Coordination The process of systematically analyzing a situation, developing relevant information, and informing appropriate command authority of viable alternatives for selection of the most effective combination of available resources to meet specific objectives. The coordination process (which can be either intra-or inter-agency) does not involve dispatch actions. However, personnel responsible for coordination may perform command or dispatch functions within the limits established by specific agency delegations, procedures, legal authority, etc.

Coordination center Any facility that is used for the coordination, agency, or jurisdictional resources in support of one or more incidents.

Coordinator Staff assistant to the principal executive officer of a political subdivision with the duty of coordinating the emergency management programs of that political subdivision. See also political subdivision.

Counterterrorism Measures used to prevent preempt, or retaliate against terrorist attacks.
Covert release (of a biologic agent) An unannounced release of a biologic agent that causes illness. Detection of the biologic agent is dependent on traditional surveillance methods. If undetected, a covert release of a contagion has the potential to spread widely before it is detected. See also overt release.

Crisis management Administrative measures that identify, acquire, and plan the use of resources needed to anticipate, prevent, and and/or resolve a threat to public safety (e.g., terrorism)

Critical Incident Stress Debriefing and Defusing Debriefing is a specific technique designed to assist others in dealing with the physical or psychological symptoms that are generally associated with trauma exposure. Debriefing allows those involved with the incident to process the event and reflect on its impact. Ideally, debriefing can be conducted on or near the site of the event (Davis, 1992; Mitchell, 1986). Defusing, another component of CISD, allows for the ventilation of emotions and thoughts associated with the crisis event. Debriefing and defusing should by provided as soon as possible but typically no longer than the first 24 to 72 hours after the initial impact of the critical event. As the length of time between exposure to the event and CISD increases, the less effective CISD becomes. Therefore, a close temporal (time) relationship between the critical incident and defusing and initial debriefing (i.e., there may be several) is imperative for these techniques to be most beneficial and effective (Davis, 1993, Mitchell, 1988).

Critical Incident Stress Management Critical Incident Stress Management, or CISM, is an intervention protocol developed specifically for dealing with traumatic events. It is a formal, highly structured and professionally recognized process for helping those people who are involved in a critical incident to share their experiences, vent emotions, learn about stress reactions and symptoms and given referrals for further help if required. It is not psychotherapy. It is a confidential, voluntary and educative process, sometimes called 'psychological first aid'. It was first developed for use with military combat veterans and then civilian first responders (police, fire, ambulance, emergency workers and disaster rescuers), it has now been adapted and used virtually everywhere there is a need to address traumatic impact in peoples lives.

Criticality Pertaining to a critical mass (the least amount) of fissionable material that can achieve self-sustaining nuclear chain reactions.

Cross-infection An infection of one person with pathogenic organisms from another and vice versa. See also infection.

Cruise missile Guided missile that flies at a low altitude, following the terrain. Silkworm, Seersucker, and Tomahawks are all examples of cruise missiles.

Culture 1. In microbiology, the growth of an organism in or on a nutrient medium. 2. In social science, a set of beliefs, values, symbols, rituals, and heroes common to and characteristic of a community or nation. Culturally determined characteristics include language, acceptable gender roles and occupations, and much health-related behavior. See also community.

Curie A unit of radioactivity equal to that emitted by 1 gram of pure radium.

Cutaneous Related to or entering through the skin.
Cutaneous anthrax Contracted via broken skin. The infection spreads through the bloodstream causing cyanosis, shock, sweating, and finally death.

Cyanide agents Used by Iraq in the Iran war against the Kurds in the 1980's, and also by the Nazis in the gas chambers of concentration camps, cyanide agents are colorless liquid which is inhaled in its gaseous form while liquid cyanide and cyanide salts are absorbed by the skin. Symptoms are headache, palpitations, dizziness, and respiratory problems followed later by vomiting, convulsions, respiratory failure and unconsciousness and eventually by death.

Cyber terrorism Attacks on computer networks or systems, generally by hackers working with or for terrorist groups. Some forms of cyber terrorism include denial of service attacks, inserting viruses, or stealing data.

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

Damage assessment The process used to appraise or determine the number of injuries and deaths, damage to public and private property, and the status of key facilities and services such as hospitals and other health care facilities, fire and police stations, communications networks, water and sanitation systems, utilities, and transportation networks resulting from a man-made or natural disaster (FEMA definition).

Data The collection of unprocessed, unanalyzed facts, observations, and raw facts on which a discussion or an inference is based. Data are the product of measurement. The word "data" is the plural of datum.

Data collection Gathering, assembling, and delivering data to a centralized collection point. See also data.

Data, mortality See mortality data. Delegation of Authority A statement provided to the Incident Commander by the Agency Executive delegating authority and assigning responsibility. The Delegation of Authority can include objectives, priorities, expectations, constraints, and other considerations or guidelines as needed. Many agencies require a written Delegation of Authority to be given to Incident Commanders prior to their assuming command or larger incidents.

Death rate An estimate of the portion of a population that dies during a specified period.

Decontamination 1. The reduction or removal of a chemical, biological, or radiological material from the surface of a structure, area, object, or person (FEMA definition). 2. The removal of hazardous chemicals or nuclear substances from the skin and/or mucous membranes by showering or washing the affected area with water, or by rinsing with a sterile solution (Landesman definition.)

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) A new cabinet level department charged with strengthening the security and protecting the assets of the United States of America and its territories. The primary mission of this agency, which consolidates a large number of other governmental entities under the leadership of one Director, includes (1) preventing terrorist attacks within the United States, (2) reducing America’s vulnerability to terrorism, and (3) minimizing the damage and recovery from attacks that do occur. Additionally, DHS is responsible for homeland security coordination with other executive branch agencies, state and local governments and the private sector.

Descriptive epidemiology The study of the occurrence of disease or other health-related characteristics in human populations. General observations concerning the relationship of disease to basic characteristics such as age, sex, race, occupation, and social class; also concerned with geographic location. The major characteristics in descriptive epidemiology can be classified under the headings: persons, place, and time. See also applied epidemiology; epidemiology.

Diagnosis The process of determining health status and the factors responsible for producing it; may be applied to an individual, family, group, or community. The term is applied both to the process of determination and to its findings.

Direct contact A mode of transmission of infection between an infected host and susceptible host. Direct contact occurs when skin or mucous surfaces touch, as in shaking hands, kissing, and sexual intercourse. See also contagion; transmission of infection.

Direct transmission The direct and essentially immediate transfer of infectious agents to a receptive portal of entry through which human or animal infection may take place. Direct contact includes touching, kissing, biting, or sexual intercourse, or by the direct projection (droplet spread) of droplet spray onto the conjunctiva or onto the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, or mouth. It may also be by direct exposure of susceptible tissue to an agent in soil, compost, or decaying vegetable matter or by the bite of a rabid animal. Transplacental transmission is another form of direct transmission. See also indirect transmission; transmission of infection.

Disability Temporary or long-term reduction of a person's capacity to function.

Disaster 1. The ultimate emergency--one that exceeds the available resources to deal with it, and which involves multiple jurisdictions, triage and casualty distribution, access restriction, ambiguity of authority and responsibility, and an inability to use routine response procedures and resources. 2. World Health Organization: an occurrence that causes damage, ecological disruption, loss of human life, deterioration of health and health services on a scale sufficient to warrant an extraordinary response from outside the affected community area. 3: Federal Emergency Management Agency: An occurrence of a natural catastrophe, technological accident, or human-caused event that has resulted in severe property damage, deaths, and/or multiple injuries. As used in [this FEMA guide], a "large-scale disaster" is one that exceeds the response capability of the local jurisdiction and requires State, and potentially Federal, involvement. As used in the Stafford Act, a "major disaster" is "any natural catastrophe [...] or, regardless of cause, any fire, flood, or explosion, in any part of the United States, which in the determination of the President causes damage of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant major disaster assistance under [the] Act to supplement the efforts and available resources or States, local governments, and disaster relief organizations in alleviating the damage, loss, hardship, or suffering caused thereby." 4. Illinois Emergency Management Agency: An occurrence or threat of widespread or severe damage, injury or loss of life or property resulting from any natural or technological cause, including, but not limited to, fire, flood, earthquake, wind, storm, hazardous materials spill or other water contamination requiring emergency action to avert danger or damage, epidemic, air contamination, blight, extended periods of severe and inclement weather, drought, infestation, critical shortages of essential fuels and energy, explosion, riot, hostile military or paramilitary action, or acts of domestic terrorism. 5. "Many people trying to do quickly what they do not ordinarily do, in an environment with which they are not familiar." (Tierney, 1985) See also emergency; Federal Emergency Management Agency; Illinois Emergency Management Agency; manmade disaster; natural disaster; World Health Organization.

Disaster continuum The life cycle of a disaster or emergency. Synonym: emergency management cycle.

Disaster drill A simulation of a disaster to assess and improve the effectiveness of a health care organization's or system's disaster preparedness plan.

Disaster epidemiology The study of disaster-related deaths, illnesses, and injuries in humans. Also includes the study of the factors that affect death, illness and injury following a disaster. Methodology involves identifying and comparing risk factors among disaster victims to those who were left unharmed. Epidemiological investigations provide public health professionals with information on the probable public health consequences of disasters. See also epidemiology.

Disaster Field Office (DFO) The office established in or near the disaster area that supports federal and state response as well as recovery operations. The Disaster Field Office houses the Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO), the Emergency Response Team (ERT), the State Coordinating Officer (SCO), and support staff.

Disaster informatics The theoretical and practical operation of processing information and communicating in a disaster situation.

Disaster, manmade See manmade disaster.

Disaster, na-tech See na-tech disaster.

Disaster, natural See natural disaster.

Disaster plan See disaster preparedness plan.

Disaster POD The Illinois Department of Public Health EMS regions used for the medical disaster plan, with each region having a designated hospital serving as the POD. POD is not an acronym, meaning it does not stand for three words.

Disaster POD hospitals The lead hospitals located in IDPH EMS POD regions responsible for coordinating disaster medical response upon the activation of the Emergency Medical Disaster Plan by the IOHNO, and which meet the following minimum criteria: designated resource hospital; designated level I or level II trauma center; maintain an established disaster plan; commit one advanced life support provider to be dispatched at the scene, if necessary; availability of two or more participating and/or associate hospitals; maintain an established two-way communication system to participating and associate hospitals; maintain a fax machine accessible to emergency department staff 24 hours/day. Each disaster POD hospital serves as the primary point of contact for communication and coordination of disaster response activities with its resource, associate and participating hospitals and EMS providers. See also associate hospitals; Emergency Medical Disaster Plan; IOHNO; participating hospitals; resource hospitals.

Disaster preparedness plan A formal written plan of action for coordinating the response of a hospital's staff in the event of a disaster within the hospital or the community.

Disaster-prone The level of risk that is related to the hazard or the immediate cause of a disaster. Disaster-proneness is determined by analyzing the history of past events as well as new conditions that may increase the risk of a disaster taking place.

Disaster Recovery is the activity that takes place during and after a catastrophic event to minimize business interruption and return the organization as quickly as possible to a state of normalcy that existed prior to the event.

Disaster severity scale A scale that classifies disasters by the following parameters: the radius of the disaster site, the number of dead, the number of wounded, the average severity of the injuries sustained, the impact time, and the rescue time. By attributing a numeric score to each of the variables from 0 to 2 with 0 being the least severe and 2 the most severe, a scale with a range of 0 to 18 can be created (Landesman definition).

Disaster, technological See technological disaster.

Disaster, toxicological See toxicological disaster.

Disaster vulnerability A measure of the ability of a community to absorb the effects of a severe disaster and to recover. Vulnerability varies with each disaster, depending on the disaster's impact on the affected population or group. See also community; disaster.

Disease Literally, disease, the opposite of ease, when something is wrong with a bodily function. The words disease, illness, and sickness are loosely interchangeable, but are better regarded as not synonymous. Disease is a physiological/psychological dysfunction. Illness is a subjective state of the person who feels aware of not being well. Sickness is a state of social dysfunction.

Disease, iatrogenic See iatrogenic disease.

Disease, notifiable See notifiable disease.

Disease epidemic The occurrence of a number of cases of a disease, known or suspected to be of infectious or parasitic origin, that is unusually large or unexpected for the given place and time. An epidemic often evolves rapidly, so that a quick response is needed. See also disease; epidemic; threatened epidemic.

Disinfection Killing of infectious agents outside the body by direct exposure to chemical or physical agents. Concurrent disinfection is the application of disinfective measures as soon as possible after the discharge of infectious material from the body of an infected person, or after the soiling of articles with such infectious discharges, all personal contact with such discharges or articles being minimized prior to such disinfection. Terminal disinfection is the application of disinfective measures after the patient has been removed by death or to a hospital, or has ceased to be a source of infection, or after other hospital isolation practices have been discontinued. Terminal disinfection is rarely practiced; terminal cleaning generally suffices, along with airing and sunning of rooms, furniture, and bedding. Disinfection is necessary only for diseases spread by indirect contact; steam sterilization or incineration of bedding and other items is desirable after a disease such as plague or anthrax. See also indirect contact.

Disorder, disease, syndrome These words, often loosely used, have precise meanings. A disorder is a disturbance or departure from normal health function, e.g., of an organ or body system, e.g., impairment. A disease is a disorder that can be assigned to a diagnostic category; it usually has a distinct clinical course and often a distinct etiology. A syndrome is a group of symptoms and signs that tend to appear together and collectively characterize a disorder. See also disease.

Dispatch communications system A system used to assign ambulance personnel and other first responders. See also first responder.

Division Divisions are used to divide an incident into geographic areas of operation. A Division is located within the ICS organization between the Branch and the Task Force/Strike Team. (See Group) Divisions are identified by alphabetic characters for horizontal applications and, often by floor numbers when used in buildings.

Domestic Terrorism The unlawful or threatened use of force or violence by a group or individual based and operating entirely within the United States and/or Puerto Rico, without foreign direction, and whose acts are directed at elements of the U.S. Government and/or its population, in the furtherance of political or social goals.

Dose The amount of a substance available for interaction with metabolic processes of biologically significant receptors after crossing the relevant boundary (epidermis, gut, respiratory tract); the absorbed dose is the amount crossing a specific absorption barrier. In lay usage, the amount of a medication to be taken at one time. See also dose (radiation); exposure.

Dose (radiation) A general term indicating the quantity (total or accumulated) of ionizing radiation or energy absorbed by a person or animal (FEMA definition). See also dose.

Dose rate The amount of ionizing radiation that an individual would absorb per unit of time.

Dosimeter An instrument for measuring and registering total accumulated exposure to ionizing radiation.

Droplet nuclei 1. type of particle implicated in the spread of airborne infection. Droplet nuclei are tiny particles that represent the dried residue of droplets. They may be formed by a. evaporation of droplets coughed or sneezed into the air or 2. Aerosolization of infective materials. See also transmission of infection.

Droplet precautions Standard Precautions plus placing the patient in a private room or with someone with the same infection (if not feasible, maintaining at least three feet between patients); using a mask when working within three feet of the patient; limiting movement and transport of the patient; using a mask on the patient if he or she needs to be moved. See also airborne precautions; Standard Precautions.

Demilitarization The process of eliminating or reducing military weapons, materials, other hardware and organizational structures.

Deuterium An isotope of hydrogen with one proton and one neutron in the nucleus, making this isotope about twice as heavy as normal hydrogen which does not have a neutron. In normal water a deuterium atom occurs in 1 in 6,500 hydrogen atoms.

Diffusion A technique for uranium enrichment in which the lighter U235 isotopes in UF6 gas move through a porous barrier more rapidly than the heavier U238 isotopes.

Dirty bomb A makeshift nuclear device that is created from radioactive nuclear waste material. While not a nuclear blast, an explosion of a dirty bomb causes localized radioactive contamination as the nuclear waste material is carried into the atmosphere where it is dispersed by the wind. See also Radiological dispersal device.

Disassembly Process of taking apart a nuclear warhead and removing the subassemblies, components, and individual parts.

Dismantlement Disassemble

Disposition. Determination of the long-term status of materials.

Dual use Equipment or components that can be used for nuclear and non-nuclear purposes.

Early warning system In disease surveillance, a specific procedure to detect as early as possible any departure from usual or normally observed frequency of phenomena.

Earthquake The sudden motion or trembling of the ground produced by abrupt displacement of rock masses, usually within the upper 10 to 20 miles of the earth's surface (FEMA definition).

Ebola Ebola hemorrhagic fever (Ebola HF) is a severe, often-fatal disease in nonhuman primates such as monkeys, chimpanzees, gorillas and in humans. Ebola has appeared sporadically since 1976 when it was first recognized.

E-bomb Electromagnetic bomb which produces a brief pulse of energy which affects electronic circuitry,. At low levels, the pulse temporarily disables electronics systems, including computers, radios, and transportation systems. High levels completely destroy circuitry, causing mass disruption of infrastructure while sparing life and property.

Ecoterrorism Sabotage intended to hinder activities that are considered damaging to the environment.

Electromagnetic pulse A sharp pulse of energy radiated instantaneously by a nuclear detonation, which may affect or damage electronic components and equipment (FEMA definition.)

Elimination (of disease) Reduction of case transmission to a predetermined very low level. Compare eradication (of disease).

Emergency 1. Any occasion or instance--such as a hurricane, tornado, storm, flood, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, fire, explosion, nuclear accident, or any other natural or man-made catastrophe--that warrants action to save lives and to protect property, public health, and safety (FEMA definition). 2. A sudden occurrence demanding immediate action that may be due to epidemics, technological catastrophes, strife or to natural or man-made causes (World Health Organization definition).

Emergency Alert System A digital technology (voice/text) communications system consisting of broadcast stations and interconnecting facilities authorized by the Federal Communication Commission. The system provides the President and other national, State, and local officials the means to broadcast emergency information to the public before, during, and after disasters.

Emergency caused by epidemic or threatened epidemic An emergency characterized by some or all of the following features: the risk of introduction and spread of the disease in the population is substantial; a large number of cases can be anticipated; the disease may lead to serious disability or death; the risk of social and/or economic disruption resulting from the presence of the disease is considerable; national authorities are unable to cope adequately with the situation because of a lack or insufficiency of technical or professional personnel; organizational experience is underdeveloped; necessary supplies or equipment (drugs, vaccines, laboratory diagnostic materials, vector control materials) are insufficient to meet the need for which they are intended; and a danger of international transmission exists. The type of situations called emergencies varies among cultures, depending on the pre-existing state of endemicity and the presence or absence of a means of transmitting the agent. For example, one case of cholera, in non-endemic areas, is an emergency, according to the World Health Organization. A "significant" increase in incidence over and above what is normal for the season, particularly if multifocal and accompanied by deaths in children less than 10 years old qualifies as an emergency in endemic areas. See also emergency; epidemic; threatened epidemic; World Health Organization.

Emergency department The component of a health care organization that provides emergency care services. An emergency department is typically supervised by physicians experienced and often specializing in emergency medicine and operates 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

Emergency Environmental Health Services Services required to correct or improve damaging environmental health effects on humans, including inspection for food contamination, inspection for water contamination, and vector control; providing for sewage and solid waste inspection and disposal; clean-up and disposal of hazardous materials; and sanitation inspection for emergency shelter facilities FEMA definition).

Emergency Health Services Services required to prevent and treat the damaging health effects of an emergency, including communicable disease control, immunization, laboratory services, dental and nutritional services; providing first aid for treatment of ambulatory patients and those with minor injuries; providing public health information on emergency treatment, prevention, and control; and providing administrative support including maintenance of vital records and providing for a conduit of emergency health funds from State and Federal governments (FEMA definition).

Emergency management The efforts of the State and the political subdivisions to develop, plan, analyze, conduct, provide, implement and maintain programs for disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery (IEMA definition).

Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Also referred to as the Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP). The EMA, under the authority of the governor's office, coordinates the efforts of the state's health department, housing and social service agencies, and public safety agencies (e.g., state police) during an emergency or disaster. The EMA also coordinates federal resources made available to the states such as the National Guard, the Centers for Disease Control (e.g., EIS officers), and the Public Health Service (e.g., Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry, ATSDR) See also Emergency Services and Disaster Agency.

Emergency Management Coordinator/Director The individual within each political subdivision that has coordination responsibility for jurisdictional emergency management.

Emergency management cycle See disaster continuum.

Emergency Medical Disaster Plan (IDPH) A plan to assist emergency medical
services personnel and health care facilities in working together in a collaborative way and to provide support in situations where local resources are overwhelmed. See also disaster POD hospitals; IDPH.

Emergency medical services (EMS) Services, including 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 medical disposition within a hospital, temporary medical facility, or special care facility, release from site, or declared dead. Further, emergency medical services specifically include those services immediately required to ensure proper medical care and specialized treatment for patients in a hospital and coordination of related hospital services (FEMA definition).

Emergency medical services medical director The physician, appointed by the resource hospital and approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health, who has the responsibility and authority for total management of the EMS system.

Emergency medical services system The coordination of the prehospital system (e.g., public access, dispatch, EMTs, ambulance services) and the in hospital system (e.g., emergency departments, hospitals and other definitive care facilities and personnel) to provide emergency medical care.

Emergency Medical Services System (EMSS) Act of 1973 A federal law that established funding and systematic requirements for emergency medical services systems including sufficient trained manpower to ensure the availability of care at all times; regional training programs for all levels of personnel; emergency medical communications systems; specialized facilities; transportation; disaster plans, integration with public safety agencies; regional and interregional mutual assistance pacts; critical care units; patient transfer continuity; consumer participation; consumer education; standard medical records; care accessibility and availability; and ongoing review and evaluation. Federal funding for the EMSS program has been eliminated.

Emergency medical technician (EMT) An individual trained to render immediate basic life support to ill and injured individuals, under the direction of a physician, and to safely transport them in a monitored environment to health care facilities.

Emergency medical technician-paramedic (EMT-P) An allied health professional that, working under the direction of a physician, administers advanced emergency medical services, principally in advanced life support units.

Emergency medicine The branch of medicine and medical specialty that deals with the recognition, stabilization, evaluation, treatment, and disposition of an undifferentiated population of patients with acute illness or injury. Emergency care is episodic and handles a full spectrum of physical and behavioral conditions.

Emergency Mortuary Services Services required to assure adequate death investigation, identification, and disposition of bodies; removal, temporary storage, and transportation of bodies to temporary morgue facilities; notification of next of kin; and coordination of mortuary services and burial of unclaimed bodies.

Emergency nurse A registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or licensed vocational nurse engaged or interested in the care of emergency patients.

Emergency Operating Center (EOC) 1.The designated point-of-contact for coordination and for providing updates on the status of overall emergency operations in a political subdivision (IEMA definition). 2. The protected site from which State and local civil government officials coordinate, monitor, and direct emergency response activities during an emergency (FEMA definition). 3. The site from which civil government officials (e.g., municipal, county, state, federal) direct emergency operations in a disaster (Landesman definition).

Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) 1.The written plan of the State and its political subdivisions describing the organizations, mission, and functions of the government and supporting services for responding to and recovering from disasters. It incorporates applicable provisions of the federal and regional response plans (IEMA definition). 2. A document that: describes how people and property will be protected in disaster and disaster threat situations; details who is responsible for carrying out specific actions; identifies the personnel, equipment, facilities, supplies, and other resources available for use in the disaster; and outlines how all actions will be coordinated (FEMA definition).

Emergency patient An outpatient with a potentially disabling or life-threatening condition who receives initial evaluation and medical, dental, or other health-related services in an emergency department or a freestanding emergency center.

Emergency physician A physician who specializes in emergency medicine.

Emergency Planning Zones (EPZ) Areas around a facility for which planning is needed to ensure prompt and effective actions are taken to protect the health and safety of the public if an accident occurs. The REP Program and CSEPP use the EPZ concept. In the REP Program, the two EPZs are:
Plume Exposure Pathway (10-mile EPZ). A circular geographic zone (with a 10-mile radius centered at the nuclear power plant) for which plans are developed to protect the public against exposure to radiation emanating from a radioactive plume caused as a result of an accident at the nuclear power plant.
Ingestion Pathway (50-mile EPZ). A circular geographic zone (with a 50-mile radius centered at the nuclear power plant) for which plans are developed to protect the public from the ingestion of water or foods contaminated as the result of a nuclear power plant accident.
In CSEPP, the EPZ is divided into three concentric circular zones:
Immediate Response Zone (IRZ). A circular zone ranging from 10 to 15 km (6 to 9 miles) from the potential chemical event source, depending on the stockpile location on-post. Emergency response plans developed for the IRZ must provide for the most rapid and effective protective actions possible, since the IRZ will have the highest concentration of agent and the least amount of warning time.
Protective Action Zone (PAZ). An area that extends beyond the IRZ to approximately 16 to 50 km (10 to 30 miles) from the stockpile location. The PAZ is that area where public protective actions may still be necessary in case of an accidental release of chemical agent, but where the available warning and response time is such that most people could evacuate. However, other responses (e.g., sheltering) may be appropriate for institutions and special populations that could not evacuate within the available time.
Precautionary Zone (PZ). The outermost portion of the EPZ for CSEPP, extending from the PAZ outer boundary to a distance where the risk of adverse impacts to humans is negligible. Because of the increased warning and response time available for implementation of response actions in the PZ, detailed local emergency planning is not required, although consequence management. (FEMA definition).

Emergency Response Team (ERT) An interagency team, consisting of the lead representative from each Federal department or agency assigned primary responsibility for an Emergency Response Function and key members of the Federal Coordinating Officer's staff, formed to assist the FCO in carrying out his/her coordination responsibilities. The Emergency Response Team may be expanded by the FCO to include designated representatives of other Federal departments and agencies as needed. The ERT usually consists of regional-level staff (FEMA definition).

Emergency Response Team Advance Element (ERT-A) For Federal disaster response and recovery activities under the Stafford Act, the portion of the ERT that is first deployed to the field to respond to a disaster incident. The ERT-A is the nucleus of the full ERT (FEMA definition). See also Emergency Response Team.

Emergency Response Team National (ERT-N) An ERT that has been established and rostered for deployment to catastrophic disasters where the resources of the FEMA Region have been, or are expected to be, overwhelmed. Three ERT-Ns have been established. See also Emergency Response Team.

Emergency services The coordination of functions by the State and its political subdivisions, other than functions for which military forces are primarily responsible, as may be necessary or proper to prevent, minimize, repair, and alleviate injury and damage resulting from any natural or technological causes. These functions include, without limitation, fire fighting services, police services, emergency aviation services, medical and health services, rescue, engineering, communications, radiological, chemical and other special weapons defense, evacuation of persons from stricken or threatened areas, emergency assigned functions of plant protection, temporary restoration of public utility services and other functions related to civilian protection, together with all other activities necessary or incidental to protecting life or property (IEMA definition).

Emergency Services and Disaster Agency The agency by this name, by the name Emergency Management Agency, or by an other name that is established by ordinance within a political subdivision to coordinate the emergency management program within that political subdivision and with private organizations, other political subdivisions, the State and federal governments (IEMA definition). See also Emergency Management Agency.

Emergency Support Function (ESF) In the Federal Response Plan, a functional area of response activity established to facilitate the delivery of Federal assistance required during the immediate response phase of a disaster to save lives, protect property and public health, and to maintain public safety. ESFs represent those types of Federal assistance, which the State will most likely need because of the impact of a catastrophic or significant disaster on its own resources and response capabilities, or because of the specialized or unique nature of the assistance required. ESF missions are designed to supplement State and local response efforts (FEMA definition). See also Federal Response Plan.

Emergency Support Function Mass Care (ESF 6) Mass care includes sheltering and feeding victims of disaster, emergency first aid, family reunification, and the distribution of emergency relief supplies. The Federal Response Plan (FRP) as the primary agency responsible for ESF Mass Care designates the American Red Cross (ARC). See also American Red Cross.

Emergency Support Function Health and Medical (ESF 8) Led by the U.S. Public Health Service's Office of Emergency Preparedness, ESF 8 Health and Medical serves as the basis for federal response to the health needs of disaster victims.

Emergency Support Team (EST) An interagency group operating from FEMA headquarters. The EST oversees the national-level response support effort under the FRP and coordinates activities with the ESF primary and support agencies in supporting Federal requirements in the field (FEMA definition).

Emerging infections A collective name for infectious diseases that have been identified and taxonomically classified recently. In the final quarter of the twentieth century, more than 30 such conditions, many of them capable of causing dangerous epidemics, were recognized. They included HIV infection, Ebola virus disease, Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, and other viral hemorrhagic fevers. Some appear to be "new" diseases of humans, e.g., HIV infection, which probably originated as a human disease in the second half of the twentieth century. Others, such as the viral hemorrhagic fevers, may have existed for many centuries and have been recognized only recently because ecological or other environmental changes have increased the risk of human infection. Reemerging infections are certain "old" diseases, such as tuberculosis and syphilis that have experienced resurgence because of changed host-agent-environment conditions. See also infection.

EMS providers All ambulance providers and SEMSV providers participating in EMS system who sign a letter of commitment that outlines their responsibilities in providing emergency care and transportation of the sick and injured; may be asked to participate voluntarily in disaster responses that occur outside their system(s) and are not part of pre-existing mutual aid agreements. See also emergency medical technician; emergency medical technician-paramedic.

Endemic A disease that is present in a human population, or in a animal population that is transmittable to humans, but has a very low morbidity rate.

Enzootic A disease that is present in an animal population at all times, but has a low morbidity rate.

Epidemic 1. The occurrence in a community or region of cases of an illness, specific health-related behavior, or other health-related events clearly in excess of normal expectancy. The number of cases indicating the presence of an epidemic varies according to the agent, size, and type of population. The purpose of surveillance systems is to identify epidemics as early as possible so that effective control measures can be put in place. This remains the most important use for epidemiology. (Last's epidemiological definition). 2. A disease that is only present for a limited time in a human population or animal population that is transmittable to humans, and has a very high morbidity rate (US Army Field Manual definition). See also behavioral epidemic; disease epidemic; pandemic; threatened epidemic.

Epidemic, behavioral See behavioral epidemic.

Epidemic, common source See common source epidemic.

Epidemic, disease See disease epidemic.

Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) A training and service program developed in 1951 in the US Public Health Service Communicable Diseases Center (now the Center for Disease Control and Prevention) by Alexander Langmuir (1920-1993) to investigate epidemics with unusual features, e.g., large or life-threatening epidemics, outbreaks of previously unidentified conditions. As of 1999, the program had trained over 2,400 EIS officers. Similar services modeled on the EIS have been developed in other countries.

Epidemics, history of See history of epidemics.

Epidemic, threatened See threatened epidemic.

Epidemiologist An investigator who studies the occurrence of disease or other health-related conditions or events in defined populations. The control of disease in populations is often also considered to be a task for the epidemiologist, especially in speaking of certain specialized fields, such as malaria epidemiology. See also clinical epidemiologist.

Epidemiology The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations, and the application of this study to control of health problems. "Study" includes surveillance, observation, hypothesis testing, analytic research, and experiments. "Distribution" refers to analysis by time, place and classes of persons affected. Determinants are the physical, biologic, social, cultural, and behavioral factors that influence health. "Health related states and events" include diseases, causes of death, behaviors such as use of tobacco, reactions to preventive regiments, and provision and use of health services. "Specified populations" are those with identifiable characteristics such precisely defined numbers. "Application to control..." makes explicit the aim of epidemiology - to promote, protect and restore health. See also applied epidemiology; clinical epidemiology; descriptive epidemiology; disaster epidemiology; seroepidemiology.

Epidemiology, applied See applied epidemiology.

Epidemiology, clinical See clinical epidemiology.

Epidemiology, descriptive See descriptive epidemiology.

Epidemiology, disaster See disaster epidemiology.

Epizootic A disease that is only present in an animal population for limited periods, but has a high morbidity rate.

Eradication (of disease) Termination of all transmission of infection by extermination of the infectious agent through surveillance and containment. Eradication, as in the instance of smallpox, is based on the joint activities of control and surveillance. Regional eradication has been successful with poliomyelitis and in some countries appears close to succeeding for measles. The term elimination is sometimes used to describe eradication of disease such as measles from a large geographic region or political jurisdiction. In 1992, the WHO put it this way: Eradication is defined as achievement of a status whereby no further cases of a diseases occur anywhere, and continued control measures are unnecessary. Smallpox was eradicated in 1977; eradication based on joint control and surveillance activities. Compare elimination (of disease).

Ethics The branch of philosophy that deals with distinctions between right and wrong - with the moral consequences of human actions. See also informed consent.

Etiologic Cause of disease/illness, as in the etiology of smallpox is the variola virus.

Euro terrorism Associated with left wing terrorism of the 1960's, 1970's, and 1980's involving the Red Brigade, Red Army Faction, and November 17th Group, among other groups which targeted American interests in Europe and NATO. Other groups include Orange Volunteers, Red Hand Defenders, Continuity IRA, Loyalist Volunteer Force, Ulster Defense Association, and First of October Anti-Fascist Resistance Group.

Evacuation Organized, phased, and supervised dispersal of people from dangerous or potentially dangerous areas (FEMA definition). See also mandatory evacuation; spontaneous evacuation; voluntary evacuation.

Evacuation, mandatory See mandatory evacuation.

Evacuation, spontaneous See spontaneous evacuation.

Evacuation, voluntary See voluntary evacuation.

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

Evaluation A detailed review of a disaster relief program designed to determine whether program objectives were met, to assess the program's impact on the community, and to generate "lessons learned" for the design of future projects. Evaluations are most often conducted at the completion of important milestones, or at the end of a specified period. (Landesman definition)

Evaluation research The application of scientific methods to assess the effectiveness of programs, services, or organizations established to improve a patient's health or prevent illness. See also evaluation.

Evidence-based medicine The consistent use of current best evidence derived from published clinical and epidemiological research in management of patients, with attention to the balance of risks and benefits of diagnostic tests and alternative treatment regimens, taking account of each patient's unique circumstances, including baseline risk, co-morbid conditions and personal preferences.

Exercise A planned event realistically simulating a disaster, conducted for the purpose of evaluating the political subdivision's coordinated emergency management capabilities, including, but not limited to, testing the emergency operations plan. See also Emergency Operations Plan.

Exposed In epidemiology, the exposed group (or simply, the exposed) is often used to connote a group whose members have been exposed to a supposed cause of a disease or health state of interest or posses a characteristic that is a determinant of the health outcome of interest.

Exposure 1. Proximity and/or contact with a source of a disease agent in such a manner that effective transmission of the agent or harmful effects of the agent may occur. 2. The amount of a factor to which a group or individual was exposed; sometimes contrasted with dose, the amount that enters or interacts with the organism. 3. Exposures may of course be beneficial rather than harmful, e.g., exposure to immunizing agents. 4. The process by which an agent comes into contact with a person or animal in such a way that the person or animal may develop the relevant outcomes, such as disease (Last's epidemiological definitions). See also dose; exposure (radiological).

Exposure limit General term defining the regulated level of exposure that should not be exceeded.

Exposure (radiological) A quantitative measure of gamma or x-ray radiation at a certain place based on its ability to produce ionization in air. See also exposure rate.

Exposure rate (radiological) The amount of ionizing radiation to which an individual would be exposed or which he or she would receive per unit of time. See also exposure.

Exposure surveillance To look for exposure to risk. In a disaster setting, exposure may be based on the physical or environmental properties of the disaster event. Also known as a risk factor variable, predictor variable, independent variable, or putative causal factor.

Externalities Social benefits and costs that are not included in the market price of an economic good. Examples include benefits to others of treating a case of infectious disease, adverse health effects of industrial air pollution not included in the price of the industrial product, and impact on national economy of natural resource depletion not included in calculation of national income.

Fallout. The descent to the earth's surface of particles contaminated with radioactive material from a radioactive cloud. The term can also be applied to the contaminated particulate matter itself.

Famine early warning system A system established by the US agency for International Development to monitor a number of factors that are predictive of famine, including climate, availability of food, and nutrition related morbidity.

Far-field The outlying vicinity of a nuclear accident. A far field lies from 2 to 20 kilometers outside the accident site, depending on the strength of the source of radiation. The area closest to the nuclear accident is called the near field.

Fatality rate The death rate observed in a designated series of persons affected by a simultaneous event, e.g., victims of a disaster. Compare case fatality rate.

Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) The person appointed by the President to coordinate Federal assistance in a Presidentially declared emergency or major disaster (FEMA definition). The FCO initiates immediately action to assure that federal assistance is provided in accordance with the disaster declaration, any applicable laws or regulations, and the FEMA-site agreement. The FCO is also the senior federal official appointed in accordance with the provisions of Public Law 93-288, as amended (the Stafford Act), to coordinate the overall consequence management response and recovery activities. The FCO represents the President as provided by Section 303 of the Stafford Act by coordinating the administration of federal relief activities in the designated disaster area. Additionally, the FCO is delegated responsibilities and performs those for the FEMA Director as outlined in Executive Order 12148 and those responsibilities delegated to the FEMA Regional Director in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 44, Part 205 (Landesman definition).

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Currently an independent agency reporting to the President and tasked with responding to, planning for, recovering from and mitigating against disaster, FEMA traces its beginnings to the Congressional Act of 1803. This act, generally considered the first piece of disaster legislation, provided assistance to a New Hampshire town following an extensive fire. In the century that followed, ad hoc legislation was passed more than 100 times in response to hurricanes, earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters.
By the 1930s, when the federal approach to problems became popular, the Reconstruction Finance Corporation was given authority to make disaster loans for repair and reconstruction of certain public facilities following an earthquake, and later, other types of disasters. In 1934, the Bureau of Public Roads was given authority to provide funding for highways and bridges damaged by natural disasters. The Flood Control Act, which gave the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers greater authority to implement flood control projects, was also passed. This piecemeal approach to disaster assistance was problematic and it prompted legislation that required greater cooperation between federal agencies and authorized the President to coordinate these activities. The 1960s and early 1970s brought massive disasters requiring major federal response and recovery operations by the Federal Disaster Assistance Administration, established within the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Hurricane Carla struck in 1962, Hurricane Betsy in 1965, Hurricane Camille in 1969 and Hurricane Agnes in 1972. The Alaskan Earthquake hit in 1964 and the San Fernando Earthquake rocked Southern California in 1971. These events served to focus attention on the issue of natural disasters and brought about increased legislation. In 1968, the National Flood Insurance Act offered new flood protection to homeowners, and in 1974 the Disaster Relief Act firmly established the process of Presidential disaster declarations. However, emergency and disaster activities were still fragmented. When hazards associated with nuclear power plants and the transportation of hazardous substances were added to natural disasters, more than 100 federal agencies were involved in some aspect of disasters, hazards and emergencies. Many parallel programs and policies existed at the state and local level, compounding the complexity of federal disaster relief efforts. The National Governor's Association sought to decrease the many agencies with which state and local governments were forced to work. They asked President Jimmy Carter to centralize federal emergency functions. President Carter's 1979 executive order merged many of the separate disaster-related responsibilities into a new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Among other agencies, FEMA absorbed: the Federal Insurance Administration, the National Fire Prevention and Control Administration, the National Weather Service Community Preparedness Program, the Federal Preparedness Agency of the General Services Administration and the Federal Disaster Assistance Administration activities from HUD. Civil defense responsibilities were also transferred to the new agency from the Defense Department's Defense Civil Preparedness Agency. John Macy was named as FEMA's first director. Macy emphasized the similarities between natural hazards preparedness and the civil defense activities. FEMA began development of an Integrated Emergency Management System with an all-hazards approach that included "direction, control and warning systems which are common to the full range of emergencies from small isolated events to the ultimate emergency - war." The new agency was faced with many unusual challenges in its first few years that emphasized how complex emergency management can be. Early disasters and emergencies included the contamination of Love Canal, the Cuban refugee crisis and the accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant. Later, the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989 and Hurricane Andrew in 1992 focused major national attention on FEMA. In 1993, President Clinton nominated James L. Witt as the new FEMA director. Witt became the first agency director with experience as a state emergency manager. He initiated sweeping reforms that streamlined disaster relief and recovery operations, insisted on a new emphasis regarding preparedness and mitigation, and focused agency employees on customer service. The end of the Cold War also allowed Witt to redirect more of FEMA's limited resources from civil defense into disaster relief, recovery and mitigation programs. In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed Joe M. Allbaugh as the director of FEMA. Within months, the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11th focused the agency on issues of national preparedness and homeland security, and tested the agency in unprecedented ways. The agency coordinated its activities with the newly formed Office of Homeland Security, and FEMA's Office of National Preparedness was given responsibility for helping to ensure that the nation's first responders were trained and equipped to deal with weapons of mass destruction.
Billions of dollars of new funding were directed to FEMA to help communities face the threat of terrorism. Just a few years past its 20th anniversary, FEMA was actively directing its "all-hazards" approach to disasters toward homeland security issues.
Today, FEMA - a 2,500-person agency supplemented by more than 5,000 stand-by disaster reservists - has a mission to lead America to prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from disasters with a vision of "A Nation Prepared." At no time in its history has this vision been more important to the country than in the aftermath of Sept. 11th.

Federal On-Scene Commander (OSC) The official designated upon the activation of the Joint Operations Center that ensures appropriate coordination of the US government's overall response with federal, state and local authorities. The OSC maintains this role until the US Attorney General transfers the Lead Federal Agency role to FEMA.

Federal Response Plan (FRP) The plan that coordinates federal resources in disaster situations. The FRP is designed to address the consequences of any disaster or emergency situation in which there is need for federal assistance under the authorities of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 USC 5121 et seq. The FRP is also the federal government's plan of action when assisting affected states and local jurisdictions in the event of a severe disaster or emergency. The plan consists of 12 Emergency Support Functions (ESFs). See also Emergency Support Function.

Field Assessment Team A small team of pre-identified technical experts who conduct an assessment of response needs (not a PDA) immediately following a disaster. The experts are drawn from FEMA, other agencies and organizations--such as the U.S. Public Health Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the American Red Cross--and the affected State(s). All FAsT operations are joint Federal/State efforts.

FIRESCOPE (Firefighting Resources of California Organized for Potential Emergencies) is a cooperative interagency program established by the fire services. An interagency working group representing local, state and federal fire services in California developed the Incident Command System (ICS) as a part of the FIRESCOPE program during the 1970’s. After field tests, ICS was adopted by the fire services in California as the standard all hazards response system ICS also has been adopted nationally by the federal land management agencies as the standard for response to all wild land fires.

First responder Local police, fire, and emergency medical personnel who arrive first on the scene of an incident and take action to save lives, protect property, and meet basic human needs. This term has increasingly been broadened in recent years to include bystanders who perform search and rescue, transportation, and communication during the incident.

Flash flood Follows a situation in which rainfall is so intense and severe and runoff so rapid that it precludes recording and relating it to stream stages and other information in time to forecast a flood condition (FEMA definition). See also flood.

Flood A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of 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 (FEMA definition). See also flash flood.

Fomites (singular fomes) Articles that convey infection to others because they have been contaminated by pathogenic organisms. Examples include handkerchief, drinking glass, door handle, clothing, and toys.

Formerly Restricted Data Classified information, defined in the Atomic Energy Act, that is shared by DOE and DOD and is related to the military utilization of NW or energy. Decisions to declassify data must be agreed upon by both agencies.

Fuel cycle The process of mining uranium, refining and fabricating it for use as reactor fuel, usually involves uranium enrichment and/or reprocessing. See URANIUM ENRICHMENT AND REPROCESSING.

Fujita Scale A scale used to measure the strength of tornadoes.

Function In ICS, function refers to the five major activities in the ICS (i.e., Command, Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration). The term function is also used when describing the activity involved (i.e., the planning function).

Gamma radiation Short-wavelength electromagnetic radiation of nuclear origin, similar to but w/ higher energy than x rays.

Geneva Protocol 1925 The first treaty to prohibit the use of biological weapons. The 1925 Geneva Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use In War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases and Bacteriological Methods of Warfare.

Germ warfare The use of biological agents to cause harm to targeted people either directly, by bringing the people into contact with the agents or indirectly, by infecting other animals and plants, which would in turn cause harm to the people.

Glanders An infectious bacterial disease known to cause inflammation in horses, donkeys, mules, goats, dogs and cats. Human infection has not been seen since 1945, but because so few organisms are required to cause disease, it is considered a potential agent for biological warfare.

Golden Hour A principle that states unstable victims must be stabilized within one hour following injury to reduce the risk of death.

Governmental apathy Indifference to prompts to action towards disaster preparedness among local, state, and federal governmental bodies, caused by opposing special interest groups (e.g., building structures on a flood plain), lack of an organized constituency advocating disaster preparedness, defeatism, priorities competing with "low probability" events, which disasters are, difficulty substantiating the benefits of preparedness, overestimation of capability, the "intergovernmental paradox," and ambiguity of responsibility. See also apathy; intergovernmental paradox; public apathy.

Governor's Authorized Representative The person empowered by the Governor to execute, on behalf of the State, all necessary documents for disaster assistance (FEMA definition).

Gravel Gertie Term used for explosion-resistant assembly/disassembly bays at the Pantex Plant where nuclear weapons are disassembled.

Gray Market Trade in nuclear or nuclear-related materials, components or equipment in which the end-use or end-user is often hidden or deliberately misidentified. Often used by countries seeking to obtain items that would be denied by the exporters if the end-use was known to be nuclear.

Group Groups are established to divide the incident into functional areas of operations. Groups are composed of resources assembled to perform a specific function not necessarily within a single geographic division. (See Division) Groups are located between Branches (when activated) and resources in the Operations Section.

Guerrilla warfare The term was invented in to describe the tactics Spain used to resist Napoleon, though the tactic itself has been around much, much longer. Literally, it means "little war." Guerilla warfare features cells and utilizes no front line. The oldest form of asymmetric warfare, guerilla warfare is based on sabotage and ambush with the objective of destabilizing the government through lengthy and low-intensity confrontation.

Half-life Time required for one-half of the nuclei of a radioactive mass to decay.

Hamas Also referred to as the Islamic Reistance Movement. A radical Islamic organization, which operates primarily in the West Bank, and Gaza Strip whose goal is to establish an Islamic Palestinian state in place of Israel. On the one hand, Hamas operates overtly in their capacity as social services deliverers, but its activists have also conducted many attacks, including suicide bombings, against Israeli civilians and military targets. This group formed in late 1987 from the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Hard target a building, piece of critical infrastructure (i.e. dam, power plant, utility company, etc.) or other commercial or non-commercial entity, that has rigid security measures in place to include barriers, cameras, guards, etc.

Hardening is the process of identifying and fixing vulnerabilities on a building, system, or other infrastructure.

Hazard 1. Inherent capability of an agent or a situation to have an adverse effect. A factor or exposure that may adversely affect health. Loosely, in lay speech, a synonym for risk (Last definition). 2. The probability that a disaster will occur. Hazards can be caused by a natural phenomenon (e.g., earthquake, tropical cyclone), by failure of manmade energy sources (e.g., nuclear reaction, industrial exposure), or by an uncontrolled human activity (e.g., conflict, overgrazing) (Landesman definition). See also hazard mitigation.

Hazard identification/analysis The process of determining what events are likely to occur in a specific region or environment (e.g., earthquakes, floods, industrial accidents). Synonyms: hazard vulnerability analysis; hazard vulnerability assessment. See also risk assessment.

Hazard mitigation Any action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from hazards. The term is sometimes used in a stricter sense to mean cost-effective measures to reduce the potential for damage to a facility or facilities from a disaster event (FEMA definition). See also mitigation.

Hazardous material Any substance or material that when involved in an accident and released in sufficient quantities, poses a risk to people's health, safety, and/or property. These substances and materials include explosives, radioactive materials, flammable liquids or solids, combustible liquids or solids, poisons, oxidizers, toxins, and corrosive materials (FEMA definition).

Hazard, secondary See secondary hazard.

Hazard surveillance An assessment of the occurrence, distribution, and secular trends relating to different levels of hazards (e.g., toxic chemical agents, physical agents, biomechanical stressors, and biologic agents) that are responsible for disease and injury.

Hazard vulnerability analysis See hazard identification/analysis.

HazMat Equipment Capability Level They will have the ability to implement evacuation measures, use decontamination and basic detection equipment, perform basic life support functions, and be able to recognize and preserve crime scene conditions. This level will also require teams/individuals to know how to operate in a unified command environment.

Health A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (World Health Organization definition). The definition has not been amended since 1948. The correct bibliographic citation for the definition is: Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19-22 June, 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organization, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force.

Health behavior The combination of knowledge, practices, and attitudes that together contribute to motivate the actions we take regarding health.

Health care Services provided to individuals or communities by agents of the health services or professions to promote, maintain, monitor, or restore health. Health care is not limited to medical care, which implies therapeutic action by or under the supervision of a physician. The term is sometimes extended to include self-care.

Health services Services that are performed by health care professionals, or by others under their direction, for the purpose of promoting, maintaining, or restoring health. In addition to personal health care, health services include measures for health protection, health promotion, and disease prevention.

Heavy water Water in which the hydrogen is composed of over 99 percent deuterium atoms. The neutron in the deuterium nucleus allows this type of water to slow, or moderate, neutrons from fissioning uranium, permitting a sustained chain-reaction in reactors using natural uranium as fuel. See CANDU, Deuterium.

Helicopter accommodations The availability of either a helipad or another site (not specifically designated as a helipad) where a helicopter could land safely.

Helibase The main location for parking, fueling, maintenance and loading of helicopters operating in support of an incident. It is usually located at or near the Incident Base.

Hemorrhagic fevers In general, the term viral hemorrhagic fever is used to describe a severe multisystem syndrome wherein the overall vascular system is damaged, and the body becomes unable to regulate itself. These symptoms are often accompanied by hemorrhage; however, the bleeding itself is not usually life threatening. While some types of hemorrhagic fever viruses can cause relatively mild illnesses.

Herd immunity The immunity of a group or community. The resistance of a group to invasion and spread of an infectious agent, based on the resistance to infection of a high proportion of individual members of the group. The resistance is a product of the number susceptible and the probability that those who are susceptible will come into contact with an infected person.

Hezbollah This radical Shiite Muslim group is dedicated to increasing its political power in Lebanon and opposing Israel and the Middle East peach process.

High-hazard areas Geographic locations that for planning purposes have been determined through historical experience and vulnerability analysis to be likely to experience the effects of a specific hazard (e.g., hurricane, earthquake, hazardous materials accident, etc.) resulting in vast property damage and loss of life (FEMA definition).

High-level waste Highly radioactive waste material from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel (including liquid waste produced directly in reprocessing and any solid waste derived from the liquid) that contains a combination of transuranic waste and fission products in concentrations requiring permanent isolation.

Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) Uranium in which the naturally occurring U235 isotope - 0.7 percent in natural uranium, 99.3 percent U238 - is increased to 20 percent U235 or above, but usually to 90 percent or more. HEU is used in nuclear weapons, and in some types of research and submarine propulsion reactors.

History of epidemics The effect of diseases on the course of history fascinates epidemiologists and historians alike. It has preoccupied scholars since the biblical plagues, Hippocrates, and the epidemic, described by Thucydides, that struck the Athenians at the end of the first year of the Peloponnesian War (429 B.C.) Measles and smallpox brought by Europeans defeated the Aztecs and Incas, who in return gave tobacco and perhaps syphilis to Europeans. There are innumerable scholarly and popular works on the subject. Perhaps the nearest to a comprehensive monograph by an epidemiologist is Thomas McKeown's The Origins of Human Disease.

Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS) A system of color-coded rankings to warn the nation of terrorist threats posed against America. The five-level warning system is designed to provide guidance to law enforcement and other public agencies, citizens and the private sector. HSAS does this by establishing five threat level conditions with associated protective measures that should be taken by government agencies in response. For every level of threat, there is a coordinated level of preparedness:

1. Low Condition (Green). This condition is declared when there is a low risk of terrorist attacks. Federal departments and agencies should consider the following general measures in addition to the agency-specific Protective Measures they develop and implement:
Refining and exercising as appropriate preplanned Protective Measures;
Ensuring personnel receive proper training on the Homeland Security Advisory System and specific preplanned department or agency Protective Measures; and
Institutionalizing a process to assure that all facilities and regulated sectors are regularly assessed for vulnerabilities to terrorist attacks, and all reasonable measures are taken to mitigate these vulnerabilities.

2. Guarded Condition (Blue). This condition is declared when there is a general risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the Protective Measures taken in the previous Threat Condition, Federal departments and agencies should consider the following general measures in addition to the agency-specific Protective Measures that they will develop and implement:
Checking communications with designated emergency response or command locations;
Reviewing and updating emergency response procedures; and
Providing the public with any information that would strengthen its ability to act appropriately.

3. Elevated Condition (Yellow). An Elevated Condition is declared when there is a significant risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the Protective Measures taken in the previous Threat Conditions, Federal departments and agencies should consider the following general measures in addition to the Protective Measures that they will develop and implement:
Increasing surveillance of critical locations;
Coordinating emergency plans as appropriate with nearby jurisdictions;
Assessing whether the precise characteristics of the threat require the further refinement of preplanned Protective Measures; and
Implementing, as appropriate, contingency and emergency response plans.

4. High Condition (Orange). A High Condition is declared when there is a high risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the Protective Measures taken in the previous Threat Conditions, Federal departments and agencies should consider the following general measures in addition to the agency-specific Protective Measures that they will develop and implement:
Coordinating necessary security efforts with Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies or any National Guard or other appropriate armed forces organizations;
Taking additional precautions at public events and possibly considering alternative venues or even cancellation;
Preparing to execute contingency procedures, such as moving to an alternate site or dispersing their workforce; and
Restricting threatened facility access to essential personnel only.

5. Severe Condition (Red). A Severe Condition reflects a severe risk of terrorist attacks. Under most circumstances, the Protective Measures for a Severe Condition are not intended to be sustained for substantial periods of time. In addition to the Protective Measures in the previous Threat Conditions, Federal departments and agencies also should consider the following general measures in addition to the agency-specific Protective Measures that they will develop and implement:
Increasing or redirecting personnel to address critical emergency needs;
Assigning emergency response personnel and pre-positioning and mobilizing specially trained teams or resources; monitoring, redirecting, or constraining transportation systems; and closing public and government facilities.

Hospital-acquired infection See nosocomial infection.

Hospitals, associate See associate hospitals.

Hospitals, participating See participating hospitals.

Hospitals, POD disaster See POD disaster hospitals.

Hospitals, resource See resource hospitals.

Host A person or other living animal, including birds and insects, that affords subsistence or lodgment to an infectious agent under natural conditions. In an epidemiological context, the host may be the population or group.

Hot cells Lead-shielded boxes with protected view plates and remote manipulators used for working with radioactive materials. Some hot cells are suitable for reprocessing small amounts of spent reactor fuel to obtain plutonium.

Household One or more persons who occupy a dwelling, i.e., a place that provides shelter, cooking, washing, and sleeping facilities; may or may not be a family. The term is also used to describe the dwelling unit in which the persons live.

Hurricane A tropical cyclone, formed in the atmosphere over warm ocean areas, in which wind speeds reach 74 miles per hour or more and blow in a large spiral around a relatively calm center or "eye". Circulation is counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere (FEMA definition).

Hygiene The principles and laws governing the preservation of health and their practical application. Practices conducive to good health.

Iatrogenic disease Illness resulting from a physician's or other health care professional's professional activity.

ICBM Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles with no guidance system but are instead dependent upon their trajectory. ICBMs have long enough range to go from one continent to another, but are very expensive. They can be equipped with multiple warheads, each guided to different targets.

Illness See disease.

Immediate Response Zone (IRZ) See Emergency Planning Zones.

Immunity, active See active immunity.

Immunity, natural See natural immunity.

Immunity, passive See passive immunity.

Immunity, specific See specific immunity.
Immunization Protection of susceptible individuals from communicable disease by administration of a living modified agent (as in yellow fever), a suspension of killed organism (as in whooping cough), or an inactivated toxin (as in tetanus). Temporary passive immunization can be produce by administration of antibody in the form of immune globulin in some conditions. See also active immunization; passive immunization.

Immunization, active See active immunization.

Immunization, passive See passive immunization.

Impact phase A phase during a disaster where emergency management activities focus on warning and preparedness.

Impression evidence Objects or materials that have retained the characteristics of other objects that have been physically pressed against them.

Incidence The number of instances of illness commencing, or of persons falling ill, during a given period in a specified population. Compare prevalence.

Incidence rate The rate at which new events occur in a population. See also incidence.

Incident Action Plan (IAP) A written document, developed by the incident commander or the planning section of the ICS, that details which actions will be conducted by the ICS in response to an incident. IAPS are developed for specific time period, often referred to as operational periods, and are based on the specific needs of an incident. The incident commander is responsible for the oversight and implementation of the IAP. See Incident Command System.

Incident Command System (ICS) A standardized organizational structure used to command, control, and coordinate the use of resources and personnel that have responded to the scene of an emergency. The concepts and principles for ICS include common terminology, modular organization, integrated communication, unified command structure, consolidated action plan, manageable span of control, designated incident facilities, and comprehensive resource management (FEMA definition). Synonym: Incident Management System. See also integrated communications; span of control; staging area; strike team; task force; top-down; unity of command.

Incident Commander The individual responsible for the management of all incident operations at the incident site.

Incident Command Post (ICP) The location at which the primary command functions are executed. The ICP may be collocated with the Incident Base or other incident facilities.

Incident Management System See Incident Command System.

Incident Objectives Statement of guidance and direction necessary for the selection of appropriate strategies and the tactical direction of resources. Incident objectives are based on realistic expectations of what can be accomplished when all allocated resources have been effectively deployed. Incident objectives must be achievable and measurable, yet flexible enough to allow for strategic and tactical alternatives.

Incubation period The time interval between invasion by an infectious agent and appearance of the first sign or symptom of the disease in question. See also latent period.

Index case The first case in a family or other defined group to come to the attention of the investigator. See also case.

Indirect contact A mode of transmission of infection involving fomites or vectors. Vectors may be mechanical (e.g., filth, flies) or biological (the disease agent undergoes part of its life cycle in the vector species). See also fomite; transmission of infection; vector. Compare direct contact.

Indirect infection Infection transmitted indirectly via vehicle, vector, air, droplet nuclei, or dust. Vehicle-borne infection refers to any substance serving as an intermediate means by which an infectious agent is transported and introduced into a susceptible host through a suitable portal of entry. Vector-borne infection refers to either mechanical or biological vector-borne infection. Mechanical vector-borne infection refers to the simple mechanical carriage by a crawling or flying insect through soiling of its feet or proboscis, or by passage of organisms through its gastrointestinal tract. Biological vector-borne infection refers to the propagation (multiplication), cyclic development, or a combination of these that is required before the arthropod can transmit the infective form of the agent to man. Airborne infection refers to transmission via droplet nuclei - residues that result from evaporation of fluid from droplets emitted by an infected host or from atomizing devices, or accidentally, as in microbiology laboratories or autopsy rooms. They usually remain suspended in the air for a long time. Dust-borne transmission is characterized by small particles of widely varying size that may arise from soil (fungus spores) or from clothes, bedding, or contaminated floors. See also transmission of infection. Compare to direct infection.

Infectibility The host characteristic or state in which the host is capable of being infected. See also infectivity; infectiousness.

Infection The entry and development or multiplication of an infectious agent in the body of man or animals. Infection is not synonymous with infectious disease; the result may be unapparent or manifest. The presence of living infectious agents on exterior surfaces of the body is called "infestation." The presence of living infectious agents upon articles of apparel or soiled articles is called contamination. See also cross-infection; transmission of infection.

Infection control A health care organization's program including policies and procedures, for the surveillance, prevention, and control of infection. All patient care and patient care support departments and services are included in such a program. Examples of infection control measures include hand washing, protective clothing, isolation procedures, and ongoing measurement of performance.

Infection control committee A multidisciplinary group that oversees a health care organization's infection control program including representatives from at least the medical staff, nursing, and administration and the person(s) directly responsible for management of infection surveillance, prevention, and control.

Infection, cross See cross-infection.

Infection rate The incidence rate of manifest plus unapparent infections (the latter determined by seroepidemiology). See also attack rate; seroepidemiology.

Infections, emerging See emerging infections.

Infectious disease See communicable disease.

Infectiousness The characteristic of a disease that concerns the relative ease with which it is transmitted to other hosts. A droplet spread disease, for instance, is more infectious than one spread by direct contact. The characteristics of the portals of exit and entry are thus also determinants of infectiousness, as are the agent characteristics of ability to survive away from the host and of infectivity. See also infectibility; infectivity.

Infectivity 1. The characteristic of a disease agent that embodies capability to enter, survive and multiply in the host. A measure of infectivity is the secondary attack rate. See also secondary attack rate. 2. The proportion of exposures, in defined circumstances, that results in infection. See also infection.

Infestation See infection.

Information Is processed fact; reporting with or without analysis. It is often prepared for publication or dissemination in some form and is intended to inform rather than warn or advise. It is also considered to be data that have been transformed through analysis and interpretation into a form useful for drawing conclusions and making decisions. See also data.

Information Officer A member of the Command Staff responsible for interfacing with the public and media or with other agencies requiring information directly from the incident. There is only one Information Officer per incident. The Information Officer may have assistants.

Informational convergence The tendency in disasters for large numbers of persons to seek to acquire or provide information to those in the impact area. This type of convergence includes offers of help, mass medias searches for information, those seeking advice, and those inquiring about the missing. See also convergence; material convergence; personal convergence.

Informed consent Voluntary consent given by a subject - that is, person or a responsible proxy such as a parent- for participation in a study, immunization program, treatment regimen, etc., after being informed of the purpose, methods, procedures, benefits and risks, and when relevant, the degree of uncertainty about outcomes. The essential criteria of informed consent are that the subject has both knowledge and comprehension, that the consent is freely given without duress or undue influence, and that the right of withdrawal at any time is clearly communicated to the subject. See also confidentiality; ethics; respect for autonomy.

Infrastructure The basic facilities and services necessary for the function of a community or a country, such as transportation and communications systems, power plants, water lines, roads, and public institutions.

Ingestion pathway See Emergency Planning Zones.

Initial Responding Officer The first law enforcement officer to arrive at the scene.

Inoculum The amount of microorganisms introduced into a host.

Inpatient bed availability The number of unoccupied beds, categorized as monitored and non-monitored beds, covered by staff within a hospital.

Intergovernmental paradox As you move to lower levels of government, the disaster damages experienced from that level's perspective are less frequent. Because any given local government experiences the fewest exposures to disaster loss, it is least apt to perceive it as an important issue. Thus, the intergovernmental paradox refers to the fact that the local government, which is least likely to see disaster management as a key priority, is most likely to be faced with the responsibility for carrying out the disaster response. The trend in the U.S. is to place most of the responsibility for disaster response on local governments, and local governments bear a large part of the responsibility because they are the closest to the event and are apt to be on the scene before substantial state or federal resources are available. See also apathy.

Integrated communications A system that uses a common communications plan, standard operating procedures, clear text, common frequencies, and common terminology. See also Incident Command System.

Integrated Recovery Programs (IRPs) Versatile recovery programs that respond to a variety of community needs. IRPs often coordinate recovery activities and stimulate economic rehabilitation by working with various sectors of the community. For example, IRPs may include work schemes to repair community facilities that enable disaster victims to access cash and replace their lost possession (Landesman definition).

Intelligence The product of adding value to information and data through analysis. Intelligence is created for a purpose. The process by which analysis is applied to information and data is done to inform policy-making, decision-making, including decisions regarding the allocation of resources, strategic decisions, operations and tactical decisions. Intelligence serves many purposes among which are the identification/elimination of threat sources, the investigation and resolution of threats, the identification and treatment of security risks, the elimination of threat sources, the mitigation of harm associated with risk, preemption, response, preparation and operations related to threats and risks.

Intelligence Cycle is the process by which information and data is collected, evaluated, stored, and analyzed, and then produced or placed in some form for dissemination to the intelligence consumer for use. The cycle consists of: consumer, collector, evaluator, analysis, production, dissemination, consumption, consumer,…

International terrorism Activities that involve violent acts or acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the U.S. or of any State, or that would be a criminal violation if committed within the jurisdiction of the U.S. or of any State; appear to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or to affect the conduct of a government by assassination or kidnapping; and occur primarily outside the territorial jurisdiction of the U.S., or transcend national boundaries in terms of the means by which they are accomplished, the persons they appear intended to intimidate or coerce, or the locale in which their perpetrators operate or seek asylum. 18 U.S.C.

Isolation 1. In microbiology, the separation of an organism from others, usually by making serial cultures. 2. Separation, for the period of communicability, of infected persons or animals from others under such conditions as to prevent or limit the transmission of the infectious agent from those infected to those who are susceptible or who may spread the agent to others. The CDC Guidelines for Isolation Precautions in Hospitals (1990) expanded on blood and body fluid precautions. Control of Communicable Disease Manual lists seven categories of isolation, as follows: strict isolation, contact isolation, respiratory isolation, tuberculosis isolation, enteric precautions, drainage/secretion precautions, blood/body fluid precautions. See also quarantine.

Intifada (alternatively Intifadah, from Arabic "shaking off") The two intifadas are similar in that both were originally characterized by civil disobedience by the Palestinians that escalated into the use of terror. In 1987, following the killing of several Arabs in the Gaza Strip, the first intifada began and went on until 1993. The second intafada began in September 2000, following Ariel Sharon's visit to the Temple Mount.

Inhalation anthrax Contracted by inhaling anthrax spores. This results in pneumonia, sometimes meningitis, and finally death.

Ionizing radiation Occurs when electrons are separated from an atom or molecule.

JAMA Journal of the American Medical Association

Joint Information Center (JIC) A central point of contact for all news media near the scene of a large-scale disaster. News media representatives are kept informed of activities and events by public information officials who represent all participating Federal, State, and local agencies that are collocated at the JIC (FEMA definition).

Joint Information System Under the FRP, connection of public affairs personnel, decision-makers, and news centers by electronic mail, fax, and telephone when a single Federal-State-local JIC is not a viable option (FEMA definition).

Joint Operations Center (JOC) The JOC acts as the focal point for the management of onsite activities, coordination and establishment of state requirements and priorities, as well as the coordination of the federal response. JOCs are established by the Lead Federal Agency (LFA) and are under the operational control of the Federal On-Scene Commander. See also Federal On-Scene Commander.

Jurisdiction Threat Assessment This is designed to accomplish several goals, all using a process that encourages open lines of communication between Federal, State and local agencies involved in public safety. The assessment utilizes a pre-existing Department of Defense (DOD) terrorist threat analysis methodology to first identify and evaluate the threat level of each potential threat element (PTE) identified in one’s jurisdiction. This methodology has been revised to meet the requirements of this assessment process. The threat level of an existing PTE is determined on the basis of its past violent history, intentions to commit a WMD act of terrorism, the capability to carry out a WMD act of terrorism, and any targeting efforts aimed at achieving the specific terrorist act. Each factor is considered when assessing the potential for violent destructive activity emanating from a terrorist group. However the accuracy of such analysis is dependant upon the availability of intelligence-related information concerning a particular individual or group. Small groups and rogue individuals, whose activities are difficult to anticipate due to limited or nonexistent intelligence information, represent an unpredictable but constant threat.

Kach and Kahane Chai Israeli terrorists whose goal is to restore the biblical state of Israel.

Kneecapping This common punishment used by Northern Ireland's IRA involves breaking or shooting the kneecaps of those accused of collaborating with the British.

Kurdistan Workers’ Party Founded in 1974 as a Marxist-Leninist insurgent group, the party is primarily composed of Turkish Kurds bent on forming an independent Kurdish state in southern Turkey.

LD50 A dose of a substance that kills 50 % of those infected.

Laser Isotope Separation (LIS) An isotope separation technique in which specific uranium isotopes are excited and ionized by lasers. Also suitable for separating specific plutonium isotopes. See AVLIS and MLIS.

Level One (Baseline Capability Level) This category is described as the basic level of equipment and operational capabilities that jurisdictions require to conduct certain defensive operations to perform in a contaminated environment. This can be generally defined as a “Basic HazMat Equipment Capability Level”. Emergency response should know when to take self-protective measures and when to take steps to protect the general population from further contamination. The ability to make on-scene assessments and call for mutual aid, as needed, is also consistent with the requirements at this level.

Level Two (Hazardous Materials Operations Capability Level) In addition to meeting the requirements set forth in Level One, Level two requires the emergency response to meet a hazardous materials equipment capability need and to have the requisite personnel trained and certified in accordance with OSHA. This can be generally defined as a “Modest Increase in Hazmat Equipment Capability Level.”

Level Three (Technicians Capability Level) Emergency responders will have the necessary equipment and have advanced knowledge of operations to carry out personal protective measures, initiate advanced detection and monitoring techniques, demonstrate a capability to establish mass casualty decontamination systems, provide medical triage, and set up a transport system for definitive medical care. This can be generally defined as a “Moderate Increase in HazMat Equipment Capability Level”.

Level Four (Advanced Operations and Technicians Capability Level) Emergency responders have met or surpassed the equipment requirements associated with the capabilities found in Levels One, Two and Three and will meet or surpass all emergency response equipment requirements for their jurisdiction. This can be generally defined as a “High Level of HazMat Equipment Capability Level”.
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Founded in 1976, it is the most powerful Tamil group in Sri Lanka.

Light Water Reactor (LWR) A reactor that uses natural water as a moderator and coolant, and low-enriched uranium as fuel. The most common type of power reactor currently in use. Must be shutdown to change fuel.

Latent period Delay between exposure to a disease-causing agent and the appearance of manifestations of the disease. After exposure to ionizing radiation, for instances, there is a latent period of five years, on average, before development of leukemia, and more than twenty years before development of certain other malignant conditions.

Lead Agency The federal department or agency that is assigned the lead responsibility under US law for the management and coordination of the federal response in a specific functional area. Lead agencies support the Lead Federal Agency (LFA) during all phases of the response. See Lead Federal Agency.

Lead Federal Agency (LFA) The agency designed by the President to lead and coordinate the federal response. The type of emergency determines which agency becomes the LFA. In general, the LFA establishes operational procedures to assemble and work with the cooperating agencies to provide the LFA with support. These agencies support the LFA in carrying out the President's policy by furnishing the LFA with an initial assessment of the situation, developing action plans, monitoring and updating operational priorities and by ensuring that each agency exercises its authority within the boundaries of the law. Specific responsibilities of an LFA vary according to each agent's statutory authority.

Lead time The time gained in treating or controlling a disease when detection is earlier than usual, e.g., in the presymptomatic stage, as when screening procedures are used for detection.

Left-Wing Terrorists Left-wing terrorists generally profess a revolutionary socialist doctrine and view themselves as protectors of the people against the 'dehumanizing effects’ of capitalism and imperialism.

Liaison An agency official who works with individual agencies or agency officials to coordinate interagency communications.

Local government Any country, city, village, town, district, political subdivision of any state, Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, or Alaska native village or organization including rural communities, unincorporated towns and villages, or any other public entity.

Loss A range of adverse consequences that can impact communities and individuals (e.g., damage, loss of economic valued, loss of function, loss of natural resources, loss of ecological systems, environmental impact, health deterioration, mortality, morbidity).

Low-enriched uranium. Uranium enriched in the isotopic content of uranium-235, but to < 20 percent of the total mass.

Low enriched uranium (LEU) Uranium in which the naturally occurring U235 isotope - .7 percent in natural uranium - is increased, usually to between 2 and 4 percent. LEU is suitable for use as nuclear fuel in reactors using natural water as a moderator and coolant.

Low-level waste Radioactive waste not classified as high-level waste, transuranic waste, spent nuclear fuel, or byproduct material.

Majahedin-e-Khalq Organization Known as MEK or MKO, this Iranian Marxist-Islamic group formed in the 1960s to counter "excessive Western influence during the Shah’s regime.

Management by Objectives In ICS, this is a top-down management activity that involves a three-step process to achieve the incident goal. The steps are: establishing the incident objectives, selection of appropriate strategy(s) to achieve the objectives, and the tactical direction associated with the selected strategy. Tactical direction includes selection of tactics, selection of resources, resource assignments, and performance monitoring.

Mandatory evacuation This is a warning to persons within the designated area that an imminent threat to life and property exists and individuals MUST evacuate in accordance with the instructions of local officials (FEMA definition). Synonym: directed evacuation. See also evacuation.

Manmade disaster A disaster that man clearly causes, such as wars, armed conflicts or civil strife. All other disasters, with the exception of technological disasters (e.g., industrial accidents, railway crashes) are labeled natural. All avalanches, floods, landslides, droughts, crop failures, etc., are thus given the same quality of naturalness as earthquakes, tropical cyclones and volcanic eruptions. See also disaster; natural disaster.

Mass care The actions that are taken to protect evacuees and other disaster victims from the effects of the disaster. Activities include providing temporary shelter, food, medical care, clothing, and other essential life support needs to those people that have been displaced from their homes because of a disaster or threatened disaster (FEMA definition). See also Emergency Support Function Mass Care; evacuees.

Material convergence The tendency in disasters for large number of donated materials, supplies, and equipment to flow into disaster areas. See also convergence; informational convergence; personal convergence.

Maximum contaminant level (MCL) The maximum permissible level of a contaminant in water in a public water system. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes the MCL. MCLs are defined in the Safe Drinking Water Act as the level that may be achieved with the use of the best available technology, treatment techniques, and other means that EPA finds are available after taking cost in consideration. See also treatment technique.

Medical control An entity accountable for the medical competence of an emergency medical services (EMS) system. Medical control involves, among many responsibilities, the training of physicians, nurses, and emergency medical technicians in the prehospital phase of care, and measurement, assessment, and improvement of the EMS system's performance. If medical control is located at one hospital, the hospital is called a resource hospital; other hospitals in the system are associate hospitals.

MILF Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Islamic organization formed in 1977 in Mindanao and the neighboring islands. Hashim Salamat, supported by ethnic Maguindanaos from Mindanao, split from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), who ten years later signed an agreement relinquishing its goal of independence for Muslim regions and accepting the government's offer of autonomy. The MILF refused to accept that accord. The Mindanao-based Moro Islamic Liberation Front has approximately 2,900 troops.

Mixed Oxide Fuel (MOX) Nuclear reactor fuel composed of plutonium and uranium oxides. Using plutonium reduces the amount of enriched uranium needed for fuel.

Moderator A component of nuclear reactors that slow neutrons, thereby increasing their chances of being absorbed by a fissile material. Natural water, heavy water, and nuclear-grade graphite are the most common moderators.

Molotov cocktail A crude incendiary bomb made of a bottle filled with flammable liquid and fitted with a rag wick.

Mustard gas Blistering agents that cause severe damage to the eyes, internal organs, and respiratory system. Produced for the first time in 1822, mustard gas was not used until World War I. Victims suffered the effects of mustard gas 30 to 40 years after exposure.

Medical coordination The coordination between healthcare providers during the transition from the prehospital to the hospital phase of patient care. Simplification and standardization of materials and methods is a prerequisite. See also medical control.

Mission-Specific Cells are put together for the purpose of executing a specific mission. Information is often tightly compartmentalized to prevent the mission from being "blown" if one or more people are arrested.

Mitigation Measures taken to reduce the harmful effects of a disaster by attempting to limit the disaster's impact on human health and economic infrastructure (Landesman definition). See also hazard mitigation.

Mitigation, hazard See hazard mitigation.

Mobile Support Team A group of individuals designated as a team by the Governor or Director to train and to be dispatched if the Governor or the Director so determines, to aid and reinforce the State and police subdivision emergency management efforts in response to a disaster (IEMA definition).

Model A framework for thinking and acting.

Morbidity Any departure, subjective or objective, from a state of physiological or psychological well-being. In this sense, sickness, illness, and morbid condition are similarly defined and synonymous.

Mortality data Information about the number of deaths used to assess the magnitude of a disaster, evaluate the effectiveness of disaster preparedness, evaluate the adequacy of warning systems, and to aid in contingency planning by identifying high risk groups.

Municipality Any city, village, or incorporated town.

Molecular Laser isotope separation A method of uranium enrichment that uses a laser to excite and ionize uranium hexafluoride molecules so they can be selectively removed. See AVLIS and LIS.

Narcoterrorism. The view of many counterterrorist experts that an alliance exists between drug traffickers and political terrorists.

National Liberation Army Based in Colombia, this Marxist insurgent group formed in 1965 and is currently in a dialogue with the Colombian government.

National Security Information. Classified information that is not specifically governed by the Atomic Energy Act but by Executive order. The term is used in relation to DOE nuclear defense programs.

National Pharmaceutical Stockpile Program (NPSP) A program created to help minimize human suffering and loss of life due to terrorist attacks through ensuring the rapid deployment of lifesaving pharmaceuticals, vaccines, medical supplies and equipment that public health and medical providers could use to treat and assist victims of a terrorist attack. The NPSP provides for a two-tiered response comprising 12-hour push packages and a vendor-managed inventory (VMI) packages. The 12-hour push package is ready for deployment to reach a designated airfield within 12 hours of federal activation. The VMI package will be shipped to arrive within 24 and 36-hours periods. The VMI packages consist of pharmaceuticals and supplies from one or more manufacturer sources. The 12-hour push package occupies 124 cargo containers and requires 5,000 square feed of ground/floor space for proper staging and management. Each push package can provide prophylactic treatment for 830,000 people for three days or 350,000 people for seven days. Each push package can provide therapeutic treatment for 14,000 people for three days or 6,000 people for seven days. See also stockpile.

National Response Plan The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been charged with the responsibility of unifying the nation’s efforts to deal with domestic contingencies. To facilitate this mandate, the President issued Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 (HSPD-5) on February 28, 2003, calling for the creation of a National Response Plan (NRP) to “integrate Federal Government domestic prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery plans into one all-discipline, all-hazards plan” under the authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security. Under the NRP, a National Incident Management System (NIMS) will be developed to provide a consistent nationwide framework to standardize incident management practices and procedures to ensure that Federal, State, and local governments can work effectively and efficiently together to prepare for, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size, or complexity.

The purpose of the NRP is to enhance the ability of the United States to prepare for and to manage domestic incidents by establishing a single, comprehensive national approach. To accomplish this goal, the NRP integrates all incident management activities across the continuum from pre-incident awareness, prevention, and preparedness to incident response and post-incident recovery. It establishes a single base plan to address all hazards and contingencies, covering all disciplines. The Plan also ensures coordination at all levels of government—local, State, and Federal—and cooperation with the private and public sectors in order to bring the full range of the nation’s capabilities to bear in protecting the homeland. Finally, this Plan ensures that the Federal government works effectively and efficiently with State and local agencies to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents by establishing a common NIMS to be used at all levels.

Natural disaster A disaster with an acute onset and profound effects, caused by the forces of nature, e.g., earthquake, volcanic eruption, tropical cyclone, inland storms (tornado), heavy rainfall, heavy snowfall, absence of rain, heat wave, cold wave. See also disaster; compare to manmade disaster.

Na-tech (natural-technological) disaster Natural disaster that creates technological emergencies such as urban fires that result from seismic motion or chemical spills that result from floods. See also disaster; natural disaster; technological disaster.

Natural immunity Species-determined inherent resistance to a disease agent, e.g., resistance of man to virus of canine distemper.

Nerve agent The Nazis used the first nerve agents: insecticides developed into chemical weapons. Some of the better-known nerve agents include VX, sarin, soman, and tabun. These agents are useful because only a small quantity is necessary to inflict a substantial damage. Nerve agents can be inhaled or can absorb through intact skin.

Nosocomial Arising while a patient is in a hospital or as a result of being in a hospital. See nosocomial infection.

Nosocomial infection An infection originating in a medical facility, e.g., occurring in a patient in a hospital or other health care facility in whom the infection was not present or incubating at the time of admission. Includes infections acquired in the hospital but appearing after discharge; it also includes such infections among staff. Synonym: hospital-acquired infection.

Notifiable disease A disease that , by statutory requirements, must be reported to the public health authority in the pertinent jurisdiction when the diagnosis is made. A disease deemed of sufficient importance to the public health to require that its occurrence be reported health authorities. The reporting to public health authorities of communicable diseases is, unfortunately, very incomplete. The reasons for this include diagnostic inexactitude, the desire of patients and physicians to conceal the occurrence of conditions carrying a social stigma, and the indifference of physicians to the usefulness of information about such diseases as hepatitis, influenza, and measles. Notifications provide the starting point for investigations into the failure of preventive measures, such immunizations, for tracing sources of infection, for finding common vehicles of infection, for describing the geographic clustering of infection, and for various other purposes, depending upon the particular disease.

Nuclear detonation An explosion resulting from fission and/or fusion reactions in nuclear material, such as that from a nuclear weapon (FEMA definition).
Nuclear radiation Particle and electromagnetic radiation emitted from atomic nuclei in various nuclear processes. The important radiations from the nuclear weapons effects standpoint are alpha and beta particles, gamma rays and neutrons.

Nuclear blast An explosion of any nuclear material which is accompanied by a pressure wave, intense light and heat, and widespread radioactive fallout which can contaminate the air, water and ground surfaces for miles around.

Occurrence In epidemiology, a general term describing the frequency of a disease or other attribute or event in a population without distinguishing between incidence and prevalence. See also incidence; prevalence.

Operation Enduring Freedom Name for the US-led counter-attack on terrorism. Originally called Operation Ultimate Justice, it was changed after Islamic clerics objected to the name on the grounds that ultimate justice can only be dispensed by Allah.

Operational definition A definition embodying criteria that are used to identify and classify individual members of a set, or a concept, to facilitate classification and counting.

Operational research The systematic study, by observation and experiment, of the working of a system, e.g., health services, with a view to improvement.

Operations research The fitting of models to data, or the designing of models.

Outbreak An epidemic limited to localized increase in the incidence of a disease, e.g., in a village, town, or closed institution.

Overt release An announced release of a biological agent, by terrorists or others. This type of release allows for treatment before the onset of disease. See also covert release.

Palestine Islamic Jihad Originating among militant Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in the 1970s PIJ is one of many groups seeking the creation of an Islamic Palestinian state and the destruction of Israel.

Palestine Liberation Front Started as a breakaway from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine--General Command in 1973 but later split into pro-PLO, pro-Syrian and pro-Libyan factions.

Parallel program. An un-safeguarded nuclear research and development program that duplicates some or all of a safeguarded program, utilizing technology acquired and personnel trained as part of the safeguarded effort.

Pathogen Any agent that can cause disease.

Pandemic An epidemic occurring worldwide, or over a very wide area, crossing international boundaries, and usually affecting a large number of people. See also epidemic.

Paper plan syndrome A syndrome characterized by the creation of an illusion of preparedness based on the mere completion of a written plan. One of the greatest impediments to preparedness is the belief that it can be achieved merely by the completion of a written plan. A bad plan is sometimes worse than no plan, because of the false sense of security it promotes. The paper plan syndrome also occurs when there is planning that is based on invalid assumptions.

Passive immunity Immunity conferred by an antibody, such as variola immune globulin (VIG), produced in another host and acquired either naturally by an infant from its mother or artificially by administration of an antibody-containing preparation, such as antiserum or immune globulin (VIG). Compare active immunity.

Passive immunization The administration of preformed antibodies to confer immunity to a specific pathogen or toxin. Compare active immunization. See also immunization.

Pathogen Organisms capable of causing disease. See also disease.

Pathogenesis The postulated mechanisms by which the etiologic agent produces disease. See also etiologic.

Pathogenicity The property of an organism that determines the extent to which overt disease is produced in an infected population, or the power of an organism to produce disease. Also used to describe comparable properties of toxic chemicals.
Pathogenicity of infectious agents is measured by the ratio of the number of persons developing clinical illness to the number exposed to infection. Compare virulence.

Participating hospitals Hospitals that participate in an approved EMS system in accordance with the EMS system. See also associate hospitals; disaster POD hospitals; resource hospitals.

Peaceful nuclear explosion (PNE) The use of nuclear explosions for civil engineering or construction projects. There is no practical difference between a PNE and a nuclear weapon.

Persistency In biological or chemical warfare, the characteristics of an agent that pertains to the duration of its effectiveness under determined conditions after its dispersal.

Personal convergence The tendency in disasters for persons to flow towards the disaster site One of the popular images of disasters is panic flight. However, field studies demonstrate that - while panic flight (as opposed to orderly evacuation) is uncommon - there are often large numbers of persons who gravitate towards the disaster site because of curiosity or wanting to volunteer assistance. See also convergence; informational convergence; material convergence.

Plague The pneumonic plague, which is more likely to be used in connection with terrorism, is naturally carried by rodents and fleas but can be aerosolized and sprayed from crop dusters. A 1970 World Health Organization assessment asserted that, in a worse case scenario, a dissemination of 50 kg in an aerosol cloud over a city of 5 million could result in 150,000 cases of pneumonic plague, 80,000-100,000 of which would require hospitalization, and 36,000 of which would be expected to die.

Planning To work cooperatively with others in advance of a disaster in order to initiate prevention and preparedness activities.

Plume Exposure Pathway See Emergency Planning Zones.

Plutonium Man-made element produced when uranium is irradiated in a reactor. Plutonium-239 is the most suitable isotope for constructing nuclear weapons.

Plutonium economy The use of plutonium in nuclear power reactors. Controversial because the reprocessing of spent-fuel is necessary to separate the plutonium, raising concerns that the material could be used in nuclear weapons.

Plutonium pit The core element of a nuclear weapon's "primary" or fission component. Pits are made of plutonium-239 and surrounded by some type of casing.

Political terrorism Terrorist acts directed at governments and their agents and motivated by political goals (i.e., national liberation).

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine A Marxist-Leninist group founded in 1961 by George Habash, it committed numerous international terrorist attacks during the 1970s.

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command Violently opposes Yasser Arafat's PLO.

Population All the inhabitants of a given country or area considered together; the number of inhabitants of a given country or area.

Postimpact phase The period of time after a disaster event. Often associated with the activities of response and recovery. See also preimpact phase.

Potassium iodide FDA-approved nonprescription drug for use as a blocking agent to prevent the thyroid gland from absorbing radioactive iodine.

Potential epidemic See threatened epidemic.

Precautionary Zone (PZ) See Emergency Planning Zones.

Precautions, airborne See airborne precautions.

Precautions, contact See contact precautions.

Precautions, droplet See droplet precautions.

Precautions, respiratory See airborne precautions.

Precautions, Standard See Standard Precautions.

Preimpact phase The period of time before a disaster strikes. Often associated with mitigation and prevention activities. See also postimpact phase.

Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) A mechanism used to determine the impact and magnitude of damage and the resulting unmet needs of individuals, businesses, the public sector, and the community as a whole. Information collected is used by the State as a basis for the Governor's request for a Presidential declaration, and by FEMA to document the recommendation made to the President in response to the Governor's request. PDAs are made by at least one State and one Federal representative. A local government representative familiar with the extent and location of damage in the community often participates; other State and Federal agencies and voluntary relief organizations also may be asked to participate, as needed (FEMA definition).

Preparedness All measures and policies taken before an event occurs that allow for prevention, mitigation, and readiness. Preparedness includes designing warning systems, planning for evacuation and relocation, storing food and water, building temporary shelter, devising management strategies, and holding disaster drills and exercises. Contingency planning is also included in preparedness as well as planning for postimpact response and recovery (Landesman definition).

Prevalence The number of events, e.g., instances of a given disease or other condition, in a given population at a designated time.

Prevention Actions aimed at eradicating, eliminating, or minimizing the impact of disease and disability, or if none of these is feasible, retarding the progress of disease and disability. The concept of prevention is best defined in the context of levels, traditionally called primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. Synonym: mitigation. Primary prevention is prevention of the occurrence of death, injury, illness in a disaster (e.g., evacuation of a community in a flood-prone area, sensitizing warning systems for tornadoes and severe storms). Secondary prevention mitigates the health consequences of disasters. Examples include the use of carbon monoxide detectors when operating gasoline-powered generators after the loss of electric power, employing appropriate occupant behavior in multistory structures during earthquakes, and building "safe rooms" in dwellings located in tornado-prone areas. Secondary prevention may be instituted when disasters are imminent. Tertiary prevention is the minimization of the effects of disease and disability among those with pre-existing health conditions. Tertiary prevention shields persons with health conditions from negative health effects relating to a disaster. Examples of tertiary prevention include protecting persons with respiratory illnesses and those prone to respiratory conditions from the haze and smoke that originates from forest fires and sheltering elderly who are prone to heat illnesses during episodes of extreme ambient temperatures.

Primary contact Person(s) in direct contact or associated with a communicable disease case. See also communicable disease; direct contact.

Program A formal set of procedures to conduct an activity, e.g., eradication of smallpox.

Public access system An emergency telephone system by which the public notifies authorities of a medical emergency. Accessed by dialing 911.

Public apathy Indifference to prompt to action among the public at large, caused by underestimation of risk, reliance on technology, fatalism/denial, and social pressures. See also apathy; governmental apathy.

Public health The science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through organized efforts of society.

Public health surveillance The systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of the health data that is used to plan, implement, and evaluate public health programs. Also used to determine the need for public health action. See also public health.

Public Information Officer A Federal, State, or local government official responsible for preparing and coordinating the dissemination of emergency public information (FEMA definition).

Push packages See National Pharmaceutical Stockpile Program.

Quarantine Restriction of the activities of well persons or animals who have been exposed to a case of communicable disease during its period of communicability (i.e., contacts) to prevent disease transmission during the incubation period if infection should occur. Absolute or complete quarantine is the limitation of freedom of movement of those exposed to a communicable disease for a period of time not longer than the longest usual incubation period of that disease. Modified quarantine is a selective, partial limitation of freedom of movement of contacts, commonly on the basis of known or presumed differences in susceptibility and related to the danger of disease transmission.

Qibla and People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (PAGAD) Small radical Islamic group in South Africa led by Achmad Cassiem, who was inspired by Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini. Qibla was founded in the 1980s with the goal of establishing an Islamic state in South Africa. PAGAD began in 1996 as a community anticrime group fighting drug lords in Cape Town's Cape Flats section. PAGAD now shares Qibla's anti-Western stance as well as some members and leadership. Though distinct, the media often treat the two groups as one. Qibla is estimated at 250 members. Police estimate there are at least 50 gunmen in PAGAD, and the size of PAGAD-organized demonstrations suggests it has considerably more adherents than Qibla. Both groups operate mainly in the Cape Town area, South Africa's foremost tourist venue. It's possible that they have ties to Islamic extremists in the Middle East.

RAD Radiation absorbed dose, a basic unit of absorbed dose of ionizing radiation representing an amount of energy absorbed per unit of absorbing material such as body tissue.

Radiological dispersal device An explosive device that is intended to spread radioactive material from the detonation of conventional explosives.

Radiological release An unplanned incident in which radiological material (gas, liquid and/or solid) is discharged into the biosphere.

Radionuclide Certain natural and man-made atomic species with unstable nuclei that can undergo spontaneous breakup or decay and, in the process, emit alpha, beta, or gamma radiation.

Radiation sickness The symptoms characterizing the sickness known as radiation injury, resulting from excessive exposure of the whole body to ionizing radiation.

Radio bands A collection of neighboring radio frequencies. Frequencies are allocated on different bands. Each two-way radio is designed for a specific band. For example, a radio designed to work on one band will not work on another band.

Radiological exposure See exposure (radiological).

Radiological exposure rate See exposure rate (radiological).

Radiological monitoring The process of locating and measuring radiation by means of survey instruments that can detect and measure (as exposure rates) ionizing radiation (FEMA definition).

Rapid needs assessment A collection of techniques (e.g., epidemiological, statistical, anthropological) designed to provide information about an affected community's needs following a disaster.

Reactor A facility that contains a controlled nuclear fission chain reaction. Can be used to generate electricity, conduct research, and produce isotopes and man-made elements such as plutonium

Readiness Readiness links preparedness to relief. An assessment of readiness reflects the current capacity and capabilities of the organization s involved in relief activities. (Landesman definition)

Reasonable Suspicion when information exists that establishes sufficient facts to give a trained law enforcement officer, investigator, or employee a basis to believe that there is reasonable possibility that an individual or organization is involved in a definable criminal activity or enterprise.

Recovery 1. The long-term activities beyond the initial crisis period and emergency response phase of disaster operations that focus on returning all systems in the community to a normal status or to reconstitute these systems to a new condition that is less vulnerable (FEMA definition). 2. Actions of responders, government, and the victims that help return an affected community to normal by stimulating community cohesiveness and government involvement,. One type of recovery involves repairing infrastructure, damaged buildings, and critical facilities. The recovery period falls between the onset of the emergency and the reconstruction period. (Landesman definition).

Recovery plan A plan to restore areas affected by disaster. Developed on a state-by-state basis with assistance from responding federal agencies.

Red Army In the late 1980's, the second most dangerous place for a US citizen was Western Europe. The main terrorist organization there at that time was the West German Red Army Faction. The Red Army, founded by a student protest movement in the 1960's, was one of the most feared terrorist organizations. Despite the fact that almost all of their leaders have been arrested, they have survived.

Red Team a technique for assessing vulnerability that involves viewing a potential target from the perspective of an attacker to identify its hidden vulnerabilities, and to anticipate possible modes of attack.

Regional Operating Center (ROC) The temporary operations facility for the coordination of Federal response and recovery activities located at the FEMA Regional Office (or Federal Regional Center) and led by the FEMA Regional Director or Deputy Director until the DFO becomes operational. Once the Emergency Response Team-Advance is deployed, the ROC performs a support role for Federal staff at the disaster scene (FEMA definition). See also Emergency Response Team.

Rehabilitation or reconstruction A long-term development project that follows a disaster or emergency that reconstructs a community's infrastructure to pre-existing levels. Reconstruction is often associated with an opportunity to improve a community rather than to simply "reconstruct" a pre-existing system.

Relief action focused on saving lives. Relief activities often include search and rescue missions, first aid, and restoration of emergency communications and transportation systems. Relief also includes attention to the immediate care of survivors by providing food, clothing, medical treatment, and emotional care.

Rem (rad equivalent, man) Unit of dose equivalent. The dose equivalent in "rem" is numerically equal to the absorbed dose in "rad" multiplied by necessary modifying factors.

Reprocessing The treatment of spent (irradiated) reactor fuel to separate plutonium for uranium and other fission products. The highly radioactive fuel elements and toxic chemicals necessary make reprocessing dangerous and require especially constructed facilities and components.

Reporting unit for surveillance The data source that provides information for the surveillance system. Reporting units often include hospitals, clinics, health posts, and mobile health units. Epidemiologists select reporting units after they define "what is a case" because the source of data is dependent on that definition. See also case; epidemiologist; surveillance.

Representativeness The accuracy of the data when measuring the occurrence of a health event over time and its distribution by person and place.

Resource hospitals See medical control.

Resource management Those actions taken by a government to: identify sources and obtain resources needed to support disaster response activities; coordinate the supply, allocation, distribution, and delivery of resources so that they arrive where and when most needed; and maintain accountability for the resources used (FEMA definition).

Respect for autonomy In ethics, the principle of respect for human dignity and the right of individuals to decide things for themselves. In epidemiological practice and research, this principle is central to the concept of informed consent. It can conflict with the need to protect the population from identified risks, e.g., risks related to contagious disease, and with the need for access to personally identifiable health-related data and information. See also confidentiality; informed consent; privacy.

Response The phase in a disaster when relief, recovery, and rehabilitation occur. Also includes the delivery of services, the management of activities and programs designed to address the immediate and short-term effects of an emergency or disaster (Landesman definition).

Restricted Data. Classified info defined by the Atomic Energy Act. Restricted Data are born classified, regardless of source.

Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)

Revolutionary Organization 17 November A Greek radical leftist group established in 1975, it is named for the 1973 student uprising that protested Greece’s military regime.

Right-Wing Terrorists Domestic right-wing terrorist groups often adhere to the principles of racial supremacy and embrace antigovernment, antiregulatory beliefs.

Risk assessment A systematic process that determines the likelihood of adverse health effects to a population after exposure to a hazard. Health consequences may depend on the type of hazard and damage to infrastructure, loss of economic value, loss of function, loss of natural resources, loss of ecological systems, and environmental impacts and deterioration of health, mortality, and morbidity. The major components of a risk assessment include a hazard identification/analysis and a vulnerability analysis that answer the following questions: What are the hazards that could affect a community? What can happen as a result of those hazards? How likely is each of the possible outcomes? When the possible outcomes occur, what are the likely consequences and losses? Risk assessment is a fundamental planning tool for disaster management, especially during prevention and mitigation activities. See also hazard identification/analysis; vulnerability analysis.

Risk as a function of hazard and vulnerability A relationship that is frequently illustrated with the following formula, although the association is not strictly arithmetic: Risk = Hazard x Vulnerability. See also hazard; risk assessment; vulnerability.

Risk management The process of deciding which action to take when a risk assessment indicates that a danger of loss exists. Risk management includes a range of actions (e.g., prevention, mitigation, preparedness, recovery) that are designed to mitigate an increasing risk of natural and technological hazards; decrease a risk to existing levels; and plan ways to respond to natural and technological hazards as well as catastrophic events. (Landesman definition).

Risk Management Based Intelligence an approach to intelligence analysis that has as its object the calculation of the risk attributable to a threat source or acts threatened by a threat source; a means providing strategic intelligence for planning and policy making especially regarding vulnerabilities and counter-measures designed to prevent criminal acts; a means of providing tactical or operational intelligence in support of operations against a specific threat source, capability or modality.

Safe house Building not under surveillance by intelligence or counterintelligence of organizations where terrorists can be safe while they plan attacks or rest.

Salmonella An infection caused by a gram-negative bacillus, a germ of the Salmonella genus. Infection with this type of bacteria may involve only the intestinal tract or may be spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other sites in the body. Symptoms of salmonella enteritis include diarrhea, nausea, fever, abdominal pain, and fever. Dehydration resulting from the diarrhea can cause death, and the disease could cause meningitis or septicemia. The incubation period is between 8 and 48 hours, while the acute part of the illness can hang on for 1 to 2 weeks.

Safir-Simpson Scale A scale used to measure strength of hurricanes.

Sample Material collected from a source other than an animal or man for laboratory analysis (such as water sample or soil sample).

Sarin A colorless, odorless gas, with a lethal dose of .5 mg (a pinprick-sized droplet), it is 26 times more deadly than cyanide gas. Because the vapor is heavier than air, it hovers close to the ground. Sarin degrades quickly in humid weather, but sarin's life expectancy increases, as temperature gets higher, regardless of how humid it is.

Screening The presumptive identification of unrecognized disease or defect by the application of tests, examinations or other procedures, which can be applied rapidly. Screening tests sort out apparently well persons who probably have a disease from those who probably do not. A screening test is not intended to be diagnostics. Mass screening means the screening of a whole population.

Secondary Component of a NW that contains elements needed to initiate the fusion reaction in a thermonuclear explosion.

Secondary attack rate The number of cases of an infection that occur among contacts within the incubation period following exposure to a primary case in relation to the total number of exposed contacts. See also attack rate.

Secondary device An explosive, incendiary or other threatening device, designed to impact responders to an initial event where a bomb or fire has previously occurred.

Secondary hazard A threat whose potential would be realized as the result of a triggering event that of itself would constitute an emergency. For example, dam failure might be a secondary hazard associated with earthquakes (FEMA definition).

Sendero Luminoso The Shining Path terror group of Peru, is based on founder Abimael Guzman's belief in militant Maoist doctrine.

Sentinel surveillance Surveillance based on selected population samples chosen to represent the relevant experience of particular groups.

Seroepidemiology An epidemiology study or activity based on serologic testing of characteristic change in the serum level of specific antibodies. Latent, sub clinical infections and carrier states can thus be detected, in addition to clinically overt cases. See also epidemiology.

Sickness See disease.

Sickness, radiation See radiation sickness.

Side effect An effect, other than the intended one, produced by a preventive, diagnostic, or therapeutic procedure or regimen. Not necessarily harmful, e.g., pustule formation at the site of a smallpox vaccination.

Simulation The use of a model system, e.g., a mathematical model or an animal model, to approximate the action of a real system, often used to study the properties of a real system.

Size-up To identify a problem and assess the potential consequences. Initially, a size-up is the responsibility of the first officer to arrive at the scene of an emergency. Size-ups continue throughout the response phase and continuously update the status of the incident, evaluate the hazards present, determine the size of the affected area as well as whether the area can be isolated. A size-up also determined if a staging area will be needed and where it should be located to allow for the best flow of personnel and equipment. See also Incident Command System.

Skyjacking The hijacking of an airliner by terrorists that was common practice in the 1960's.

Sleeper cell A small cell that keeps itself undetected until such time as they can "awaken" and cause havoc.

Smallpox The first biological weapon, used during the 18th century, smallpox killed 300 million people in the 19th century. There is no specific treatment for smallpox disease, and the only prevention is vaccination. This currently poses a problem, since the vaccine was discontinued in 1970 after the WHO declared smallpox eradicated. Incubation is 7 to 17 days, during which the carrier is not contagious. 30% of people exposed are infected, and it has a 30% mortality rate.

Social Capital consists of the stock of active connections among people: the trust, mutual understanding, and shared values and behaviors that bind the members of human networks and communities and make cooperative action possible.

Soft target a building, piece of critical infrastructure (i.e. dam, power plant, utility company, etc.) or other commercial or non-commercial entity, that has little if any security implementations in place, relative to barriers, cameras, guards, etc.

Span of control The number of individuals managed by a single supervisor. The manageable span of control for one supervisor ranges from between three to seven individuals, with five as optimum. See also control.

Special nuclear materials As defined in the Atomic Energy Act, " 'special nuclear materials' means (1) plutonium, uranium enriched in the isotope 233 or in the isotope 235, and any other material which the Commission . . . determines to be special nuclear material, but does not include source material . . .".

Specific immunity A state of altered responsiveness to a specific substance acquired through immunization or natural infection. For certain diseases (e.g., measles, chicken pox) this protection generally lasts for the life of the individual.

Special-Interest Groups Extremist special interest groups that seek to resolve specific issues rather than effect widespread political change. These groups conduct acts of violence to force segments of society, including the general public, to change attitudes about issues they consider important to their cause. Perhaps the most active special-interest groups in the United States are the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and the Earth Liberation Front (ELF).

Spontaneous evacuation Residents or citizens in the threatened areas observe an emergency event or receive unofficial word of an actual or perceived threat and without receiving instructions to do so, elect to evacuate the area. Their movement, means, and direction of travel is unorganized and unsupervised. See also evacuation.

Staging area An area where resources are kept while awaiting assignment. See also Incident Command System.

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) A set of instructions constituting a directive, covering those features of operations which lend themselves to a definite, step-by-step process of accomplishment. SOPs supplement EOPs by detailing and specifying how tasks assigned in the EOP are to be carried out (FEMA definition).

Standard Precautions Hand washing after patient contact; using gloves when touching blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, and contaminated items; using mask, eye protection, and gown during procedures likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids, secretion, or excretions.; handling contaminated patient-care equipment and linens in a manner that prevents the transfer of microorganisms to people or equipment; practicing care when handling sharps and using a mouthpiece or other ventilation device as an alternative to mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, when practical; placing the patient in a private room if he/she contaminates the environment, when feasible. See also airborne precautions; contact precautions; droplet precautions.

State Coordinating Officer (SCO) An official designated by the governor of an affected state upon the declaration of a major disaster or emergency to coordinate state and local disaster assistance efforts with those of the federal government and to act in cooperation with FCO to administer disaster recovery efforts.

State Coordinating Officer The person appointed by the Governor to coordinate State, Commonwealth, or Territorial response and recovery activities with FRP-related activities of the Federal Government, in cooperation with the FCO (FEMA definition).

State Liaison A FEMA official assigned to a particular State, who handles initial coordination with the State in the early stages of an emergency (FEMA definition).

State sponsored terrorism Acts of terror initiated by the organization to promote its own interests, with operational assistance from the state; · Acts of terror initiated by the state to promote the interests of the state or a shared interest (at times with operational assistance from the state); or ·Acts of terror executed by the state or its agents in order to achieve its own interests.

Stockpile An area or storehouse where medicine and other supplies are kept in the event of an emergency.

Storm surge A dome of seawater created by the strong winds and low barometric pressure in a hurricane that causes severe coastal flooding as the hurricane strikes land (FEMA definition).
Stress Physical, mental or emotional strain or tension. See also traumatic stress.

Stress, traumatic See traumatic stress.

Strike team A group of resources of the same size and type (e.g., five patrol units,
three drug K-9 teams). See also Incident Command Center.

Surveillance Systematic ongoing collection, collation, and analysis of data and the timely dissemination of information to those who need to know so that action can be taken. Surveillance is the essential feature of epidemiological practice.

Surveillance, exposure See exposure surveillance.

Surveillance, hazard See hazard surveillance.

Surveillance, public health See public health surveillance.

Surveillance, reporting unit See reporting unit for surveillance.

Syndrome See disorder.

Target hardening- using physical barriers or changes in a location to reduce the opportunity for crime and make completion of a crime more difficult.

Task force A combination of single resources that is assembled for a particular operational need with common communications and one leader. See Incident Command System.

Technological disaster Technological events that are caused by humans and occur in human settlements. Examples of technological disasters are fire, chemical spills and explosions, and armed conflict. Synonym: manmade disaster. See also manmade disaster.

Terminal disinfection See disinfection.

Terrorism The use of--or threatened use of--criminal violence against civilians or civilian infrastructure to achieve political ends through fear and intimidation, rather than direct confrontation. Emergency management is typically concerned with the consequences of terrorist acts directed against large numbers of people (as opposed to political assassination or hijacking, which may also be considered "terrorism") (FEMA definition). The U.S. State Department defines terrorism as "premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by sub-national groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience."

Terrorist group A group that practices or has significant elements that are involved in terrorism.

Threatened epidemic An epidemic in which the occurrence of a specific disease may reasonably be anticipated; requiring (a) susceptible human population; (b) the presence or impending introduction of a disease agent; and (c) presence of a mechanism such that large-scale transmission is possible (e.g., contaminated water supply, or vector population). Synonym: potential epidemic. See epidemic, disease.

Tiger Team Inspection teams that surveyed DOE Weapons Complex sites pursuant to a June 27, 1989, initiative. Tiger Team inspections gather information for the Secretary of Energy to assess environmental, safety, and health problems at the sites.

Timeliness How quickly information or surveillance data can be made available to those who need it.

Top-down A command function that is established by the first officer to arrive on the scene. This officer then becomes the incident commander. See Incident Command System.

Tornado A local atmospheric storm, generally of short duration, formed by winds rotating at very high speeds, usually in a counter-clockwise direction. The vortex, up to several hundred yards wide, is visible to the observer as a whirlpool-like column of winds rotating about a hollow cavity or funnel. Winds may reach 300 miles per hour or higher (FEMA definition).

Toxicity The quality of being poisonous; the level of lethality associated with a poisonous substance.

Toxicological disaster A serious environmental pollutant that causes illness by a massive, accidental escape of toxic substances into the air, soil or water. Toxicological disasters affect man, animals, and plants. See also disaster.

Toxin A poisonous substance produced by the metabolic activities of certain organisms and capable of causing a harmful effect.

Toxin agents Poisonous by-products of living organisms used to cause disease, illness or death in susceptible individuals.

Transmission of infection Transmission of infectious agents. The method by which an infectious agent is spread from a source or reservoir to another person. Direct transmission is the direct and essentially immediate transfer of infectious agents to a receptive portal of entry through which human or animal infection may take place. This may be by direct contact such as touching, kissing, biting, or sexual intercourse, or by the direct projection (droplet spread) of droplet spray onto the conjunctiva or onto the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, or mouth. It may also be by direct exposure of susceptible tissue to an agent in soil, compost, or decaying vegetable matter or by the bite of a rabid animal. Indirect transmission is by vector or air; the latter is subdivided into droplet or dust.

Transmission, indirect See indirect transmission.

Transnational terrorism It is difficult to pinpoint an exact or commonly accepted definition of transnational terrorism. However, it can be thought of as terrorist attacks, incidents or other actions perpetrated by a group or organization against the civilian population or government of a nation other than their own, in furtherance of political or social objectives. Governmental responses to transnational terrorism are manifested in forms ranging from apparently taking no retaliatory action whatsoever, to economic sanctions and trade restrictions placed against nations and other entities harboring or supporting transnational terrorist organizations. At times, governmental responses and retaliatory actions have even included overt or covert military action against such nations or transnational terrorist groups.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) A new agency created by the Patriot Act of 2001 for the purpose of overseeing technology and security in American airports.

Transportation to definitive medical care Ground ambulances are the vehicle of choice for most medical transports, but helicopters, boats, and snow cats may also be used. Medical transports allow for the continued medical support of patients while in transport from the field to a hospital.

Traumatic stress While not a clearly defined condition, traumatic stress has tended to include events and circumstances that are both extreme and outside of the realm of everyday experiences (e.g., events that are dangerous, overwhelming, and sudden marked by their extreme or sudden force, typically causing fear, anxiety, withdrawal, and avoidance.) Traumatic events also have high intensity, are unexpected, infrequent, and vary in duration from acute to chronic. See also stress.

Transmutation A process of converting one element to another by irradiating or bombarding it with radioactive particles.

Transparency Exchange of information, access to facilities, and cooperative arrangements undertake to provide ready observation and verification of defense or other activities.

Transuranic Any element whose atomic number is higher than that of uranium. All transuranic elements are produced artificially and are radioactive.

Treatment technique (TT) An enforceable procedure or level of technological performance that public water systems must follow to ensure control of a water contaminant. When there is no reliable method that is economically and technically feasible to measure contaminants at particularly low concentrations, a treatment technique (TT) is set rather than a maximum contaminant level (MCL). An example of a treatment technique rule is the surface water treatment rule, which includes disinfection and filtration. See also maximum contaminant level; disinfection.

Triage To select and categorize victims of a disaster for appropriate medical treatment according to the degree of severity of illness or injury as well as for the availability of medical and transport facilities.

Tritium A radioactive gas, an isotope of hydrogen that serves as a booster for the fusion reaction in the secondary component of a nuclear weapon.

Tsunami Sea waves produced by an undersea earthquake. Such sea waves can reach a height of 80 feet and can devastate coastal cities and low-lying coastal areas (FEMA definition).

Tularemia. Tularemia is an infectious disease caused by a hardy bacterium, Francisella tularensis, found in animals, particularly especially rabbits, hares, and rodents. Symptoms depend upon how the person was exposed to tularemia but can include difficulty breathing, chest pain, bloody sputum, swollen and painful lymph glands, ulcers on the mouth or skin, swollen and painful eyes, and a sore throat. Symptoms usually appear from 3 to 5 days after exposures but sometimes will take up to two weeks. Tularemia is not spread from person to person, so people who have it need not be isolated.

Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement A Peruvian group formed in 1983 that bears alms to establish a Marxist regime.

Turkish Revolutionary People’s Liberation Front Also called Dev Sol, this Marxist group formed in 1978 is virulently anti-American and anti-NATO.

Unclassified Controlled Nuclear Information Information that is not classified but is judged to be sensitive with respect to DOE defense programs. Its dissemination is therefore controlled and limited. UCNI is a response to a requirement of the Atomic Energy Act.

United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) By its resolution 687 of 3 April 1991, the United Nations Security Council established the terms and conditions for the formal cease-fire between Iraq and the coalition of Member States co-operating with Kuwait. Section C of this resolution called for the elimination, under international supervision, of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles with a range greater than 150 kilometers (km), together with related items and production facilities. It also called for measures to ensure that the acquisition and production of prohibited items were not resumed. The United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) was set up to implement the non-nuclear provisions of the resolution and to assist the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the nuclear areas. The precise terms are laid out in paragraphs 7 to 13 of the resolution.

Unity of command A hierarchical methodology that states that each person within an organization should report to only one superior. See Incident Command System.

Uranium enrichment The process of increasing the percentage of U235 isotopes so that the uranium can be used as reactor fuel or in nuclear weapons.

Vaccination Procedures for immunization against an infectious disease.

Vaccine Immunobiological substance used for active immunization by introducing into the body a live modified, attenuated, or killed inactivated infectious organisms or its toxin. The vaccine is capable of stimulating immune response by the host, who is thus rendered resistant to infection. The word vaccine was originally applied to the serum from a cow infected with vaccinia virus; it is now used of all immunizing agents.

Vector An organism that carries germs from one host to another, or an insect or any living carrier that transports an infectious agent from an infected individual or its wastes to a susceptible individual or its food or immediate surroundings.

Vendor-managed inventory (VMI) package See National Pharmaceutical Stockpile Program.

Vesicle A blister filled with fluid.

Victim A person who has been affected by a disaster. There are three classes of victims: primary victims-- those who are affected by the physical impact of the disaster; secondary victims-- those who reside within an affected community or on the border of an affected area and suffer economic loss due to the disaster or actions taken by relief operations; and tertiary victims-- those who are indirectly affected. Tertiary victims may live in the same country, but not necessarily in the disaster areas. See also victim distribution.

Victim distribution A victim distribution plan defines the transport and distribution of victims among neighboring hospitals according to their hospital treatment capacity. Victim distribution plans often avoid taking victims to the nearest hospitals since walking victims will overcrowd hospitals closest to the disaster site. See also victim.

Viral agents A group of viruses that have been selected as biological warfare agents because of their ability to produce disease, illness, and death in susceptible individuals. See also biological warfare agent.

Virus The causative agent of an infectious disease; any of a large group of submicroscopic infective agents that are regarded either as the simplest microorganisms or as extremely complex molecules that typically contain a protein coat surrounding an RNA or DNA core of genetic material, that are capable of growth and multiplication only in living cells and that cause various diseases in man, plants and animals.

VMI packages See National Pharmaceutical Stockpile Program.

Voluntary agency (VOLAG) A non-profit, non-governmental, private association maintained and supported by voluntary contributions that provides assistance in emergencies and disasters.

Voluntary evacuation A warning to persons within a designated area that a threat to life and property exists or is likely to exists in the immediate future. Individuals issued this type of warning or order are NOT required to evacuate, however it would be to their advantage to do so (FEMA definition). See also evacuation.

Vulnerability The susceptibility of a population to a specific type of event. Vulnerability is also associated with the degree of possible or potential loss from a risk that results from a hazard at a given intensity. The factors that influence vulnerability include demographics, the age and resilience of the environment, technology, social differentiation and diversity, as well as regional and global economics and politics.

Vulnerability analysis The assessment of an exposed populations' susceptibility to the adverse health effects of a particular hazard. See also hazard; vulnerability.

Vulnerability, disaster See disaster vulnerability.

Vitrification Process of immobilizing radioactive material by encapsulating it into a glasslike solid.

Warhead The explosive part of a nuclear weapons system. Warheads consist of nuclear materials, conventional high explosives, and related firing mechanisms.

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. A warning issued by the NWS (e.g., severe storm warning, tornado warning, tropical storm warning) for a defined area indicates that the particular type of severe weather is imminent in that area (FEMA definition). See also warning and forecasting; watch.

Warning and forecasting Monitoring events to determine the time, location, and severity of a disaster. See also warning.

Watch Indication by the NWS that in a defined area, conditions are favorable for the specified type of severe weather (e.g., flash flood watch, severe thunderstorm watch, tornado watch, tropical storm watch) (FEMA definition). See also warning.

Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) According to the National Defense Authorization Act: Any weapon or device that is intended, or has the capability, to cause death or serious bodily injury to a significant number of people through the release, dissemination, or impact of (A) toxic or poisonous chemicals or their precursors; (B) a disease organism; or (C) radiation or radioactivity. 1. A classification that includes all nuclear, biological and chemical weapons/agents, and radiological dispersal devices (US Army Field Manual). 2. Any device, material, or substance used in a manner, in a quantity or type, or under circumstances evidencing intent to cause death or serious injury to persons or significant damage of property. (Landesman definition). According to the National Defense Authorization Act: Any weapon or device that is intended, or has the capability, to cause death or serious bodily injury to a significant number of people through the release, dissemination, or impact of (A) toxic or poisonous chemicals or their precursors; (B) a disease organism; or (C) radiation or radioactivity.

Weaponization The process of constructing a nuclear device, or testing its component parts separately, or in a weapon-model, to validate its design. Component and model testing require special instruments, many of which are dual-use in character. See Dual Use.

(WHO) A division of the United Nations founded in 1948 and based in Geneva that serves to coordinate and improve health activities worldwide.

Weapons retirement The process by which NW are determined to be obsolete or unnecessary for national defense. A retired weapon or weapon system is no longer in an active status or deliverable, but may still be a fully functioning nuclear device.

White level inspections Consistent with OSHA Construction Health and safety Excellence (CHASE) partnership, private organizations at the “white level” (intermediate level) must implement a comprehensive, written, safety and health program based on ANSI A10.38-1991 Guidelines or OSHA’s 1989 Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines; meet a variety of training, management, and audit requirements, and have an acceptable safety record.

Xenophobia Irrational fear of strangers or those who are different from oneself.

Yemeni Congregation for Reform (Islah) A fundamentalist Islamic party that opposes the ruling General People's Congress (GPC).

Zionism A Jewish nationalist movement which came into being during the second half of the 19th century in Central and Eastern Europe. Zionists wishes to become free to rebuild a Jewish state in Israel.

Zyklon B A form of hydrogen cyanide. Symptoms of inhalation include increased respiratory rate, restlessness, headache, and giddiness followed later by convulsions, vomiting, respiratory failure and unconsciousness. Used in the Nazi gas chambers in WWII.