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Glossary
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
All hazards approach. Includes both natural and manmade emergencies and disasters.
American Red Cross (ARC). A quasi-governmental agency whose mission is to provide humanitarian assistance during war and disaster. The ARC operates under a congressional charter and is supported by the public.
Applicant. An individual, State or local government, or private nonprofit organization applying for assistance as a result of a declaration of a major disaster or emergency.
There are no entries for the letter B.
Career-Conditional and Career. Type of Federal appointment that includes Permanent Full-Time, or PFT, positions and Permanent Part-Time, or PPT positions.
Chemical and Radiological Preparedness. This program assists States, Native American Tribes, and local governments in preparing for and responding to HAZMAT (hazardous materials) incidents, radiological emergencies, and chemical emergencies in communities surrounding the chemical weapons stockpiles.
Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP). Congress has directed that certain chemical weapons stockpiled at eight U.S. Army installations in the continental United States must be destroyed over the next several years. Emergency plans and capabilities are being expanded in these communities for the slight but real threat of an emergency involving chemical agents. This effort is called the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program or CSEPP.
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The CFR is a codification of the general and permanent rules publicized in the Federal Register by the Executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government. Title 44, referred to as CFR 44, pertains to emergency management and assistance and includes the Federal regulations that apply to FEMA.
Community and Family Preparedness Program. This program ensures that all Americans have the necessary information, education, and skills to protect themselves, their families, and communities from devastating disaster consequences.
Community Relations. This part of the Emergency Response Team helps affected individuals and communities understand the relief process. Community Relations involves identifying community and organization leaders, assessing needs, helping to build partnerships with State and local government and community leaders, referring problems, setting realistic expectations, and building a positive image of people helping people.
Comprehensive Exercise Program (CEP). Through this program, FEMA conducts realistic exercises that address all hazards and incorporate real-world difficulties. The exercises involve key personnel from Federal, State, local, private, and volunteer organizations.
CORE. Cadre of Response/Recovery Employees appointed under the authority of the Stafford Act.
Crisis Counseling. A program under FEMA Human Services administered by the National Institute of Mental Health. This program provides individual and group treatment procedures that are designed to ameliorate the mental and emotional crises and their subsequent psychological and behavioral conditions resulting from a major disaster or its aftermath.
Declaration. The formal action by the President to make a State eligible for major disaster or emergency assistance under the Stafford Act.
Disaster Assistance Employees (DAE). Intermittent employees working within a disaster area appointed under the authority of the Stafford Act.
Disaster Assistance Programs. Programs available to aid disaster victims. Federal programs include Individual Assistance, Public Assistance, and Mitigation. Other agencies, such as the U.S. Small Business Administration, also provide disaster assistance programs.
Disaster Field Office (DFO). The office established in or near the designated area to support Federal and State response and recovery operations. The DFO houses the FCO, the ERT, the State Coordinating Officer (SCO), and State staff.
Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). A temporary facility, established in the disaster area, where disaster victims can obtain information about assistance.
Disaster Relief Act of 1950. The first time that there was legislative authority for a formalized program of disaster relief in this country. It was a limited program that provided supplemental Federal disaster funds to State and local governments for the repair or restoration of streets, roads, and bridges.
Emergency Education NETwork (EENET). This is FEMA's satellite-based distance learning system.
Emergency Food and Shelter. This program was created by Congress in 1983 to help meet the needs of hungry and homeless people throughout the United States and its territories by allocating funds for the provision of food and shelter. The program supplements the work of local agencies.
Emergency Management Institute (EMI). This FEMA facility colocated with the National Fire Academy at the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) provides emergency management training through a nationwide program of resident and nonresident instruction.
Emergency Response Team (ERT). An interagency team, consisting of the lead representative from each Federal agency assigned primary responsibility for an ESF and key members of the FCO's staff, formed to assist the FCO in carrying out response coordination responsibilities.
Emergency Response Team-Advance Element (ERT-A). The portion of the Emergency Response Team (ERT) that is the first group deployed to the field to respond to a disaster incident.
Emergency Response Team -- National (ERT-N) is a national "on-call" team that is ready to deploy to larger disasters such as a Category 3 or 4 hurricanes.
Emergency Support Function (ESF). The functional area of response activity required during the immediate response phase of a disaster to save lives, protect property and public health, and maintain public safety. ESF's represent those types of Federal assistance that the State will most likely need. A lead agency is designated for each ESF.
Emergency Support Team (EST). Group located at FEMA Headquarters pending and during disasters and other events to coordinate information to the media and Congress, provide support to field operations, and assess the need to augment FEMA regional resources with national assets and personnel from other Federal agencies.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO). A policy of equal opportunity and affirmative action in all aspects of hiring and employment.
Federal Civil Defense Act of 1950. Created a formalized program of civil defense in each State and local jurisdiction throughout the country.
Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO). The senior Federal official appointed by the President in accordance with the provisions of the Stafford Act to coordinate the overall response and recovery activities.
Federal Insurance Administration (FIA). This organizational unit administers the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which was created by Congress in 1968 in response to the rising cost of taxpayer-funded disaster relief for flood victims and the increasing amount of damage caused by floods.
Federal Register. Publication containing general and permanent rules publicized by the Executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
Federal Response Plan (FRP). A plan for the overall delivery of Federal assistance in a disaster. When needed, the Federal Government provides State and local governments with the necessary personnel, technical expertise, equipment, and other resources to ensure an effective response.
Flood Insurance. Insurance coverage provided under the NFIP.
Four Phases of Emergency Management. The process through which emergency managers mitigate to prevent or reduce future risks, prepare for emergencies and disasters, respond to them when they occur, and help people and communities recover from them.
There are no entries for the letter G.
Hazard Mitigation (HM). Measures that will reduce the potential for damage to a facility or structure from a disaster event.
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) gives grants to State and local governments for long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration. For any one disaster, FEMA will make available an additional amount of money equal to 15 percent of the amount spent on Individual Assistance and Public Assistance.
Human Services. Functional area that oversees the Individual Assistance Program.
Independent Study. Course taken by individuals outside the classroom setting. May be paper-based or some other format.
Individual Assistance (IA). Federal assistance provided to families or individuals following a disaster or emergency declaration. Under a major disaster declaration, assistance to individuals and families is available through grants, loans, and other services offered by various federal, State, local, and voluntary agencies.
Individual and Family Grant (IFG). State administered individual assistance program intended to meet the necessary expenses and serious needs of disaster victims. IFG operates within established grant limits that are funded through a 75 percent Federal and 25 percent State cost share.
Infrastructure Support. Functional area that oversees the Public Assistance Program.
Information Technology (IT) Services. This organizational unit provides agency-wide IT services and systems for routine operations and in emergency disaster situations.
There are no entries for the letter J.
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Local Hire. Temporary appointment hired for a specific job within the disaster operations and hired under the authority of the Stafford Act.
Major Disaster. Any natural catastrophe (including any hurricane, tornado, storm, high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, or drought) or, regardless of cause, any fire, flood, or explosion in any part of the United States that, in the determination of the President, causes damage of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant major disaster assistance under the Stafford Act to supplement the efforts and available resources of States, local governments, and disaster relief organizations in alleviating the damage, loss, hardship, or suffering caused thereby.
Mitigation. (See Hazard Mitigation.)
Mitigation Directorate. Organizational unit within FEMA responsible for mitigation programs.
Mount Weather Emergency Assistance Center (MWEAC). The Mount Weather Emergency Assistance Center, located in Bluemont, Virginia, provides FEMA and other government agencies space for offices, training, conferencing, operations, and storage; it is a hub of emergency response activity.
National Emergency Training Center (NETC). This FEMA facility in Emmitsburg, Maryland houses the Emergency Management Institute and the National Fire Academy.
National Fire Academy (NFA). This FEMA facility co-located with the National Emergency Management Institute at the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) provides training to State and local fire personnel.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The Federal program, created by an act of Congress in 1968, that makes flood insurance available in communities that enact satisfactory floodplain management regulations.
National Processing Services Center (NPSC). The National Processing Services Center (NPSC) is responsible for processing registrations for assistance that have been filed by individuals affected by a disaster.
National Teleregistration Center (NTC). A nationwide toll-free telephone number (1-800-462-9029) that applicants can use to apply for disaster assistance.
National Urban Search and Rescue Response System. Established in 1989, this program is a framework for structuring local emergency services personnel into integrated disaster response task forces. These well-skilled and equipped task forces can be deployed by FEMA for the rescue of victims of structural collapse.
OHRM. FEMA's Office of Human Resources Management.
Operations Support. This organizational unit provides FEMA with logistics, security, health and safety, and other mission support services essential to the accomplishment of the agency's all-hazards management program.
Permanent Full-Time (PFT). Permanent, full-time FEMA employee.
Permanent Part-Time (PPT). Permanent, part-time FEMA employee.
Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA). The damage assessment performed by Federal, State, and local representatives in disaster situations clearly beyond the recovery capabilities of State and local governments. PDA's are used to determine the extent of damage caused by the incident.
PFT. Permanent Full-Time position.
PPT. Permanent Part-Time position.
Preparedness. Those activities, programs, and systems that exist before an emergency and that are used to support and enhance response to an emergency or disaster.
Preparedness, Training and Exercises Directorate. Organizational unit within FEMA responsible for preparedness programs.
Presidential Disaster Declaration. When a disaster occurs that is beyond the capabilities of local and State governments the Governor of the affected State may request a Presidential disaster declaration. If the President issues a disaster declaration, a number of programs may be made available to meet immediate needs and to help people and communities begin to recover.
Public Assistance (PA). Federal assistance provided to State and local government, Native American Tribes, and certain nonprofit organizations after a major disaster declaration. Funds may be provided to reimburse the costs of such things as debris clearance; emergency protective measures for the preservation of life and property; and the repair or replacement of public roads, streets, and bridges. Grants are funded through a 75 percent Federal and 25 percent State cost share.
There are no entries for the letter Q.
Recovery. Activities traditionally associated with providing Federal supplemental disaster recovery assistance under a disaster declaration. Recovery includes individual and public assistance programs that provide temporary housing assistance, grants, and loans to eligible individuals and government entities to recover from the effects of a disaster.
Region (and Regional Office). One of 10 FEMA subdivisions. Each region has a central FEMA Regional Office.
Regional Operations Center (ROC). The temporary operations facility for the coordination of Federal response activities until the DFO becomes operational. Coordination of operations shifts to the State EOC upon arrival of the ERT-A at that location. From that time forward, the ROC performs a support role for Federal staff at the disaster scene.
Response. Activities to address the immediate and short-term effects of an emergency or disaster.
Response and Recovery Directorate. Organizational unit within FEMA responsible for response and recovery programs, including disaster assistance programs.
Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA lends money to homeowners and renters at low-interest rates to repair or replace homes and/or personal belongings not covered by insurance. The SBA also offers low-interest business loans to qualifying businesses and nonprofit organizations that suffered physical and/or economic injury damages/losses not covered by insurance.
Stafford Act. Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, PL 100-707, signed into law November 23, 1988; amended the Disaster Relief Act of 1974, PL 93-288. A Federal statute designed to supplement the efforts of the affected States and local governments in expediting the rendering of assistance, emergency services, and the reconstruction and rehabilitation of devastated areas.
There are no entries for the letter T.
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Voluntary Agency (VOLAG). Any chartered or otherwise duly recognized tax-exempt local, State, or national organization or group that has provided or may provide needed services to the States, local governments, or individuals in coping with an emergency or a major disaster.
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