SECTION 13
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
AUGUST, 1996
SECTION 13
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 TERMS USED IN THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN
2.0 ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE STANDING OPERATING PROCEDURES
3.0 TERMS USED IN THE VOLCANIC PLAN
4.0 TERMS USED IN THE EMERGENCY TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROCEDURES MANUAL
GLOSSARY
MESSAGE HANDLING
5.0 TERMS USED IN THE OIL SPILL MANAGEMENT PLAN
All Correspondence concerning the National Emergency Management Organisation [NEMO] should be addressed to:-
The National Emergency Management Organisation, P. O. Box 1517, CASTRIES
Email eoc@candw.lc
SAINT LUCIA
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
1.0 TERMS USED IN THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN
The following definitions are presented here for use specifically with the National Disaster Management Plan. These definitions
come from the UNDHA/UNDP and OFDA. Other authors and organizations may have different variations on definitions of
these terms.
ACID RAIN
A washout of an excessive concentration of acidic compounds in the atmosphere, resulting from chemical pollutants such as
sulphur and nitrogen compounds. When deposited these increase the acidity of the soil and water causing agricultural and
ecological damage.
ACTIVATION
The period when a shelter is open for occupancy by shelterees.
AFTERSHOCK
A smaller earthquake that follows the main shock and originates close to its focus. Aftershocks generally decrease in number
and magnitude over time. Aftershocks that follow the main shock have to be considered as the same event as the main
earthquake.
ALARM
The warning or signal given of the actual or imminent presence of a dangerous event so that specific instructions for
emergencies can be followed.
ALERT
The notice or signal issued indicating specific precautions should be taken because of the probability or proximity of a
dangerous event.
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
Contamination of the atmosphere by large quantities of gases, solids and radiation produced by the burning of natural and
artificial fuels, chemicals and other industrial processes and nuclear explosions.
BUDGET
A statement of resources [people, time and money] allocated to particular activities with a specific time frame. A statement of
plans and expected results in numerical terms.
BUILDING COLLAPSE
Entails the sudden falling apart of a building in the absence of any outside force.
CHLOROFLUORO-CARBONS [CFC]
A group of chemical compounds used in industry and in the household, of which the excessive and universal use is believed to
be one of the causes of ozone depletion, with resulting environmental damage.
CONTINGENCY PLAN
A plan for possible future situations which are not expected to occur but which may occur. Commonly call a "What if..." plan.
CO-ORDINATION
The process of integrating the objectives and activities of separate work units or functional areas in order to realize the
organization's goals effectively.
DAMAGE
Unwanted changes or losses resulting from a natural or man-caused event.
DE-ACTIVATION
The processing of relocating shelterees and returning a shelter to its original state.
DECLARATION OF DISASTER
Official declaration by the authorities of a political-management jurisdiction due to the need for extraordinary action.
DEVELOPMENT
The cumulative and lasting increase, tied to social changes, in the quantity and quality of a communities goods, services and
resources, with the purpose of maintaining and improving the security and quality of human life.
DISASTER
A natural or man-caused event which caused intense negative impacts on people, goods, services and/or the environment,
exceeding the affected community's capability to respond.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
A collective term encompassing all aspects of planning for and responding to disasters, including both pre- and post-disaster
activities. It refers to both the risk and consequences of a disaster.
DISASTER MANAGER
The person having the capacity, responsibility and authority to make decisions in any of the disaster cycle stages.
DISASTER WARNING SYSTEM
Methods to alert the community in case of a disaster.
DROUGHT
Period of deficiency of moisture in the soil such that there is adequate water required for plants, animals and human beings. A
drought causes malnutrition, epidemics and displacement of populations from one area to another.
EARTHQUAKE
Sudden break within the upper layers of the earth, sometimes breaking the surface, resulting in the vibrations of the ground,
when strong enough will cause the collapse of buildings and destruction of life and property. There are two scales for
measuring the impact of an earthquake: the Richter scale and the Mercalli scale.
EMERGENCY PLAN
A definition of the policies, organization and procedures for confronting disasters in all phases.
EMERGENCY
Situation generated by the real or imminent occurrence of an event, requiring immediate attention.
EXPLOSIONS
Disasters will be classified as explosions when the explosion is the actual disaster. If the explosion is the cause of another
disaster, the event will be classified as the resulting disaster.
EXPOSED POPULATION
The total population potentially susceptible to the effects of a hazard.
FAMINE
Usually caused by man but may occasionally occur through natural causes; for example, forest fires can be caused by lightning
in the thunderstorms. Note: when a fire is a result of a natural cause, it will be classified under the natural cause.
FLOOD
Significant rise of water level in a jet stream, lake reservoir or a coastal region. A flood is a harmful inundation of property and
land utilized by man and may be of two types:
Slow flood - An increase in the volume of water produced by rain in rivers and lakes over a long period, days or weeks,
mainly affecting property such as houses and cattle, and displacing the inhabitants from their usual dwelling places.
Flash flood - A sudden and extreme volume of water that flows rapidly causing deaths, injuries and violent destruction of
property and inundation, and because of its nature is difficult to forecast.
FOREST/GRASSLAND FIRE
Fires in forest or bush grasslands that cover extensive areas and usually do damage. They may start by natural causes such as
volcanic eruptions or lightening, or they may be caused by arsonists or careless smokers, by those burning wood or by clearing
a forest area.
HAILERS [Bull Horn]
Portable battery operated loud speaker used for speaking or calling from a distance.
HAZARD
The potential for a natural or man-caused event to occur with negative consequences.
HURRICANE/CYCLONE
A large-scale closed circulation system in the atmosphere with low barometric pressure and strong winds that rotate counter
clockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere. Hurricanes are large atmospheric vortices
with wind speeds of more than 100 kph; they develop in the doldrums of the tropics and move in an often erratic way towards
higher latitudes.
INJURED
People with physical injuries/trauma/illness requiring medical treatment [therapeutic feeding included] as a direct result of a
disaster. Comments: This category will include the severely malnourished as well as victims of radiation exposure and chemical
intoxication. The injured are always part of the primary affected population.
LANDSLIDE
Downhill sliding or falling movement of dry soil and rock. Landslides are difficult to estimate as an independent phenomenon. It
seems appropriate, therefore, to associate landslides with other hazards such as tropical cyclones, severe local storms and
river floods. The term "landslide" is used in its broad sense to include downward and outward movement of slope-forming
materials [natural rock and soil]. It is caused by heavy rain, soil erosion and earth tremors and may also happen in areas under
heavy snow [avalanches].
MEETING
The gathering of 2 or more persons for the purpose of sharing information or taking action.
MITIGATION
Measures taken to reduce the loss of life, livelihood and property by disasters, either by reducing vulnerability or by modifying
the hazard, where possible.
NATURAL DISASTERS
Events of natural causes that result in a disaster. Examples are: hurricanes, tropical storms, floods, erosion, landslides
earthquakes tidal surges/tsunamis and volcanoes.
OIL POLLUTION
Pollution of oceans, lakes or rivers. This results from the discharge of hydrocarbons [often petroleum or crude oil] from tanks,
tankers or pipelines during transportation or storage. Oil spills are accidental discharge often resulting from storms or collisions.
Oil pumping is intentional discharge from flushing the holds of tankers. Oil slicks are generally small discharges on the water's
surfaces. Black tide are substantial deposits on tidelands from oil spills or dumping.
ORGANIZATION
Two or more persons who work together in a structured way to achieve a specific goal or set of goals.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
A chart which illustrates organizational levels, the name of the units of each level and the relationships to each other.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
The way in which an organization's activities and resources are divided, organized and coordinated.
ORGANIZING
Establishing an intentional structure of roles for persons to fill in an organization.
PARAPET
A low protective wall or railing along the edge of a roof.
POLLUTION
Degradation of one or more elements or aspects in the environment by noxious industrial, chemical or biological wastes, from
debris or man-made products and from mismanagement of natural and environmental resources.
POPULATION AT RISK
Population whose life, property and livelihood are directly threatened by a hazard.
POST-ACTIVATION
The period of time after the last shelteree leaves until the shelter is returned to pre-activation status.
PRE-ACTIVATION
The period prior to the opening of a shelter for occupancy by shelterees.
PREPAREDNESS
Measures taken for the purpose of preventing natural or man-caused phenomena from causing or giving rise to disasters or
other emergency situations.
RECEIVING AREA
An area of a shelter designated for shelterees who are waiting to be registered and assigned.
RECONSTRUCTION
The medium and long term repair of physical, social and economic damage and the return of affected structures to a condition
equal to or better than before the disaster.
REFUGEES
According to international legislation, persons having a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion,
nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion mostly outside the country of nationality and unable to
return or avail themselves of the protection of that country. Includes mass exodus of people for reasons of conflict and natural
disasters moving outside their country of origin.
REHABILITATION [Community]
The restoration of basic services and the beginning of the repair of physical, social and economic damages.
REHABILITATION [Individual]
The process of restoring victims to normal life through education, therapy and assistance.
RESPONSE
Actions carried out in a disaster situation with the objective to save lives, alleviate suffering and reduce economic losses.
RETROFIT
Major repairs to a structure for the purpose of changing or modifying the construction to withstand the effects of a potential
hazard.
RISK ASSESSMENT
Determining the probability that a disaster will occur.
RISK MAP
A graphic representation of the distribution of the types and intensity of effects a particular event may cause in relation to a
degree of vulnerability.
RISK
The probability that a disaster will occur given the hazard and vulnerability.
SEA DISASTERS
Ships may sink in a storm, explode, burn, crash into each other, crash into an iceberg or rock, capsize, or vanish without
explanation. Note: sea disasters caused by conflict are classified under Conflict. Oil slicks are classified under
Industrial/technological accident.
SHELTER
A facility set up to provide temporary housing for persons unable to continue their living arrangement in separate family units.
SHELTER DESIGNATION
The formal designation of a facility as an official disaster shelter and the notification of the designation to the potential users of
the shelter.
SHELTER IDENTIFICATION
A process whereby structures with the potential to be used as temporary shelters are identified.
SHELTER MANAGER
A staff member assigned overall responsibility for managing a shelter utilizing available resources.
SHELTER SELECTION
A formal determination that a facility is suitable for designation as an official temporary disaster shelter.
SHELTER LONG-TERM
A shelter used for refugees from a disaster who have no housing available.
SHELTER SHORT-TERM
A shelter that will be occupied for no more than 72 hours.
SHELTEREE
A person, who as a result of an emergency situation, requires temporary shelter.
STORM SURGE
A sudden rise of sea as a result of high winds and low atmosphere pressure; sometimes called a storm tide, storm wave or
tidal wave [this name indicates waves caused by the tidal action of the moon and the sun in the same way as regular ocean
tides. It is often erroneously given to tsunamis]. Generally affects only coastal areas but may intrude some distance inland.
TARGET POPULATION
The group of people to whom relief services and supplies are provided.
THUNDERSTORM
A large cumulus cloud on which localized centres or electrical charge have developed.
TORNADO
Localized and violently destructive windstorm occurring over land. characterized by a long funnel shaped cloud composed of
condensation and debris extending to the ground and marking a path of greatest destruction.
TROPICAL STORM
Formed over open seas and is characterized by extreme wind damage, intense downpours of rain, wave storms at sea, severe
coastal wave action, marine flooding, ravine flooding, lightning and thunderstorms.
TSUNAMIS/TIDAL WAVE
Series of large sea waves generated by sudden displacement of sea water [caused by earthquake, volcanic eruption or
submarine landslide]; capable of propagation over large distance.
URGENCY
The relative imperativeness, pressing importance, or need to respond to a situation.
VETERINARIAN
A person trained and authorized to treat animals medically.
VICTIM
A person who has suffered great harm to his/her physical or psychic integrity, goods and/or individual and collective services.
VOLCANIC ERUPTION
Discharge of fragmentary ejecta, lava and gases from a volcanic vent. The most common consequences are displacement of
population, temporary food shortage and volcanic ash landslides called lahar.
VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS
The process through which the values at risk and/or the susceptibility level of elements exposed to a specific hazard is
determined.
VULNERABILITY
The extent to which a community's structure, services or environment is likely to be damaged or disrupted by the impact of a
hazard.
2.0 ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE STANDING OPERATING PROCEDURES
ADMIN. - Administration
A/Ops O - Assistant Operations Officer
ASO - Administration and Support Officer
ASP - Assistant Superintendent of Police
Asst. - Assistant
CDERA - Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency
CES - Chief Executive of State
CO - Communications Officer
DEOC - Divisional Emergency Operations Center
EC - Emergency Controller
EOC - Emergency Operations Center
ESM - Emergency Site Manager
GPO - General Post Office
HAZMAT - Hazardous Material
HF - High Frequency
HQ - Headquarters
LO - Liaison Officer
Nat - National
NCCC - National Communications Coordination Center
NCOs - Non Commissioned Officers
NDC - National Disaster Coordinator
NEOC - National Emergency Operations Center
NEMO - National Emergency Management Organisation
Ops O - Operations Officer
PIEO - Public Information and Education Officer
PM - Prime Minister
RO - Radio Operator
Sgt. - Sergeant
SITREP - Situation Report
SOP - Standing Operating Procedures
SP - Support
SW - Short Wave
TV - Television
VCR - Video Cassette Recorder
VHF - Very High Frequency
VIP - Very Important Person
UHF - Ultra High Frequency
Vol. - Voluntary
MESSAGE HANDLING
Messages may be handled verbally. Where phonetics may clarify the words of a message, the following I.T.U Phonetic
Alphabet is recommended.
Phonetic Alphabet
A - Alpha N - November
B - Bravo O - Oscar
C - Charlie P - Papa
D - Delta Q - Quebec
E - Echo R - Romeo
F - Fox-trot S - Sierra
G - Golf T - Tango
H - Hotel U - Uniform
I - India V - Victor
J - Juliet W - Whiskey
K - Kilo X - X-ray
L - Lima Y - Yankee
M - Mike Z - Zulu
Phonetic Numbers
0 - ZERO 5 - FIFE
1 - WUN 6 - SIX
2 - TOO 7 - SEVEN
3 - THUH REE 8 - ATE
4 - FOR WER 9 - NINER
10 - WUN ZERO
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