The American Sign Language Glossary
Deaf and hard of hearing populations have historically struggled to gain access to information in their daily lives. This struggle is intensified during disasters and emergencies. This American Sign Language (ASL) glossary aims to increase that access by defining terminology that certified ASL interpreters will use when delivering emergency information to the public during a disaster. The videos feature Certified Deaf Interpreters Shelley Herbold and Beca Bailey, who are qualified interpreters under the Emergency Response Interpreter Credentialing (ERIC) Program.
The Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA) created the ASL glossary of emergency management terminology through a grant from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Emergency, Disaster
Emergency, Disaster
Emergency: Any event that can adversely impact the health and safety of people or property; Disaster: A sudden event, such as an accident or a natural catastrophe, that causes great damage or loss of life.
Evacuation
Evacuation
An organized, phased and supervised withdrawal, dispersal, or removal of civilians from dangerous or potentially dangerous areas, and their reception and care in safe areas.
Creeping (Ground Fire)
Creeping (Ground Fire)
Fire burning with a low flame and spreading slowly.
Crown Fire
Crown Fire
A fire that advances from top to top of trees or shrubs more or less independent of a surface fire.
Community Immunity
Community Immunity
A situation in which a sufficient proportion of a population is immune to an infectious disease (through vaccination and/or prior illness) to make its spread from person to person unlikely. Even individuals not vaccinated (such as newborns and those with chronic illnesses) are offered some protection because the disease has little opportunity to spread within the community. Also known as herd immunity.
Contact
Contact
Proximity to or interaction with a person who is or was sick
Containment Integrity
Containment Integrity
A condition in which the containment structure is intact and all systems which operate to ensure its effectiveness as a fission product barrier are functional.
Contamination, Decontamination
Contamination, Decontamination
Contamination - The deposition of unwanted radioactive material on the surfaces of structures, areas, objects, or people where it may be external or internal. Decontamination - the reduction or removal of radioactive contamination from a structure, object, or person; decontamination showers use tap water at high pressure with a lot of soap, and shower must last for a minimum of 15 minutes.
Emergency, Disaster
Emergency, Disaster
Emergency: Any event that can adversely impact the health and safety of people or property; Disaster: A sudden event, such as an accident or a natural catastrophe, that causes great damage or loss of life.
Evacuation
Evacuation
An organized, phased and supervised withdrawal, dispersal, or removal of civilians from dangerous or potentially dangerous areas, and their reception and care in safe areas.