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.
Evacuation Shelter
Evacuation Shelter
An Evacuation Shelter serves the general population in an existing facility (or facilities), such as a school, community center, convention center, or church that has been temporarily converted for use as a shelter for disaster survivors. The shelter will meet the basic life-sustaining needs of shelter residents until the threat has passed (typically 72 hours or less), or until shelter residents transfer or transition to a Short-Term Shelter. Services typically include: basic food items or snacks, hydration, basic medical care, sanitation, and disaster-related information.
Incident Management Team
Incident Management Team
"An Incident Management Team (IMT) provides on-scene incident management support during incidents or events that exceed a jurisdiction's or agency’s capability or capacity. Teams include members of local, state, tribal and territorial entities; Nongovernmental Organizations (NGO); and private sector organizations. Teams encompass various agencies and jurisdictions. 1. Deploys to manage emergency responses, incidents, or planned events requiring a higher capability or capacity level than the requesting jurisdiction or organization can provide 2. Assists with incident management activities during all-hazards events, including natural and human-caused events, as well as planned events 3. Assumes management of the incident for the requesting jurisdiction or agency, or supports a local Incident Commander (IC) or Unified Command and its IMT in managing an incident or event 4. Directs tactical resources that the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) and other supporting organizations provide 5. Coordinates with Emergency Operations Center (EOC) personnel regarding incident management objectives and support 6. Typically supports incident management activities of a corresponding incident complexity; for example, a Type 2 IMT typically supports a Type 2 incident 7. Has short- and long-team configurations; long-team configurations include additional positions and capabilities to meet an incident's needs based on results of a complexity analysis"
Deep Seated Fire
Deep Seated Fire
A fire burning far below the surface in duff, mulch, peat, or other combustibles as contrasted with a surface fire.
Defensible Space
Defensible Space
The buffer you create between a building on your property and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland area that surround it. This space is needed to slow or stop the spread of wildfire and it protects your home from catching fire—either from direct flame contact or radiant heat. Defensible space is also important for the protection of the firefighters defending your home.
Contagious
Contagious
When germs have the ability to spread from a person or animal to another person or animal
Disease Registry or Registry
Disease Registry or Registry
A collection of information or list about a group of people with a specific sickness; system for recording or tracking specific sicknesses
Control Room
Control Room
The central location from which the plant is operated, monitored and controlled. The control room is equipped with the instrumentation and alarms necessary to continually assess the status of the reactor plant. The control room is continuously manned.
Critical
Critical
In reference to the reactor, a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction that releases energy. During normal plant operations the reactor is 'critical'.
Evacuation Shelter
Evacuation Shelter
An Evacuation Shelter serves the general population in an existing facility (or facilities), such as a school, community center, convention center, or church that has been temporarily converted for use as a shelter for disaster survivors. The shelter will meet the basic life-sustaining needs of shelter residents until the threat has passed (typically 72 hours or less), or until shelter residents transfer or transition to a Short-Term Shelter. Services typically include: basic food items or snacks, hydration, basic medical care, sanitation, and disaster-related information.
Incident Management Team
Incident Management Team
"An Incident Management Team (IMT) provides on-scene incident management support during incidents or events that exceed a jurisdiction's or agency’s capability or capacity. Teams include members of local, state, tribal and territorial entities; Nongovernmental Organizations (NGO); and private sector organizations. Teams encompass various agencies and jurisdictions. 1. Deploys to manage emergency responses, incidents, or planned events requiring a higher capability or capacity level than the requesting jurisdiction or organization can provide 2. Assists with incident management activities during all-hazards events, including natural and human-caused events, as well as planned events 3. Assumes management of the incident for the requesting jurisdiction or agency, or supports a local Incident Commander (IC) or Unified Command and its IMT in managing an incident or event 4. Directs tactical resources that the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) and other supporting organizations provide 5. Coordinates with Emergency Operations Center (EOC) personnel regarding incident management objectives and support 6. Typically supports incident management activities of a corresponding incident complexity; for example, a Type 2 IMT typically supports a Type 2 incident 7. Has short- and long-team configurations; long-team configurations include additional positions and capabilities to meet an incident's needs based on results of a complexity analysis"