National Mutual Aid and Resource Management Initiative
Glossary of Terms and Definitions




National Mutual Aid and Resource Management Initiative
Glossary of Terms and Definitions



Purpose
This glossary of terms and definitions provides a basic understanding of the resources commonly used and/or exchanged during a disaster.  These terms provide a basis for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) resource typing initiative.  An annex of 11 Federal assets is also included in the glossary to provide a snapshot of the Federal capabilities available to State and local entities.  The glossary is a living document, and will continuously be updated and revised.  To provide additional information to the glossary, please e-mail Mr. Jon Mark Jenkins at jonathan.jenkins@associates.dhs.gov.

Background
The National Mutual Aid and Resource Management Initiative supports the National Incident Management System (NIMS) by establishing a comprehensive, integrated national mutual aid and resource management system that provides the basis to type, order, and track all (Federal, State, and local) response assets. 

For ease of ordering and tracking, response assets need to be categorized via resource typing.  Resource typing is the categorization and description of resources that are commonly exchanged in disasters via mutual aid, by capacity and/or capability.  Through resource typing, disciplines examine resources and identify the capabilities of a resource's components (i.e., personnel, equipment, training).  During a disaster, an emergency manager knows what capability a resource needs to have to respond efficiently and effectively. Resource typing definitions will help define resource capabilities for ease of ordering and mobilization during a disaster.  As a result of the resource typing process, a resource's capability is readily defined and an emergency manager is able to effectively and efficiently request and receive resources through mutual aid during times of disaster.

Web Site
For more information, you can also refer to the National Mutual Aid and Resource Management Web site located at:  http://www.fema.gov/nims/mutual_aid.shtm. 

Alphabetical Listing of Terms

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A

Advanced Life Support (ALS) Ambulance
An ambulance service capable of delivering advanced skills performed by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) practitioners (e.g., intravenous [IV] fluids and drug administration).

Air Ambulance
A rotary-wing aircraft configured, staffed, and equipped to respond, care for, and transport patients.  A rotary-wing aircraft must be approved/licensed by a State to do so.

Air Conditioner/Heater
A specialized climate-controlled piece of equipment used to support cooling and/or heating requirements within enclosed structures.  Requires mobilization to the desired site, along with set-up requirements, such as power hookup and duct installation.  Amps can range from 24 to 260 or more.  Equipment used to accommodate schools and malls to small office and tent settings.

Air Search and Rescue Team
Team provides search and rescue emergency airlift and other special services at the request of, and to support, State and county agency needs.

Air Search Team (Fixed-Wing)
Team provides airborne search, emergency airlift, airborne communications, and other special services.  Varying levels of specialized management support and command and control capabilities are included in team structures.  

Air Tanker (Fixed-Wing Firefighting Aircraft Tanker)
Any fixed-wing aircraft certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as being capable of transport and delivery of fire retardant solutions.

Airborne Communications Relay Team (Fixed-Wing), Civil Air Patrol (CAP)
A CAP Airborne Communications Relay Team provides airborne communications relay using fixed-wing platforms to support Federal, State, and local agency needs. Relays are primarily conducted through aircrews, but can also be accomplished through electronic repeaters carried aboard Civil Air Patrol (CAP) aircrafts.  Varying levels of specialized management support and command and control capabilities are included in team structures.

Airborne Reconnaissance (Fixed-Wing)
An airborne reconnaissance fixed-wing observation aircraft is capable of flying back video or still imagery from an incident/disaster scene.

Airborne Transport (Fixed-Wing) Team, Civil Air Patrol (CAP)
A CAP Airborne Transport (Fixed-Wing) Team provides limited airborne transportation and emergency airlift to support Federal, State, and local agency needs using light fixed-wing platforms owned by the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). Varying levels of specialized management support and command and control capabilities are included in team structures.

Aircraft Rescue Firefighting (ARFF)
A motor-driven vehicle, designed and constructed for the purpose of aircraft rescue and fighting fires and capable of delivering Class B Foam, providing a specified level of pumping, water, hose, and rescue capacity and personnel.

All-Terrain Cranes
A self-propelled, all-terrain, hydraulic crane capable of traveling over primary, secondary, and off-road surfaces at the tactical support level.  Technical characteristics include diesel engine, power shift transmission, three-mode steering, and independently controlled hydraulic outriggers telescoping boom.  Comes in various lifting capabilities and is used for construction, maintenance, bridging, and resupply activities.  Mobilization of larger all-terrain cranes requires tractor-trailer support for booms and jibs along with additional escort services.

Alpine Search and Rescue Team (Snow and Ice Rescue)
Team conducts search and rescue operations for individuals in a high-altitude alpine environment.

Ambulance Strike Team
An Ambulance Strike Team is a group of five ambulances of the same type with common communications and a leader.  It provides an operational grouping of ambulances complete with supervisory elements for organization command and control.  The strike teams may be all ALS or all BLS.  

Ambulance Task Force
An Ambulance Task Force is a group of any combination of ambulances, within span of control, with common communications and a leader.

Animal Health Incident Management Team
Team provides overall management of animal-related volunteers and donations.

Animal Rescue Team
A team proficient in animal handling and capture and management (minimum teams of two).  Environments include water (swift water and flood), wildfire, and hazardous materials (HazMat) conditions.  Operations include communications and/or evacuations to effect animal rescue.

Animal Health Technician
Technician performs variety of animal healthcare duties to assist veterinarians in settings such as veterinarians' clinics, zoos, research laboratories, kennels, and commercial facilities.  Prepares treatment room for examination of animals and holds or restrains animals during examination, treatment, or inoculation. 

Animal Sheltering Team
A team proficient in animal handling, animal care, and animal shelter management and manages the setup, management, and staffing of temporary animal shelters.

Animal Treatment Team - Small
A self-equipped team proficient in the medical treatment of companion animals affected by disasters.

Area Command Team, Firefighting
	An Area Command Team is an interagency organization under the auspices of NWCG (1) oversee the management of multiple incidents that are each being handled by an incident management team (IMT) organization; or (2) to oversee the management of a very large incident that has multiple IMTs assigned to it.  Area Command has the responsibility to set overall strategy and priorities, allocate critical resources based on priorities, ensure incidents are properly managed, and that objectives are met and strategies followed.  

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Backhoe Loader (Wheel Loader; Backhoe)
This is dual-purpose equipment used for loading materials and excavating.  Components are located at each end of the equipment.  The loading attachments are usually to the front end and the excavating attachment is to the rear. Equipment is available with all-wheel or two-wheel drive.  Various sizes are available.  Mobilization can be self-propelled and/or on a flat bed trailer.  Refer to definitions of wheel loaders (medium to small) and hydraulic excavators for a sampling of capabilities.   

Basic Life Support (BLS) Ambulance
An ambulance service capable of delivering basic emergency interventions performed by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) practitioners trained and credentialed to do so (e.g., splinting, bandaging, oxygen administration).

Biological Agent
Living organisms or the materials derived from them (such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and toxins) that cause disease in or harm to humans, animals, or plants, or cause deterioration of material.

Boat, Fire
A vessel or watercraft designed and constructed for the purpose of fighting fires providing specified level of pumping capacity.  The boat is designed with the ability to carry firefighting foam and personnel for the extinguishments of fires in the marine environment.

Bomb Squad/Explosives Teams
A police unit specializing in the investigation and disarming of suspected explosive devices.

Bomb Suits
Suits made of Kevlar(r) (inner material) and Nomex 3 (outer material to protect from fire).

Breathing Apparatus Support (SCBA Support; Breathing Air, Firefighting) 
A mobile unit designed and constructed for the purpose of providing specified level of breathing air support capacity and personnel capable of refilling self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) at remote incident locations (Compressor Systems or Cascade).

Brush Patrol Unit, Firefighting (Brush Patrol)
Any light, mobile vehicular unit with limited pumping and water capacity for off-road operations.

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Canine Recovery Team (Cadaver Dog Team; K-9 Recovery Team)
Team provides highly trained air scent recovery dog teams for search and recovery operations for deceased victims.

Canine Search Team (Search Dog Team; Dog Rescue Team; K-9 Rescue Team)
Team provides highly trained search dog teams for search and rescue operations for living and deceased victims in a variety of environments.  Teams can be broken into three capabilities:  air scent (primary), tracking/trailing, and disaster dogs. 

Cave Search and Rescue Team (Technical Rescue Team)
Team performs search and rescue services to locate and remove injured, lost, or deceases individuals from caves and caverns.  Team members work in totally dark environments that may include vertical drops, narrow or small spaces, boulder fields and scree slopes, cold, and water hazards.

Chemical/Biological (C/B) Protective Ensemble
A compliant vapor-protective ensemble that is also certified as being compliant with the additional requirements for protection against C/B warfare agents such as vapors, gases, liquids, and particulate.  (National Fire Protection Association [NFPA] Standard # 1991)

Chemical Warfare Agent
A chemical substance (such as a nerve agent, blister agent, blood agent, choking agent, or irritating agent) used to kill, seriously injure, or incapacitate people through its physiological effects.

Chillers and Air Handlers
A portable system that produces cold water through a series of components. When equipped with an air handler, cold air is generated and distributed. Requires mobilization to the desired site along with setup requirements, such as power hookup, water connections, and duct installation.

Collapse Search and Rescue Team (Technical Rescue Team)
Team responds to locate, rescue, and recover individuals trapped in a fallen structure or buried in structural collapse.

Communications Support Team, Civil Air Patrol (CAP)
A CAP Communications Support Team establishes and maintains CAP communications infrastructure in support of Federal, State, and local agencies.

Confined Space Search and Rescue Team (Mine Search and Rescue)
Team provides search and rescue services to individuals in an enclosed area with limited entry or egress, which has a configuration not designed for human occupancy, such that an entrant could become trapped or asphyxiated.  An Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) permit is required for confined space operations.

Crawler Cranes
Crawler cranes have a steel undercarriage.  Usually used for long-term applications where significant weights and reaches are a factor.  Stabilization is accomplished through precise boom and counterweight configuration.  Best used on level working areas.  Several mobilization units will be required to transport boom units and counterweights.  Set-up time can be accomplished with relative ease and speed once all components are available for assembly.

Crew Transport
Any vehicle capable of transporting a specified number of crew personnel in a specified manner.

Critical Care Transport (CCT)
An ambulance transport of a patient from a scene or a clinical setting whose condition warrants care commensurate with the scope of practice of a physician or registered nurse (e.g., capable of providing advanced hemodynamic support and monitoring, use of ventilators, infusion pumps, advanced skills, therapies, and techniques).

Critical Incident Stress Management Team (CISMT)
A Critical Incident Stress Management Team is responsible for the prevention and mitigation of disabling stress among emergency responders in accordance with the standards of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF). Team composition, management, membership and governance varies, but can include psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and licensed professional counselors.

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Debris Management Monitoring Team
Team manages oversight of the removal, collection, and disposal of debris following a disaster, to mitigate against any potential threat to the health, safety, and welfare of the impacted citizens, and expedite recovery efforts in the impacted area, and address any threat of significant damage to improved public or private property.  To act as the representing agent for the owner/agency hiring for this service providing overall coordination with all levels of government and other Emergency Support Functions (ESFs).  Provides daily reports as required.  Required liability coverage for all aspects of operations and financial capabilities to manage progressive monitoring processes.

Debris Management Site Reduction Team
A debris management site reduction team is designed to reduce debris from affected areas, and aims at limiting the modification of the site to the extent practicable to minimize site closure and restoration activities and cost.  Teams must have knowledge and expertise to perform varying debris reduction separation techniques, including at minimum four categories:  woody vegetative debris, construction or building rubble, hazardous materials [HazMat], and recyclable materials (e.g., aluminum, cast iron, steel, or household white goods or appliances).  These methods of debris reduction separation could include grinding or mulching, air curtain incineration or ash, compaction, recycling, or other specialized separation techniques.  Teams should have appropriate education and training in managing inspection stations located at such debris reduction sites, recycling locations, or temporary debris staging reduction sites.  The management of said inspection stations shall at all times comply with OSHA, ADA, and other regulatory requirements.  Routine maintenance of temporary debris staging reduction sites will be undertaken regularly to ensure no additional environmental impacts and that regulatory requirements are met.  Upon completion of debris removal, teams shall provide a timely closeout of the debris reduction site by testing soil and water samples to compare with pre-use baselines, remove all unnecessary debris and equipment from the site, conduct environmental audits, and develop a restoration plan for the site.  For quality assurance, teams shall provide debris monitors to observe and provide guidance to workers, whether government or contractual, that may assist in the process.  All debris collected, separated, and analyzed by such debris reduction site management teams shall be done so in accordance with Federal, State, territorial, Tribal, or local laws, standards, and regulations.

Debris Management Team
Team facilitates and coordinates the removal, collection, and disposal of debris following a disaster, to mitigate against any potential threat to the health, safety, and welfare of the impacted citizens, and expedite recovery efforts in the impacted area, and address any threat of significant damage to improved public or private property.  Team mobilization will vary depending on the team selection, need, and or emergency.   Debris removal process will vary depending on the team selection and need.

Decontamination
The physical or chemical process of reducing and preventing the spread of contaminants from persons and equipment used at a hazardous materials (HazMat) incident.  (National Fire Protection Association [NFPA] Standard # 472)

Deployable Portable Morgue Unit (DPMU)
Mobile equipment and operations facility, fully equipped to support DMORT functions.  Add-on to DMORT when no local morgue facilities are available.  Supports either standard DMORT or DMORT-WMD.

Deployment
Departure of team or personnel from home unit or base.

Desert Search and Rescue Team (Wilderness Rescue Team) 
Conducts search and rescue missions, evidence searches, and responds to other disaster or emergency situations in a desert environment.

Disaster Assessment Team
Governed by type and magnitude of the disaster, the structure of the team consists of people most knowledgeable about the collection or material inventory of the disaster site, and assessing the magnitude and extent of impact on both the population and infrastructure of society.  Trained specifically for disaster assessment techniques, team members are multidisciplinary and can include health personnel, engineering specialists, logisticians, environmental experts, and communications specialists.  Responsibilities include recording observations and decisions made by the team, photographing and recording disaster site damage, and investigating where damage exists.  Teams also analyze the significance of affected infrastructures, estimate the extent of damages, and establish initial priorities for recovery.  Disaster assessment teams can perform an initial assessment that comprises situational and needs assessments in the early, critical stages of a disaster to determine the type of relief needed for an emergency response, or they may carry out a much more expedited process termed a rapid assessment.

Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) - Basic, National Disaster Medical System (NDMS)
A DMAT is a volunteer group of medical and nonmedical individuals, usually from the same State or region of a State, which has formed a response team under the guidance of the NDMS (or under similar State or local auspices).  Usually includes a mix of physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, pharmacists, emergency medical technicians, other allied health professionals, and support staff.  Standard DMAT has 35 deployable personnel.  See Annex A:  Federal Response Teams for more detailed information on this Federal Resource.

Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) - Burn Specialty, National Disaster Medical System (NDMS)
A Burn Specialty DMAT is a volunteer group of medical and nonmedical individuals, usually from the same State or region of a State, that has formed a response team under the guidance of the NDMS (or State or local auspices), and whose personnel have specific training/skills in the acute management of burn trauma patients.  Members of the burn team are especially trained surgeons, nurses, and support personnel that include physical and occupational therapists, social workers, child life specialists, psychologists, nutrition and pharmacy consultants, respiratory therapists, chaplains, and volunteers.  Team composition is usually determined ad hoc, based on the mission at hand.  See Annex A:  Federal Response Teams for more detailed information on this Federal Resource.

Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) - Crush Injury Specialty, National Disaster Medical System (NDMS)
A Crush Injury Specialty DMAT is a volunteer group of medical and nonmedical individuals, usually from the same State or region of a State, that has formed a response team under the guidance of the NDMS (or State or local auspices), and whose personnel have specific training/skills in the management of crush injury patients.  Crush teams deal with crush and penetrating injuries.  Usually includes a mix of physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, pharmacists, emergency medical technicians, other allied health professionals, and support staff.  Team composition is usually determined ad hoc, based on the mission at hand.  See Annex A:  Federal Response Teams for more detailed information on this Federal Resource.

Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) - Mental Health Specialty, National Disaster Medical System (NDMS)
A Mental Health Specialty DMAT is a volunteer group of medical and nonmedical individuals, usually from the same State or region of a State, that has formed a response team under the guidance of the NDMS (or State or local auspices), and whose personnel have specific training/skills in the management of psychiatric patients.  A multidisciplinary staff of specially trained and licensed mental health professionals provides emergency mental health assessment and crisis intervention services.  Usually includes a mix of physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, pharmacists, emergency medical technicians, other allied health professionals, and support staff.  Team composition is usually determined ad hoc, based on the mission at hand.  See Annex A:  Federal Response Teams for more detailed information on this Federal Resource.

Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) - Pediatric Specialty, National Disaster Medical System (NDMS)
A Pediatric Specialty DMAT is a volunteer group of medical and nonmedical individuals, usually from the same State or region of a State, that has formed a response team under the guidance of the NDMS (or State or local auspices), and whose personnel have specific training/skills in the management of pediatric patients.  Usually includes a mix of physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, pharmacists, emergency medical technicians, other allied health professionals, and support staff.  Team composition is usually determined ad hoc, based on the mission at hand.  See Annex A:  Federal Response Teams for more detailed information on this Federal Resource.

Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT), National Disaster Medical System (NDMS)
A DMORT is a volunteer group of medical and forensic personnel, usually from the same geographic region, that has formed a response team under the guidance of the NDMS (or State or local auspices), and whose personnel have specific training/skills in victim identification, mortuary services, and forensic pathology and anthropology methods.  Usually includes a mix of medical examiners, coroners, pathologists, forensic anthropologists, medical records technicians, fingerprint technicians, forensic odentologists, dental assistants, radiologists, funeral directors, mental health professionals, and support personnel.  DMORTs are mission-tailored on an ad-hoc basis, and usually deploy only with personnel and equipment specifically required for current mission.  See Annex A:  Federal Response Teams for more detailed information for this Federal Resource.

Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT) - Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), National Disaster Medical System (NDMS)
Same as DMORT except adds additional capability to deal with deceased persons residually contaminated by chemical, biological, or radiological agents.

Disaster Recovery Team
A Disaster Recovery team is governed by type and magnitude of the disaster, the structure of the team consists of people most knowledgeable about the collection or material inventory of the disaster site, as they direct their efforts to recovery of both the population and infrastructure of society.  Responsibilities include separating collections and other materials to be salvaged, moving material to be recovered from affected areas to work or other storage locations for drying materials, and packing materials that will require shipment to another facility.  Other responsibilities include maintaining records and photographs of the recovery effort, and establishing inventories and data collection of items as they are sent out of the building/affected location to off-site storage or other facilities.  The Disaster Recovery Team may also label items that have lost inventory numbers, label or relabel boxes with locator information, and label boxes for shipment.

Donations Coordinator
The Donations Coordinator is a subsection of a Donations Management Team and has working knowledge of the Individual Assistance and Public Assistance functions under FEMA/State agreement. 
A Donations Coordinator also has working knowledge of establishing long-term recovery committees on local levels following events.  A Donations Coordinator possesses an operational knowledge of all aspects of donations coordination, including management of solicited and unsolicited funds, goods and services from concerned citizens and private organizations following a catastrophic disaster situation.

Donations Management Team
A donations management team consists of one or two persons trained and experienced in all aspects of donations management.  The team will be deployed to a disaster-affected jurisdiction after impact to assist in the organization and operations of State or local donations management in support of the affected jurisdiction.

Dozer (Bulldozer; Track Dozer)
A dozer is specialized equipment used for leveling dirt, debris, and other materials.  Equipment is usually associated with large mass movement of various materials.  Often used for reducing or increasing grade elevations for roads, airports, and land clearing operations.  It is also capable of ripping and moving of ledge rock and other rock materials through the use of a special attachment.  Also used for cross-country lying of communication infrastructure through special attachments.  

Dump Trailer
Truck with a trailer attachment that has a dump body permanently attached.  Dump body capacities will usually range from 20 yards to 50 yards.  The equipment requires a level surface for dumping. The requirements from hauling over the road necessitate the equipment to be licensed by appropriate local jurisdictions.  This equipment must meet specific standards for safety for hauling over the road whereby operators are usually required to have a commercial driver's license.  This equipment is capable of transporting various aggregates along with construction and demolition debris.  Typically used for long hauls.   

Dump Truck, Off Road
	Truck with a dump body permanently attached.  Equipment is usually used in an off-road situation.  Equipment is usually all wheel drive with large mass capacities. It can maneuver in steep, semi-wet conditions and various weather elements.  The equipment requires a semi-level surface for dumping. Often used for large mass projects where earth materials are moved within the project area.  Often used in airport/road construction and open pit mining. 

Dump Truck, On Road
Truck with a dump body permanently attached.  Dump body capacities will usually range from 3 yards to 20 yards.   This equipment is capable of transporting various aggregates along with construction and demolition debris.  

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Electrical Power Restoration Team
The electrical power restoration team is dependent upon event or disaster size and will be supported by various personal expertises.  The teams are usually activated through power company mutual aid agreements.  The assignment of personnel and equipment will be dependent upon availability of the releasing mutual aid partner, and will have an agreed timeframe for the release of these said resources.  The restoration team coordinates and supports resources of energy producers to quickly restore electrical power to afflicted areas.  The host recipients will provide or assist with accommodations for the duration of the team stay.  Teams should possess the experience and financial capabilities to support equipment, personnel, and to maintain operations for an indefinite period of time.

EMAC Advanced Team (EMAC A-Team)
The EMAC Advance Team is a team (typically comprised of 2 staff) of EMAC trained and experienced personnel designated to deploy to a State to facilitate interState mutual aid assistance under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). The mission of the EMAC Advance Team is to implement EMAC on behalf of the requesting State by coordinating and facilitating the provision of assistance from other member States in accordance with procedures set forth in the EMAC Standard Operating Procedures.

Emergency Medical Task Force
An Emergency Medical Task Force is any combination (within span of control) of resources (Ambulances, Rescues, Engines, Squads, etc) assembled for a medical mission, with common communications, and a leader (supervisor).  Self-sufficient for 12 hour operational periods, although it may be deployed longer, depending on need.  

Emergency Response Team - Advance Element (ERT-A)
The portion of the ERT-A first deployed to the field, usually the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC), and the disaster site to join State emergency management personnel to coordinate Federal assistance, determine the extent and focus of initial disaster response activities, and identify a suitable DFO site.

Emergency Response Team - National (ERT-N)
Team provides coordination for Federal response and recovery activities within a State.  Once the ERT-N is operational at the Disaster Field Office (DFO), it assumes responsibility from the Regional Operations Center (ROC) staff for management of the Federal response and recovery operation.  Major organizational elements of the ERT-N include operations, logistics, information and planning, and administration sections.  These four sections coordinate at the staff level and provide mutual support to accomplish priority missions.  This coordination includes interaction, consultation, planning, information sharing, operational decisionmaking, and commitment of resources. 

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
A practitioner credentialed by a State to function as an EMT by a State Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system.

EMS Strike Team
A team comprised of five resources or less of the same type with a supervisor and common communications capability. Whether it is five resources or less, a specific number must be identified for the team.  For instance, a basic life support (BLS) strike team would be five BLS units and a supervisor or, for example, an advanced life support (ALS) strike team would be comprised of five ALS units and a supervisor.

EMS Task Force
A team comprised of five resources or less of the same type with a supervisor and common communications capability.  Whether it is five resources or less, a specific number must be identified for the team.  For instance, an EMS task force might be comprised of two ALS teams and three BLS teams and a supervisor.

Engine, Fire (Engine Company)
Any ground vehicle providing specified levels of pumping, water, hose capacity, and staffed with a minimum number of personnel.

Engineering Services
Depending on the type and magnitude of a disaster or terrorist incident, engineering service expertise will be used accordingly based on discipline specialization.  In a general sense, the services that could be provided through engineering services include structural, electrical, civil, mechanical, architectural, geotechnical, and environmental/hazardous materials.  Emergency management engineering service providers should posses in-depth knowledge of damage assessment, safety evaluation, transportation infrastructure evaluation per Federal Highway Administration damage assessment procedures, cost recovery per the Stafford Act, and debris management.  Additional skills of such engineering service providers should encompass evaluation of hazardous materials, traffic management, utility restoration, water and wastewater quality evaluations, telecommunications operations, and support for the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force.  Engineering service providers should have the ability, experience, and knowledge to interact with the Army Corps of Engineers and other Federal agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, along with State, territorial, Tribal, or local building and utility inspectors.  Other engineering services that can be provided should include strategic planning for technology, programs, concept development and requirements analysis, system design and integration, tests and evaluation, and integrated logistics support for emergency management.

Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Management Support Team
Team provides support to an Incident Commander (IC).  An IC is an optional member of the team, because it is assumed that an Incident Command/lead has already been established under which these support functions will operate.  Typically comprised of an information officer, liaison officer, safety officer, logistics officer, and administrative aide.

EOC Finance/Administration Section Coordinator
An EOC Finance/Administration Section Coordinator is an individual at the EOC responsible for tracking incident costs and reimbursement accounting, and coordinating/administering support for EOC personnel during disaster operations. This function is part of the standardized ICS structure per the National Incident Management System. If situation warrants, chief/coordinator oversees subunits of this function, including Compensation/Claims, Procurement, Cost, and Time.

EOC Operations Section Chief
An EOC Operations Section Chief is an individual at the EOC responsible for managing tactical operations at the incident site directed toward reducing the immediate hazard, saving lives and property, establishing situation control, and restoring normal conditions; responsible for the delivery and coordination of disaster assistance programs and services, including emergency assistance, human services assistance, and infrastructure assistance; and oversight of subunits of Operations Section, including Branches (up to five), Division/Groups (up to 25) and Resources as warranted.

EOC Planning Section Chief
The EOC Planning Section Chief is an individual at the EOC who oversees all incident-related data gathering and analysis regarding incident operations and assigned resources, develops alternatives for tactical operations, conducts planning meetings, and prepares the IAP for each operational period.

Equipment Transport (Heavy Equipment Transport)
Any ground vehicle capable of transporting a dozer or tractor.

Evacuation Coordination Team
An Evacuation Coordination Team provides support in State and local emergency response efforts by compiling, analyzing, and disseminating traffic-related information that can be used to facilitate the rapid, efficient, and safe evacuation of threatened populations. Primarily operates in the State or local EOC as an extension of Emergency Support Function (ESF) #1 - Transportation. The mission of the Evacuation Coordination Team is to provide for the protection of life and/or property by removing endangered persons and property form potential or actual disaster areas to areas of less danger through the successful execution of evacuation procedures.

Evacuation Liaison Team
Team provides support in State and local emergency response efforts by compiling, analyzing, and disseminating traffic-related information that can be used to facilitate the rapid, efficient, and safe evacuation of threatened populations.  Primarily operates in the State or local EOC as an extension of Emergency Support Function (ESF) #1 - Transportation.

Evidence Response Team (ERT)
An Evidence Recovery Team (ERT) is capable of providing 24-hour access to specialized decontamination equipment for chemical release and advice to the On-Scene Coordinator in hazard evaluation; risk assessment; multimedia sampling and analysis; on-site safety, including development and implementation of plans; cleanup techniques and priorities; water supply decontamination and protection; application of dispersants; environmental assessment; degree of cleanup required; and disposal of contaminated material.  

External Resources
Resources that fall outside a team's particular agency, including other agency resources or commercially contracted resources.

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F

Field Mobile Mechanic
A motor-driven vehicle designed and constructed to provide specified level of equipment capacity and mechanically trained personnel.

Field Veterinary Medical Officer (Veterinary Medical Field Officer)
A professional veterinarian, who works to implement animal and poultry disease control programs.  Duties can include supervising animal and poultry disease control and eradication services; contacting animal and poultry owners and organizations to explain disease control programs and to provide veterinary medicine advice; conducting epidemiologic investigation of disease outbreaks; inspecting health certificates, livestock auctions, and animal and poultry dealer records; monitoring animal and poultry production and marketing activities; and preparing surveys and reports of disease prevalence.

Flash Fire Protective Ensemble
A compliant vapor-protective ensemble that is also certified as being compliant with the additional requirements for limited protection against chemical flash fire for escape only.  (National Fire Protection Association [NFPA] Standard # 1991)

Flat Bed Trailer Truck
	Truck with a trailer attachment usually used for the transportation of goods and other commodities across long distances.  Depending on the payload, some flat bed trucks have expandable tandems for meeting weight requirements.  Flatbeds are usually a fifth-wheel mounted assembly.  Payloads can be as much as 80,000 pounds and more if permitted.

Food Dispenser Unit (Food Dispenser)
Any vehicle capable of dispensing food to incident personnel.

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Generators
Diesel-fueled engine generators are used to support electrical requirements at facilities of various sizes such as hospitals, housing, plants, and commercial stores.  Units are usually mounted on tow behind or trailer mobilized equipment.  Deployment and set up can be accomplished within hours.

Geographical Incident Management Teams, Firefighting
A Geographical Incident Management Team is an interagency organization under the auspices of the Geographical Area Coordination Group composed of the Incident Commander (IC), and appropriate general and command staff personnel assigned to an incident, trained and certified to the Type II level.  Type II level personnel may lack the degree of training and experience of Type I personnel in managing complex incidents at the type one level.   

Ground Ambulance (Medical Transport)
A ground transport vehicle configured, equipped, and staffed to respond to, care for, and transport patients.

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Hazardous Materials (HazMat)
Any material that is explosive, flammable, poisonous, corrosive, reactive, or radioactive, or any combination thereof, and requires special care in handling because of the hazards it poses to public health, safety, and/or the environment.  Any hazardous substance under the Clean Water Act, or any element, compound, mixture, solution, or substance designated under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA); any hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA); any toxic pollutant listed under pretreatment provisions of the Clean Water Act; any hazardous pollutant under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act; or any imminent hazardous chemical substance for which the administrator has taken action under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 7. (Section 101[14] CERCLA)

Hazardous Material Response Team
An organized group of individuals that is trained and equipped to perform work to control actual or potential leaks, spills, discharges, or releases of HazMat, requiring possible close approach to the material.  The team/equipment may include external or contracted resources.

Hazardous Materials Company
Any piece of equipment having the capabilities, personal protective equipment (PPE), equipment, and complement of personnel as specified in the Hazardous Materials Company types and minimum capabilities.  The personnel complement will include one member who is trained to a minimum level of assistant safety officer - HazMat.

Hazardous Materials Incident
Uncontrolled, unlicensed release of HazMat during storage or use from a fixed facility or during transport outside a fixed facility that may impact public health, safety, and/or the environment.

HazMat Task Force
A group of resources with common communications and a leader.  A HazMat Task Force may be preestablished and sent to an incident, or formed at the incident.

HazMat Trained and Equipped
To the level of training and equipment defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Helicopters, Firefighting (Helicopter or Copter)
An aircraft that depends principally on the lift generated by one or more rotors for its support in flight.  Capable of the delivery of firefighters, water, or chemical retardants (either a fixed tank or bucket system), and internal or external cargo.

Helitack Crew (Firefighting Crew)
A crew of firefighters specially trained and certified in the tactical and logistical use of helicopters for fire suppression.

Helitanker
A helicopter equipped with a fixed tank, Air Tanker Board certified, capable of delivering a minimum of 1,100 gallons of water, foam, or retardant (current model helicopter certified, Sikorsky S-64 Sky-Crane).

Helitanker (Firefighting Helicopter)
A helicopter equipped with a fixed tank, Air Tanker Board certified, and capable of delivering a minimum of 1,100 gallons of water, retardant, or foam.

High-Angle Rope Rescue (Rope Rescue; Technical Rock)
Rescue in which the load is predominately supported by the rope rescue system.

Hydraulic Excavator (Large Mass Excavation 13cy to 3cy Buckets)
Track undercarriage construction equipment used to excavate and load earth, blasted rock, sands, and other types of aggregate, also used to load or handle demolition materials.  Provides rapid excavation for construction and repair of runways, roads and trails, railroads, pipelines, waterways, and quarry operations.  Larger hydraulic excavators may require some dismantling in meeting mobilization requirements.  Dismantled pieces usually require additional mobilization support.  Multiple accessories are available for varying tasks.

Hydraulic Excavator (Medium Mass Excavation 4cy to 1.75cy Buckets)
Track undercarriage construction equipment that is a track-mounted, hydraulic-controlled, excavating system used to excavate and load earth, blasted rock, sands, and other types of aggregate, also used to load or handle demolition materials.  Provides rapid excavation for construction and repair of runways, roads and trails, railroads, pipelines, waterways, and quarry operations.  Slightly smaller than the larger hydraulic excavator category, these usually do not require dismantling for mobilization requirements.  If dismantling is considered, it may require additional mobilization support.  Multiple accessories are available for varying tasks.

Hydraulic Truck Cranes
Highly flexible and mobile self-propelled cranes that can be deployed with ease.  They usually do not require any setup or special mobilization consideration.  Depending on the actual lifting requirements, these cranes come in various sizes and capabilities.  Stabilizers include outrigger for stability.

Hyperspectral Imaging Support Team Civil Air Patrol (CAP)
A CAP Hyperspectral Imaging Support Team provides specialized ground support to analyze and interpret data provided by CAP ARCHER Hyperspectral Imaging systems.  ARCHER is an airborne reconnaissance asset that is only available through the CAP at the request of Federal, State, and local agencies being fielded in 2004.

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Ice Search and Rescue Team (Water Rescue Team; Public Safety Dive Team)
Team locates and rescues individuals trapped under ice-capped water.

Illumination Unit (Lighting Plant) 
A portable light-generating unit capable of providing three to six lights of 500 watts each with extension cords from 500 feet to 1,000 feet to provide specified level of illumination capacity.

Incident Management Team
A command team comprised of the Incident Commander (IC), appropriate command, and general staff personnel assigned to an incident.  (Source:  FIRESCOPE)

Incident Management Team, Animal Protection
An Animal Protection Incident Management Team, when deployed, will asses the emergency situation and determine the number of operational strike teams that will be required for rescuing, transporting, and sheltering of animals.

Incident Management Team, Firefighting
An Incident Management Team is an interagency organization under the auspices of NWCG composed of the Incident Commander (IC) and appropriate general and command staff personnel assigned to an incident, trained and certified to the Type I level.  Type I level personnel possess the highest level of training available and are experienced in the management of complex incidents.

Individual Assistance Disaster Assessment Team
An Individual Assistance Disaster Assessment Team is responsible for providing expert assessments of the disaster situation pertaining to claims for individual assistance and other programs.  

Individual Assistance Disaster Assessment Team Leader
An Individual Assistance Disaster Assessment Team Leader is the individual responsible for leading the individual assistance disaster assessment team and possesses an administrative knowledge of Individual Assistance areas.  (See Individual Assistance Disaster Assessment Team.)

In-House
Assets or expertise specifically owned, possessed, directed, and/or controlled by the responding entity. 

Instrument Flight Rules (IFRs)
Set of rules, guidelines, and procedures that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has established for pilots to operate aircraft in marginal weather conditions, usually defined as ceilings below 1,000 feet/ visibility less than 3 miles.

Interagency Buying Team, Firefighting
The Interagency Wildland Fire Community supports a Buying Team. A National Buying Team supports the procurement efforts through the local administrative staff and is authorized to procure a wide range of services, supplies, and land and equipment rentals.  In addition, the buying team leader has the responsibility of coordinating property accountability with the supply unit leader.

International Medical Surgical Response Team (IMSuRT), National Disaster Medical System (NDMS)
An IMSuRT is a volunteer group of medical and nonmedical individuals, usually from the same State or region of a State, that has formed a response team under the guidance of the NDMS and the State Department, and whose personnel and equipment give it deployable medical and surgical treatment capability, worldwide.  It is the only NDMS medical team with surgical operating room capability.  Full team consists of roughly 26 personnel, which is a mix of physicians, nurses, medical technicians, and allied personnel.  See Annex A:  Federal Response Teams for more detailed information on this Federal Resource.

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Lattice Truck Cranes
This is the larger of the wheel cranes.  Usually used for long-term applications where significant weights and reaches are a factor.  Stabilizers include outriggers for stability.  Several mobilization units will be required to transport boom units and counterweights.  Set-up time can be accomplished with relative ease and speed once all components are available for assembly.

Law Enforcement Aviation - Fixed-Wing
Fixed-wing aircraft of various sizes used for surveillance, extraditions, personnel, and cargo transportation.

Law Enforcement Aviation - Helicopters - Patrol and Surveillance
Helicopters of various sizes to provide multifunction aerial support for ground operations.

Law Enforcement Canine Teams - Cadaver Detecting Dogs
Patrol dogs trained to find and passively alert on decaying human tissues, bones, and fluids.

Law Enforcement Canine Teams - Explosive Detecting Dogs
Patrol dogs trained to detect and passively alert on a variety of odors indicating the presence of explosive devices.

Law Enforcement Canine Teams - Narcotics Detecting Dogs
Patrol dogs capable of finding and alerting on cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamines, heroin, and their derivatives.

Law Enforcement Canine Teams - Patrol Dogs (K-9s)
Trained canine units providing law enforcement with a nonlethal means of apprehending dangerous criminal offenders; detecting intruders and alerting handlers to their presence; pursuing, attacking, and holding criminal offenders who resist apprehension; searching and clearing buildings and large open areas for criminals; tracking lost children or other persons; detecting the presence of certain narcotics, explosives, and tobacco products; locating deceased subjects, crime scenes, and minute physical evidence; and providing a strong psychological deterrent to certain types of criminal misconduct.

Law Enforcement Dive Teams - Evidence Recovery
Underwater teams used to recover evidence.

Law Enforcement Dive Teams - Recovery
Underwater teams used to recover drowning victims and lost vessels.

Liquid Splash-Protective Ensemble
Multiple elements designed to provide a degree of protection for emergency response personnel from adverse exposure to the inherent risks of liquid-chemical exposure occurring during hazardous materials (HazMat) emergencies and similar operations.  The liquid splash-protective ensemble is either an encapsulating or nonencapsulating ensemble.  (National Fire Protection Association [NFPA] Standard # 1992)

Low-Angle Rope Rescue (Rope Rescue)
Rescue in which the load is predominately supported by itself and not the rope rescue system.

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M

Management Support Team (MST), National Disaster Medical System (NDMS)
An MST is a command and control team that provides support and liaison functions for other NDMS teams in the field.  MSTs are usually staffed by a mix of Federal employees and are constituted on an ad-hoc, mission-specific basis.  An MST (perhaps as small as one or two individuals) always accompanies an NDMS unit on a deployment.  See Annex A:  Federal Response Teams for more detailed information on this Federal Resource.

Mine and Tunnel Search and Rescue Team
A specially trained and equipped team that searches for, rescues, and/or recovers individuals from working or abandoned mines and tunnels.

Mine Rescue Team (Confined Space Rescue)
Team locates and rescues individuals lost or trapped in active or abandoned mine shafts or other below-ground entrapments.

Mobile Communications Center (Mobile Emergency Operations Center [EOC]; Mobile Command Center; Continuity of Operations Vehicle)
A vehicle that serves as a self-sustaining mobile operations center capable of operating in an environment with little to no basic services, facilitating communications between multiple entities using an array of fixed and/or wireless communications equipment, providing appropriate work space for routine support functions, and providing basic services for personnel in short-term or long-term deployments.

Mobile Feeding Kitchen (Mobile Field Kitchen; Rapid Deployment Kitchen)
A containerized kitchen that can be positioned forward in fulfillment of Emergency Support Function (ESF) #11 - Food and Water.  The units are used to support feeding operations at emergency incidents.

Mobile Field Force (Crowd Control Teams; Riot Dispersal Team) 
Police units trained in handling large crowds and riot situations, including specialized training in crowd dispersal, tactics, and special weapons.

Mobile Kitchen Unit
A unit designed and constructed to dispense food for incident personnel providing a specified level of capacity.

Mountain Search and Rescue Team (Wilderness Rescue Team)
Team searches for and rescues people either above the timberline or in high-angle areas below the timberline, which can include glacier, crevasse, backcountry, alpine search and rescue, and other aspects of the environment.

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National Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Incident Support Team (IST) 
ISTs are components of ERT-As that provide Federal, State, and local officials with technical assistance in the acquisition and use of search and rescue resources through advice, Incident Command assistance, management, and coordination of US&R task forces and obtaining logistic support.  See Annex A:  Federal Response Teams for more detailed information on this Federal Resource.

National Strike Force, U.S. Coast Guard
The U.S. Coast Guard National Strike Force was created in 1973 as a Coast Guard special force under the National Contingency Plan (NCP/see 40 CFR 300.145) to respond to oil and hazardous chemical incidents. The NSF consists of three interoperable regionally based Strike Teams:  Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific, and the Public Information Assist Team (PIAT). The NSF supports USCG and EPA Federal On-Scene Coordinators (FOSCs) to protect public health, welfare, and the environment. In recent years, the capabilities have been expanded to include response to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) incidents, as well as incident management assistance.

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Occupational Health & Safety Specialists (Occupational Physicians; Occupational Health Nurses; Industrial Hygienists; Occupational Safety Specialists; Occupational Safety & Health Technicians; Health and Safety Inspectors; Industrial Hygienists)
Personnel with specific training in occupational safety and health and topics such as workplace assessment or occupational medicine.  Occupational health and safety specialists and technicians help keep workplaces safe and workers in good health unscathed.  They promote occupational health and safety within organizations by developing safer, healthier, and more efficient ways of working.  They analyze work environments and design programs to control, eliminate, and prevent disease or injury caused by chemical, physical, and biological agents or ergonomic factors.  They may conduct inspections and enforce adherence to laws, regulations, or employer policies governing worker health and safety.

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Paramedic
A practitioner credentialed by a State to function at the advanced life support (ALS) level in the State Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Equipment and clothing required to shield or isolate personnel from the chemical, physical, thermal, and biological hazards that may be encountered at a hazardous materials (HazMat) incident.  (National Fire Protection Association [NFPA] Standard # 472)

Public Assistance Coordinator (PAC)
The Public Assistance Coordinator (PAC) is a subsection of the Public Assistance Team (PAT). The PAC is assigned to work with a Public Assistance (PA) applicant from declaration to funding approval. The PAC must possess an in-depth working knowledge of disaster relief laws, regulations, PA programs, and recovery roles of government and the private sector.  

Public Safety Dive Team
Team assists with location and recovery of drowning victims, evidence in criminal cases, and abandoned vehicles and provides safety divers for special events.

Public Safety Dive Team, Law Enforcement (Dive Team)
A Law Enforcement Public Safety Dive Team is a group of law enforcement divers equipped and trained to perform a variety of functions, including evidence search and recovery.

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Radio Direction Finding Team (Electronic Search Team)
Teams use radio direction finding equipment to locate distress beacons (such as emergency locator transmitters, emergency position indicating radio beacons, and personal locator beacons). Beacons may be located in remote or populated areas, as teams can expect to work in varied localities, including airfields, marinas, and geographically secluded areas.

Radiological Material
Any material that spontaneously emits ionizing radiation.  (National Fire Protection Association [NFPA] Standard # 472)

Rapid Needs Assessment (RNA) Team
Team provides a rapid assessment capability immediately following a major disaster or emergency.  The RNA Team will collect and provide information to determine requirements for critical resources needed to support emergency response activities.  The RNA Team is responsible for assessing both overall impact of a disaster event and determining Federal and/or State immediate response requirements.

Release
Any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing into the environment (including the abandonment or discharging of barrels, containers, and other closed receptacles containing any hazardous substance or pollutant or contaminant). (Section 101[22] CERCLA)

Rescue
To access, stabilize, and evacuate distressed or injured individuals by whatever means necessary to ensure their timely transfer to appropriate care or to a place of safety.

Rope Rescue (High-Angle Rescue; Low-Angle Rescue; Technical Rescue)
To rescue through the use of rigging techniques, anchor systems, belays, mechanical advantages, subject extrication techniques, and low- and high-angle rescue techniques.

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Search
To locate an overdue or missing individual, individuals, or objects.

Search Suit
Suit made of Kevlar(r) and Nomex 3, often used by, but not limited to, bomb squad personnel, significantly lighter than bomb suits; allows user to conduct search with increased mobility.

Shelter Management Team
Team provides managerial and operational support for a shelter during an emergency.  Responsibilities of the team may include all or some of the following:  operating the shelter; establishing security; ensuring the availability of adequate care, food, sanitation, and first aid; selecting and training personnel to perform operational tasks; monitoring contamination; performing decontamination; establishing exposure control and monitoring; monitoring overpressure and filtration systems; performing post-event reconnaissance; and directing egress.

Sheltering Team, Large Animal, Animal Protection
An Animal Protection Large Animal Sheltering Team will deploy for a minimum of 7 days and will be responsible for advising and supporting local efforts in setting up a large animal shelter. 

Sheltering Team, Small Animal, Animal Protection
An Animal Protection Small Animal Sheltering Team will deploy for a minimum of 7 days and will be responsible for advising and supporting local efforts in setting up a small animal shelter.

Special-Needs Shelter
A refuge specifically designed to accommodate individuals with special medical needs who are not ill enough to require hospitalization.  These shelters are supported by volunteer doctors and nurses and often have backup electric capability to support those with medical equipment reliant on electricity.

Sustainability
Ability to continue response operations for the prescribed duration necessary.

Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT)/Tactical Teams
SWAT teams are specially trained to handle high-risk situations and specialized tactical needs.  Team members have advanced skills beyond that of typical patrol officers.

Strike Team, Large Animal Rescue, Animal Protection
An Animal Protection Large Animal Rescue Strike Team is a six-member team capable of completing an average of one rescue every 30 minutes in a suburban setting and one rescue every hour in rural settings.  

Strike Team, Small Animal Rescue, Animal Protection
An Animal Protection Small Animal Rescue Strike Team is a six-member team capable of completing an average of one rescue every 30 minutes in a suburban setting and one rescue every hour in rural settings.  

Swift Water Search and Rescue Team (Flood Search and Rescue; Water Rescue Team)
Team conducts surface search and rescue operations on waterways where the water is moving fast enough to produce sufficient force to present a life and safety hazard to a person entering it.

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Tender, Foam (Firefighting Foam Tender)
The apparatus used to mix concentrate with water to make solution, pump, and mix air and solution to make foam, and transport and apply foam.

Tender, Fuel (Fuel Tender)
Any vehicle capable of supplying fuel to ground or airborne equipment.

Tender, Helicopter (Helicopter Tender)
A ground service vehicle capable of supplying fuel and support equipment to helicopters. 

Total Containment Vessel (TCV)
A TCV is designed to transport explosive or chemical devices, fully enclosed.  Used for explosive and hazardous materials (HazMat).

Tractor Trailer
	Truck with a trailer attachment used for mobilization of various goods, supplies, and equipment.  Predominately used for moving equipment, either long distances, overweight and over-width equipment, or equipment not permitted for over the road purposes, including track equipment. Trailers are either 
fifth-wheel mounted or tow behinds, depending on the size of the load.  Also used for long- and short-haul needs, including smaller equipment.  Loading and off-loading can be accomplished from either the front or the rear.  Usually the rear loading will require ramps.  If loading is done from the front, the trailer will be detached from the truck allowing use of the small ramps for loading purposes.  Front-end loading using a detachable trailer is usually used for oversized equipment.  Payloads can be as much as 80,000 pounds and more if permitted.

Transport Team, Large Animal, Animal Protection
An Animal Protection Large Animal Transport Team will deploy for a minimum of 5 days and will be responsible for transporting large animals from a disaster site.  All required vehicles will accompany team. 

Transport Team, Small Animal, Animal Protection
An Animal Protection Small Animal Transport Team will deploy for a minimum of 5 days and will be responsible for transporting large animals from a disaster site.  All required vehicles will accompany team.

Tub Grinder
	Specialized equipment designed to grind heavy brush, pallets, demolition material, land-clearing debris, and yard waste.  Units are equipped with hammermills ranging from 26 inches to 36 inches that serve as steel fixed hammers or doubled-edged cutting tools.  Tub grinders possess hydraulic tub tilt to provide safe access to the hammermill during maintenance, and have a horsepower range from 157 to 1,050.  Tub grinders shrink space requirement by a ratio of 10:1 yards.  Feeding the equipment requires either a front-end loader or other hydraulic equipment such as an excavator with a thumb attachment or cherry-picker.  Processed materials can be stockpiled using conveyor systems or with stockpiled using a front-end loader.  Depending on the size of the equipment's processing capabilities, it may be possible to feed and stockpile with one front-end loader.  Equipment operations and controls are remotely managed, usually away from any potential flying debris.  Mobilization is required, either with a tractor-trailer hook-up, fifth-wheel only, or pindle-hook option.  The processing area should be firm soil with sufficient room for stockpiling pre- and post-products; however, track tub grinders are available for special processing needs.  Over-width escort services would be used for wide loads.
Tug Boat
Tug boats are commercial water vessels that move or assist in the movement of propelled and non-propelled water vessels, primarily with ship docking and barge towing.  Ship-assist tugs are generally port or harbor related, while barge towing tugs are typically port-to-port transporters up and down rivers, inlets, and the coastline.  With different sizes and modifications for varying tasks, tug boats require specially trained operators or captains licensed and subject to jurisdiction of the U.S. Coast Guard, and are also subject to random drug and alcohol testing procedures.  Crew manifests generally range from 2 to 6+ individuals, including a captain and an inland waterways river pilot, required by law, who serves as servant to the vessel master.  Docking pilots (specialists) should be used where possible, as they serve to enhance communications between the assisted ship and the tug boat in "unfamiliar waters."  These crew members will, at times, live on the tug itself or on-call from nearby homes, and have a varying schedule dependent on the tug company.  Tug boats also consist of model bows or pointed bows for towing while push tugs have square bows.  Specially equipped tug boats can be specialized to serve as spray boats or firefighting boats for the purposes of emergency situations.  Tug boats strongly rely on the need for communication as many assisted ships either originate in foreign countries or are unfamiliar with inland or harbor waters.  In emergencies, the U.S. Coast Guard houses a master list of tug boats that can be contacted for assistance.  Most tug boat owners and operators may belong to their trade association, the American Waterways Operators (AWO).	

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Urban Search and Rescue (US&R)
US&R involves the location, rescue (extrication), and initial medical stabilization of victims trapped in confined spaces.

Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Task Force (US&R Team)
Federal asset that conducts physical search and rescue in collapsed buildings; provides emergency medical care to trapped victims; assesses and controls gas, electrical services, and hazardous materials (HazMat); and evaluates and stabilizes damaged structures.  See Annex A:  Federal Response Teams for more detailed information on this Federal Resource.

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Vapor Protective Ensemble
A vapor protective ensemble or garment that is intended for use in an unknown threat atmosphere or for known high health risk atmospheres is vapor tight, and is in compliance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard # 1991, "Standard on Vapor-Protective Ensembles for Hazardous Materials Emergencies."

Veterinary Epidemiologist
A practitioner who studies factors influencing existence and spread of diseases among humans and animals, particularly those diseases transmissible from animals to humans.  Required to hold degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

Veterinary Medical Assistance Team (VMAT), National Disaster Medical System (NDMS)
VMATs are volunteer teams of veterinarians, technicians, and support personnel, usually from the same region, that have organized a response team under the guidance of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the NDMS, and whose personnel have specific training in responding to animal casualties and/or animal disease outbreaks during a disaster.  They help assess medical needs of animals, and conduct animal disease surveillance, hazard mitigation, biological and chemical terrorism surveillance, and animal decontamination.  Usually includes a mix of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, support personnel, microbiologists, epidemiologists, and veterinary pathologists.  See Annex A:  Federal Response Teams for more detailed information on this Federal Resource.

Visual Flight Rules (VFRs)
Set of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules, guidelines, and procedures that apply to aircraft when a pilot is conducting flight with visual reference to the ground.

Volcano Search and Rescue Team (Wilderness Rescue Team)
Team provides technical rescue, avalanche rescue, and other aspects of mountain rescue services applicable for search and rescue operations in and around the surface of a volcano.

Volunteer Agency Liaison (VAL)
The Volunteer Agency Liaison serves as the central point between government entities and volunteer organizations in the coordination of information and activities of VOADs (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters) responding in times of disaster. 

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Water Purification Team (Emergency Water Teams)
	A water purification team is a specialized team designed to support the Emergency Water Mission in support of the Federal Response Plan (FRP).  Teams provide an emergency supply of potable water, both bottled and bulk, to include procurement, transportation, and distribution to impacted areas for usage by both the general public and response personnel.  FEMA, who is the lead agency under the FRP for coordinating all Federal activities following a natural disaster or manmade emergency, assigned the Department of Defense (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) as the lead agency in support of Emergency Support Function (ESF) #3 - Public Works and Engineering, that includes tasking of emergency potable water.  Team members are fully trained and knowledgeable of water certification requirements and daily consumption rates, the procurement process including the Advanced Contracting Initiative (ACI) Water Contract, which is a supply and service contract for procuring bottled and bulk water, transportation, security measures, distribution processes, emergency management, and have previously worked with or able to build rapport with State and local governments.  Teams coordinate with FEMA, State and local governments, and other ESF elements to scope the magnitude of the water mission.  After mission scoping, teams assist FEMA in writing the mission assignment and tasks, estimating mission-funding requirements, and assessing when all emergency needs have been met and the water mission can be closed out.  Emergency water teams are responsible for timely procurement and delivery of potable water to all Staging Areas and distribution sites.  Teams are deployed on 30-day rotations, with 3 to 5-day transition periods, however, the average water mission only lasts about 2 to 3 weeks.  In events with warning, such as hurricanes, emergency water teams are predeployed to the region and contract for the delivery of a small amount of potable water to predesignated Staging Areas so that water deliveries can begin immediately following the event.  Following the event, the teams focus on meeting all post-declaration water mission mandates tasked by FEMA to ESF #3, including mass distribution at appropriate staging areas.

Water Search and Rescue Team
Team conducts surface and subsurface search and rescue operations in all-water environments, including swift water and flood conditions.  Water rescue teams come with all team equipment required to safely and effectively conduct operations.  Water rescue teams can be assigned to special events to provide for the safety of citizens.

Water Truck
	A truck with a permanently mounted water tank with the capabilities of dispensing potable or nonpotable water.  The dispensing is handled through gravity or pumped.  For pumping action, the truck's engine or transmission is usually used to generate the requirement dispensing energy.  Uses can range from delivering potable water to shelter locations, nonpotable form for irrigation, assisting in wildfire situations, dust control, compaction requirements, flushing of storm conveyance sanitary sewer lines, and washing areas of dirt, debris, and dust. 

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
(1) Any destructive device as defined in section 921 of this title ("destructive device" defined as any explosive, incendiary, or poison gas, bomb, grenade, rocket having a propellant charge of more than 4 ounces, missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than 1/4 ounce, mine or device similar to the above); (2) any weapon that is designed or intended to cause serious bodily injury through the release, dissemination, or impact of toxic or poisonous chemicals, or their precursors; (3) any weapon involving a disease organism; or (4) any weapon that is designed to release radiation or radioactivity at a level dangerous to human life.  (United States Code, Title 18-Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Part I-Crimes, Chapter 113B-Terrorism, Sec. 2332a)

Wheel Dozer
A wheel dozer is a rubber-tired piece of equipment used for spreading and compacting without vibratory means.  This equipment can accomplish mass leveling tasks for agriculture, construction, forestry, heavy construction, industrial needs, open pit mining, and similar earth moving requirements.  Rubber tires contribute by compacting the earth being moved during the process of leveling.  Leveling in layers to maximize density requirements usually performs this action.  Layered leveling limits will also be accommodated by the weight and size of the equipment being employed.  Equipment can operate on slight slopes.  Equipment capacities can vary from 100,000 lbs. at 33 ydł to 22,000 lbs. at 3.5 ydł.  Mobilization is usually required.  A front-end loading detachable trailer is usually the preferred option.  Over-width escort services would be used for wide loads.

Wheel Loaders (Large: 41cy to 8cy)
Rubber-tired equipment used for moving and/or loading large masses of various aggregate materials or demolition debris.  Materials are usually loaded into material carrying equipment, such as dump trucks or stockpiled, processed, and/or moved around onsite.  Accessories are also available for handling bulky materials/waste.  A tractor-trailer unit usually handles the mobilization.  Depending on the bucket size, dismantling is usually not an issue.  Depending on the width, a transport permit may be required, along with escort services.

Wheel Loaders (Medium to Small: 7cy to 2cy)
Rubber-tired equipment used for moving and/or loading small to large masses of various aggregate materials or demolition debris.  Materials are usually loaded into material carrying equipment, such as dump trucks or stockpiled, processed, and/or moved around onsite.  Accessories are also available for handling bulky materials/waste.  A tractor-trailer unit usually handles the mobilization but is not necessary for some pieces of equipment.  Mobilization without a transport usually requires an operator's license.  Usually the width of this equipment does not require a transport permit but may still require an escort service.

Wilderness Search and Rescue Team (Ground Search and Rescue)
Team provides response search and rescue services, including all-weather search and rescue of missing persons, search and rescue management capabilities, trained ground search teams of all levels, technical rescue specialists, specialized wilderness medical personnel, and safety and survival education.

Wilderness Search and Rescue Team (Ground Search and Rescue Team)
Team provides ground search and rescue services, including all-weather search and rescue of missing persons, search and rescue management capabilities, evidence collection, trained ground search teams of all levels, technical rescue specialists, specialized wilderness medical personnel, and safety and survival education.

WMD Chem/Bio
A short-hand phrase for "weapons of mass destruction, chemical/biological," in reference to those substances that were developed by military institutions to create widespread injury, illness, or death.

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Zone, Contamination Reduction (Warm Zone)
The area between the Exclusion Zone and the Support Zone.  This zone contains the personnel decontamination station.  This zone may require a lesser degree of personnel protection than the Exclusion Zone.  This separates the contaminated area from the clean area and acts as a buffer to reduce contamination of the "clean" area.  (U.S. Coast Guard Incident Management Handbook, 2001 edition)

Zone, Exclusion (Hot Zone)
The area immediately around a spill or release and where contamination does or could occur.  The innermost of the three zones of a hazardous substances/material incident.  Special protection is required for all personnel while in this zone.  (U.S. Coast Guard Incident Management Handbook, 2001 edition)

Zone, Support (Cold Zone)
The "clean" area outside of the contamination control line.  In this area, equipment and personnel are not expected to become contaminated.  Special protective clothing is not required.  This is the area where resources are assembled to support the hazardous substances/materials release operations.  (U.S. Coast Guard Incident Management Handbook, 2001 edition)

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Annex A:	Federal Response Teams

Annex A:  Federal Response Teams includes definitions for 11 Federal Response Teams defined by capability and capacity.  Definitions are divided into three subsections for each resource type, including description, human resources, and equipment.  Click on the below titles to view definitions.  The following Federal Response Teams are defined in Annex A:

* Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT):  Basic Team
* Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT):  Burn Specialty
* Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT):  Crush Injury Specialty
* Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT):  Mental Health Specialty
* Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT):  Pediatric Specialty
* Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT)
* International Medical Surgical Response Team (IMSuRT)
* Management Support Team (MST)
* Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Task Forces
* Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Incident Support Teams
* Veterinary Medical Assistance Team (VMAT)

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Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT)
Basic Team

Components and Capabilities

Type I
* Description.  A volunteer group of medical and nonmedical individuals, such as physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, pharmacists, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), other allied health professionals, and support staff.  These individuals are usually from the same State or region of a State, and have formed a response team under the guidance of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS), or under similar State or local auspices.

* Human Resources.  Thirty-five deployable personnel who deploy to site within 24 hours of notification.  Staff can function for 72 hours in austere locations without resupply and treat up to 250 victims within 
24 hours.

* Equipment.  Equipment can function for 72 hours in austere locations without resupply.  Full complement of equipment.

Type II
* Description.  A volunteer group of medical and nonmedical individuals, such as physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, pharmacists, EMTs, other allied health professionals and support staff.  These individuals are usually from the same State or region of a State, and have formed a response team under the guidance of the NDMS, or under similar State or local auspices.

* Human Resources.  Thirty-five deployable personnel who deploy to site within 24 hours of notification.  Deploy to site within 24 hours of notification with all necessary staff.  Function in existing facility using facility's equipment and supplies.

* Equipment.  Limited to none.

Type III
* Description.  A volunteer group of medical and nonmedical individuals, such as physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, pharmacists, EMTs, other allied health professionals, and support staff.  These individuals are usually from the same State or region of a State, and have formed a response team under the guidance of the NDMS, or under similar State or local auspices.

* Human Resources.  Personnel roster only.  May be less than full complement.

* Equipment.  None.

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Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT)
Burn Specialty

Components and Capabilities

Type I
* Description.  A volunteer group of medical and nonmedical individuals such as physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, pharmacists, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), other allied health professionals, and support staff.  These individuals are usually from the same State or region of a State that have formed a response team under the guidance of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) (or State or local auspices), and whose personnel have specific training/skills in the management of burn trauma patients.

* Human Resources.  Deployment rosters are usually constituted on an ad-hoc basis, depending on situational need.  Variable number of personnel.  Can deploy to site within 24 hours of notification and function for 72 hours in austere locations without resupply.

* Equipment.  Equipment can function for 72 hours in austere locations without resupply.  Full complement of equipment.

Type II
* Description.  A volunteer group of medical and nonmedical individuals such as physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, pharmacists, EMTs, other allied health professionals, and support staff.  These individuals are usually from the same State or region of a State, that have formed a response team under the guidance of the NDMS (or State or local auspices), and whose personnel have specific training/skills in the management of burn trauma patients.  Current NDMS burn teams are Type II; they are not fully equipped teams, but rather they usually co-deploy, providing specialized equipment, supplies, and skills on those missions that involve burn casualties.

* Human Resources.  Deployment rosters are usually constituted on an ad-hoc basis, depending on situational need.  Variable number of personnel.  Can deploy to site within 24 hours of notification.  Function in existing fixed facility using facility's equipment and supplies.

* Equipment.  Limited to specialized items for burns.

Type III
* Description.  A volunteer group of medical and nonmedical individuals such as physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, pharmacists, EMTs, other allied health professionals, and support staff.  These individuals are usually from the same State or region of a State that have formed a response team under the guidance of the NDMS (or State or local auspices), and whose personnel have specific training/skills in the management of burn trauma patients.

* Human Resources.  Personnel roster only.  May be less than full complement.

* Equipment.  None.

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Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT)
Crush Injury Specialty

Components and Capabilities

Type I
* Description.  A volunteer group of medical and nonmedical individuals, such as physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, pharmacists, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), other allied health professionals, and support staff.  These individuals are usually from the same State or region of a State that have formed a response team under the guidance of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) (or State or local auspices), and whose personnel have specific training/skills in the management of crush injury patients.

* Human Resources.  Deployment rosters are usually constituted on an ad-hoc basis, depending on situational need.  Variable number of personnel.  Can deploy to site within 24 hours of notification.  Staff can function for 72 hours in austere locations without resupply.

* Equipment.  Equipment can function for 72 hours in austere locations without resupply.  Full complement of equipment.

Type II
* Description.  A volunteer group of medical and nonmedical individuals, such as physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, pharmacists, EMTs, other allied health professionals, and support staff.  These individuals are usually from the same State or region of a State that have formed a response team under the guidance of the NDMS (or State or local auspices), and whose personnel have specific training/skills in the management of crush injury patients.  Current NDMS crush injury teams are Type II.

* Human Resources.  Deployment rosters are usually constituted on an ad-hoc basis, depending on situational need.  Variable number of personnel.  Can deploy to site within 24 hours of notification.  Function in existing fixed facility using facility's equipment and supplies.

* Equipment.  Limited or none.

Type III
* Description. A volunteer group of medical and nonmedical individuals, such as physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, pharmacists, EMTs, other allied health professionals, and support staff.  These individuals are usually from the same State or region of a State that have formed a response team under the guidance of the NDMS (or State or local auspices), and whose personnel have specific training/skills in the management of crush injury patients.

* Human Resources.  Personnel roster only.  May be less than full complement.

* Equipment.  None.

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Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT)
Mental Health Specialty

Components and Capabilities

Type I
* Description.  A volunteer group of medical and nonmedical individuals, such as physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, pharmacists, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), other allied health professionals, and support staff.  These individuals are usually from the same State or region of a State, that have formed a response team under the guidance of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) (or State or local auspices), and whose personnel have specific training/skills in the management of psychiatric patients.

* Human Resources.  Deployment rosters are usually constituted on an ad-hoc basis, depending on situational need.  Variable number of personnel.  Can deploy to site within 24 hours of notification.  Staff can function for 72 hours in austere locations without resupply.

* Equipment.  Equipment can function for 72 hours in austere locations without resupply.  Full complement of equipment.

Type II
* Description.  A volunteer group of medical and nonmedical individuals, such as physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, pharmacists, EMTs, other allied health professionals, and support staff.  These individuals are usually from the same State or region of a State, that have formed a response team under the guidance of the NDMS (or State or local auspices), and whose personnel have specific training/skills in the management of psychiatric patients.  Current NDMS mental health teams are Type II.

* Human Resources.  Deployment rosters are usually constituted on an ad-hoc basis, depending on situational need.  Variable number of personnel.  Can deploy to site within 24 hours of notification.  Function in existing fixed facility using facility's equipment and supplies.

* Equipment.  Limited or none.

Type III
* Description.  A volunteer group of medical and nonmedical individuals, such as physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, pharmacists, EMTs, other allied health professionals, and support staff.  These individuals are usually from the same State or region of a State, that have formed a response team under the guidance of the NDMS (or State or local auspices), and whose personnel have specific training/skills in the management of psychiatric patients.

* Human Resources.  Personnel roster only.  May be less than full complement.

* Equipment.  None.

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Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT)
Pediatric Specialty

Components and Capabilities

Type I
* Description. A volunteer group of medical and nonmedical individuals, usually from the same State or region of a State, that has formed a response team under the guidance of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) (or State or local auspices), and whose personnel have specific training/skills in the management of pediatric patients.

* Human Resources.  Deployment rosters are usually constituted on an ad-hoc basis, depending on situational need.  Variable number of personnel.  Can deploy to site within 24 hours of notification.  Staff can function for 72 hours in austere locations without resupply.

* Equipment.  Equipment can function for 72 hours in austere locations without resupply.  Full complement of equipment.

Type II
* Description.  A volunteer group of medical and nonmedical individuals, usually from the same State or region of a State, that has formed a response team under the guidance of the NDMS (or State or local auspices), and whose personnel have specific training/skills in the management of pediatric patients.  Current NDMS pediatric teams are Type II.  They do not deploy as a fully functioning team but generally co-deploy and augment another team.

* Human Resources.  Deployment rosters are usually constituted on an ad-hoc basis, depending on situational need.  Variable number of personnel.  Can deploy to site within 24 hours of notification.  Function in existing fixed facility using facility's equipment and supplies.

* Equipment.  Limited or none.

Type III
* Description.  A volunteer group of medical and nonmedical individuals, usually from the same State or region of a State, that have formed a response team under the guidance of the NDMS (or State or local auspices), and whose personnel have specific training/skills in the management of pediatric patients.

* Human Resources.  Personnel roster only.  May be less than full complement.

* Equipment.  None.

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Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT)

Components and Capabilities

Type I
* Description.  A volunteer group of medical and forensic personnel, such as medical examiners, coroners, pathologists, forensic anthropologists, medical records technicians, fingerprint technicians, dental assistants, radiologists, funeral directors, mental health professionals, and support personnel.  These individuals are usually from the same geographic region, that have formed a response team under the guidance of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) (or State or local auspices), and whose personnel have specific training/skills in victim identification, mortuary services, and forensic pathology and anthropology methods.  DMORTs are mission-tailored on an ad-hoc basis, and usually deploy only with personnel and equipment specifically required for current mission.  The capability of the team can be expanded to include weapons of mass destruction (WMD) response.

* Human Resources.  Thirty-one personnel to deploy to site within 24 hours of notification.  Provide on-site victim identification and morgue operations.  Provide family assistance services.

* Equipment.  Deployable Portable Morgue Unit (DPMU) add-on available when no local morgue facilities are available.  

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International Medical Surgical Response Team (IMSuRT)

Components and Capabilities

Type I
* Description.  A volunteer group of medical and nonmedical individuals, usually from the same State or region of a State, that has formed a response team under the guidance of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) and the State Department, and whose personnel and equipment give it deployable medical and surgical treatment capability, worldwide.  This is the only NDMS team with surgical operating room capability.  Currently, a single IMSuRT exists as Type I, being a successor to the previous Incident Support Team (IST) specialty DMAT.  Two additional teams are being formed.

* Human Resources.  Full team consists of 26 personnel able to begin deployment to outside the continental United States (OCONUS) location within 3 hours of notification.  Staff two operating room suites providing emergency surgery, treatment, and stabilization. 

* Equipment.  Usually deploys with all necessary equipment.  Fully equipped to provide freestanding surgical capability, etc., but does not usually function in an austere environment without additional support.

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Management Support Team (MST)

Components and Capabilities

Type I
* Description.  A command and control team that provides support and liaison and functions for other National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) teams in the field. A mix of Federal employees from NDMS headquarters, the PHS-2 team, or the CCRF usually staffs MSTs.  Although rostered, MSTs do not exist except when actually deployed in support of a mission.  An MST (perhaps as small as one or two individuals) always accompanies an NDMS unit on a deployment.  MSTs are mission-tailored on an 
ad-hoc basis, and usually deploy only with personnel and equipment specifically required for current support mission.

* Human Resources.  Deploy to site within 24 hours of notification; provide Federal supervision, coordination, and support at site of any NDMS team deployment, including ambulatory care (sick call) for Federal personnel.

* Equipment.  Full complement.

Type II
* Description.  A command and control team that provides support and liaison functions for other NDMS teams in the field.  A mix of Federal employees from NDMS headquarters, the PHS-2 team, or the CCRF usually staffs MSTs.  Although rostered, MSTs do not exist except when actually deployed in support of a mission.  An MST (perhaps as small as one or two individuals) always accompanies an NDMS unit on a deployment.  MSTs are mission-tailored on an ad-hoc basis, and usually deploy only with personnel and equipment specifically required for current support mission.

* Human Resources.  Deploy to site within 24 hours of notification with limited staff and communications equipment, but no tentage.

* Equipment.  Communication and administrative only.

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Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Task Forces

Components and Capabilities

Type I (WMD Level)
* Description.  Conducts safe and effective search and rescue operations at large or complex Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) operations, including structure collapse incidents involving the collapse or failure of heavy floor, precast concrete, and steel frame construction.  Perform or provide high-angle rope rescue (including highline systems); confined space rescue (permit required); advanced life support (ALS) intervention; communications; weapons of mass destruction (WMD)/hazardous materials (HazMat) operations; and defensive water rescue.  Conduct safe and effective sustained 24-hour search and rescue operations.

* Human Resources.  A 70-person response.  Multidisciplinary organization of command, search, rescue, medical, HazMat, logistics, and planning functions.  Personnel comply with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1670 Technician Level requirements for the area of their area of specialty or operations level for support personnel.

* Equipment.  US&R teams come with a substantial amount of equipment.  Rescue equipment includes power tools, electrical equipment, technical rope, and safety equipment.  Medical equipment includes antibiotics, medication, canine treatment, intubation, eye care supplies, immobilization and extrication equipment, and personal protective equipment (PPE).  Technical equipment includes HazMat equipment, canine search and rescue equipment, and technical specialist equipment.  Communications equipment includes radios, charging units, power sources, and computers.  Logistical equipment includes water, food, shelter, safety, administrative support, and equipment maintenance.

Type II (Light Level)
* Description.  Conducts safe and effective search and rescue operations at structure collapse incidents involving the collapse or failure of light frame construction and basic rope rescue operations; ALS intervention; HazMat conditions; communications; and trench and excavation rescue.  Ability to conduct safe and effective 12-hour search and rescue operations.

* Human Resources.  A 28-person response.  Multidisciplinary organization of command, search, rescue, medical, HazMat, logistics, and planning functions.  Personnel comply with the NFPA 1670 Technician Level requirements for the area of their area of specialty or operations level for support personnel.

* Equipment.  Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) teams come with a substantial amount of equipment.  Rescue equipment includes power tools, electrical equipment, technical rope, and safety equipment.  Medical equipment includes antibiotics, medication, canine treatment, intubation, eye care supplies, immobilization and extrication equipment, and PPE.  Technical equipment includes HazMat equipment, canine search and rescue equipment, and technical specialist equipment.  Communications equipment includes radios, charging units, power sources, and computers.  Logistical equipment includes water, food, shelter, safety, administrative support, and equipment maintenance.

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Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Incident Support Teams

Components and Capabilities

Type I US&R Incident Support Team (IST) Full
* Description.  A fully staffed Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) multifunctional management team activated to provide technical assistance in the acquisition and use of Emergency Support Function 
(ESF) #9 - Urban Search and Rescue emergency resources through advice, Incident Command assistance, incident response planning, management, and coordination of US&R task forces, and obtaining ESF #9 logistical support.  The team is organized according to basic Incident Command System (ICS) guidelines, with a command staff and operations, planning, logistics, and finance/administration sections.  A Type 1 IST is a full management team providing staffing to fill all necessary ICS functions for the assigned incident.  A Type 1 IST can provide 24-hour operations for a minimum of 14 days before requiring personnel rotations and can provide its own administrative and living support as necessary.

* Human Resources.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) US&R section, based on experience and training qualifications, selects IST members.  The team is comprised of qualified National US&R response system personnel, with the ESF #9 assistants and the administration/finance section staffed by FEMA or other Federal agency personnel.

* Equipment.  ISTs come with all the equipment necessary to perform the assigned task, including administrative and computer supplies.  Communication equipment includes microphone, antenna, fax, satellite telephone, radio, and pager.  Tools include screwdriver, chisel, drill, hammer, and shovel.  Power supply equipment includes power adapter, generator, surge protector, and grounding wire.  Logistical equipment includes water, food, shelter, safety, administrative support, and equipment maintenance.

Type II US&R Incident Support Team (IST) Advance
* Description.  Activated to provide technical assistance in the acquisition and use of ESF #9 - Urban Search and Rescue emergency resources through advice, Incident Command assistance, incident response planning, management, and coordination of US&R task forces, and obtaining ESF #9 logistical support.  The IST is organized according to basic ICS guidelines, with a command and command staff and operations, planning, logistics, and finance/administration sections.  The Type 2 is an Advance Element of a Type 1 IST and will required supplemental IST staffing to maintain 24-hour operations.  It can provide its own administrative and living support as necessary.

* Human Resources.  A 22-person US&R multifunctional management team staffing 14 ICS functions, IST members are selected by the FEMA US&R section based on experience and training qualifications.  Twenty of the 22 members filling positions will be qualified National US&R Response System personnel, while the ESF #9 assistants will be FEMA staff.

* Equipment.  ISTs come with all the equipment necessary to perform the assigned task, including administrative and computer supplies.  Communication equipment includes microphone, antenna, fax, satellite telephone, radio, and pager.  Tools include screwdriver, chisel, drill, hammer, and shovel.  Power supply equipment includes power adapter, generator, surge protector, and grounding wire.  Logistical equipment includes water, food, shelter, safety, administrative support, and equipment maintenance.

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Veterinary Medical Assistance Team (VMAT)

Components and Capabilities

Type I
* Description.  Volunteer teams of veterinarians, technicians, and support personnel, such as veterinarians, veterinary technicians, support personnel, microbiologists, epidemiologists, and veterinary pathologists.  These individuals are usually from the same region, that have organized a response team under the guidance of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS), and whose personnel have specific training in responding to animal casualties and/or animal disease outbreaks during a disaster.  VMATs are usually mission-tailored on an ad-hoc basis, and usually deploy only with personnel and equipment specifically required for the current mission.  All VMATs within the NDMS are considered Type 1.  Epidemiologic capabilities are limited.

* Human Resources.  Sixty personnel plus equipment.  Deploy to site within 24 hours of notification.  Provide animal care, treatment, and shelter; food and water testing; basic epidemiologic capabilities.

* Equipment.  Full complement.

Type II
* Description.  Volunteer teams of veterinarians, technicians, and support personnel, such as veterinarians, veterinary technicians, support personnel, microbiologists, epidemiologists, and veterinary pathologists.  These individuals are usually from the same region, that have organized a response team under the guidance of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the NDMS, and whose personnel have specific training in responding to animal casualties and/or animal disease outbreaks during a disaster. VMATs are usually mission-tailored on an ad-hoc basis, and usually deploy only with personnel and equipment specifically required for the current mission.  Epidemiologic capabilities are limited.

* Human Resources.  Sixty personnel plus equipment.  Some mix of capabilities less than Type I.

* Equipment.  Limited or none.

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U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Federal Emergency Management Agency




National Mutual Aid & Resource Management Initiative	Glossary	 - Page G-1


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Federal Emergency Management Agency




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Federal Emergency Management Agency




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Federal Emergency Management Agency




National Mutual Aid & Resource Management Initiative	Annex A	 - Page G-53