CSEPP.ORG

Access Control Point

Locations staffed primarily by State, county or municipal employees, augmented as necessary by the National Guard to deny the entry of unauthorized personnel into an area of risk or an emergency response facility. Access control is an enforcement function involving the deployment of vehicles, barricades, or other control devices to deny access into the area.

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Airborne Exposure Guidance Limit

Alert & Notification System

A comprehensive system of sirens, highway reader boards, advisory radios, tone alert radios, and the emergency alerting system designed to alert the public of an emergency situation and to provide protective action instructions.

Chemical Accident/Incident

Chemical events involving chemical surety material. (a) Chemical Accident: A chemical event resulting from nondeliberate acts where safety is of primary concern. (b) Chemical Incident: A chemical event resulting from deliberate acts (terrorism or criminal), where security is of concern.

Chemical Agent

A compound or material included in the lethal stockpile of a variety of munitions and bulk containers covered by Public Law 99-145, Title 14, Part B, Section 1412. Lethal chemical agents are of two basic types: nerve (GB or VX) and vesicant or blister (HD)

Community Response Team (CRT)

An ad hoc grouping of response assets created to provide basic lifesaving emergency services within the CSEPP Response Zone during a CSEPP event.

Emergency

Any natural or man-made event which has the potential for loss of property or lives and results in immediate protective actions.

Emergency Alert System (EAS)

A federally established network of commercial radio stations, TV stations and cable networks that voluntarily provide official emergency instructions or directions to the public during an emergency. Priorities for EAS activation and use are: Federal Government, County Government, and State Government.

Emergency Assessment

A process whereby the severity of an incident is evaluated using pre-determined criteria to determine its potential impact on the population and to anticipate appropriate protective action responses.

Emergency Coordination Center (ECC)

A facility designated as the location where emergency response staff and political authorities locate to provide support to the Incident Commander and the first responders conducting field operations. Communications capabilities are available to link the center to other ECC/EOCs, Emergency Operations Centers, field units and the Joint Information System/Center.

Emergency Operations Center (EOC)

A facility designed as the location where response officials gather during an emergency to direct and coordinate emergency operations. Communications with ECC/EOCs and emergency forces in the field, operational planning, logistics support the development of information and instructions for public dissemination are functions of the Emergency Operations Center.

Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ)

A geographical area delineated around a potential hazard that defines the anticipated areas of impact in order to facilitate planning for the protection of people during an emergency.

Evacuation

A protective action which involves leaving an area of risk until the hazard has passed.

Extraction

First responders go into and remove persons who are in shelter.

Immediate Response Zone (IRZ)

The closest geographical area around a chemical agent hazard site that defines the area most rapidly and severely affected by a hazard such that immediate protective actions are needed to protect the public.

Implementing Procedures

A checklist or set of instructions addressing those elements of emergency response which lend themselves to a definite or standardized procedure without loss of effectiveness. Any information needed to accomplish a task (e.g., personnel rosters and resource inventories) are attached or cited in a readily available reference.

Mass Care Center

A facility for providing emergency lodging and care for persons displayed by an emergency. Essential basic services (feeding, family reunification, etc.) are also provided at or near the mass care center.

National Weather Service (NWS)

The U.S. Weather Service's system of issuing weather advisories, especially in the case of very threatening weather with a potential for damage or loss of life. Local NWS stations are usually found in offices or facilities with 24-hour coverage.

Population(s) at Risk

The population(s) that could be affected by concentrations of hazardous material(s) above minimum safe levels. The population at risk is calculated by determining the population within the radial distance estimated to be affected following a hazardous material(s) release.

Protective Action

An action taken to avoid or reduce exposure of humans to a hazard.

Protective Action Zone (PAZ)

A geographical area around a chemical agent hazard site broader than the Immediate Response Zone. Protective actions therein can significantly enhance the ability to protect the public.

Public Shelter

See Mass Care Center.

Response Zone

An area defined by a 15 kilometer circle measured from the center of K Block. Within this area all emergency services will be provided by a Community Response Team controlled by the Operations Section.

Risk Envelope

An irregularly-shaped region surrounding the AEGL footprint. One the WebPuff output map, the Risk Envelope appears as a heavy colored line surrounding the plume. The region within the Risk Envelope is the region that is at risk of exposure to chemical agents.

Shelter In Place

Shelter in place is a protective action whereby the public is directed to go indoors and remain in a protected posture until the chemical agent plume has cleared the area at risk. Levels of Shelter in place protection are: 1) Expedient - Shut all windows and doors, close fire place dampers, turn off heating and air conditioning systems, select an interior room (on the upper floor if it a two story house) with the fewest openings. Preferably, the "safe room" should be on the leeward side of the building. 2.) Enhanced - All of the actions listed above with the addition of sealing the safe room with plastic sheeting and duct tape over doors, windows, ventilation openings, and switch plates and electrical outlets. Caulking may be used to seal cracks and towling of other similar materials can be used to stuff in small openings such as the openings under doors.* 3) Collective - The practice of drawing air through a series of activated charcoal and pumping it under pressure into a sealed interior space in a building. The pressure in the enclosed is higher than the ambient air pressure outside the safe area precluding the infiltration of contaminated air.

*Recirculating clean air filters may be used to prevent the accumulation of higher concentrations of agent in the "safe room" in those residences most at risk from a chemical release.

Special Population

That portion of the population potentially affected by an emergency, such as school children, hospital patients, nursing home residents, or home-bound handicapped individuals, requiring special protection actions.

Traffic Control Point

A location which is manned to ensure the continued movement of traffic inside or outside an area of risk. Traffic control is a temporary function to be implemented at points where normal traffic controls are inadequate or where redirection of traffic becomes necessary due to emergency conditions.

WebPuff

A computer dispersion model developed to estimate downwind hazard distances, agent arrival and departure times, affected areas and concentration/dosage levels generated by release of chemical agents.