- aftershock
- smaller earthquake that follows the main shock of a larger earthquake
- anthrax
- serious infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis
- biological disaster
- wide range of events, such as an infectious disease outbreak, a pandemic, or a bioterrorism incident
- bioterrorism
- intentional release of a biological agent, such as bacteria, viruses, or toxins, intended to cause harm to individuals, populations, or economies
- black tag
- patients with critical injuries who are not expected to survive given the available resources and medical priorities
- chemical hazard
- diverse array of substances that can pose risks to human health and the environment
- COVID-19
- respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2
- cultural of preparedness
- proactive efforts made by individuals, communities, organizations, and institutions to understand, respect, and integrate diverse cultural perspectives, values, beliefs, and practices into disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts
- cyberattack
- deliberate, malicious attempts to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems, networks, or electronic devices
- earthquake
- sudden and violent shaking of the ground caused by the movement of tectonic plates beneath the earth's surface
- Ebola virus disease (EVD)
- highly infectious and often deadly viral disease caused by the Ebola virus, commonly known as Ebola
- epidemic
- occurrence of a disease in a community or region at a rate that exceeds what is normally expected
- flash flood
- rapid and extreme flooding event characterized by a sudden onset of high water levels, often with little to no warning
- green tag
- patients with minor injuries or those who require minimal medical intervention
- H1N1 influenza virus
- subtype of influenza A virus that can cause respiratory illness in humans
- incident command system (ICS)
- central hub for incident management activities, housing key personnel, resources, and equipment necessary for coordinating response efforts
- influenza
- caused by influenza viruses, a contagious respiratory illness that affects the nose, throat, and lungs
- landslide
- geological event characterized by the movement of a mass of rock, earth, or debris down a slope under the influence of gravity
- mass casualty triage
- systematic process used by health-care professionals to prioritize and categorize injured individuals during a mass casualty incident based on the severity of their injuries and the likelihood of survival
- mitigation phase
- stage in disaster management characterized by efforts to minimize or mitigate the impact of a disaster on individuals, communities, and infrastructure
- mixed epidemic
- combination of both a point source epidemic and a propagated transmission epidemic pattern
- National Weather Service (NWS)
- agency within the United States federal government that is responsible for providing weather forecasts, warnings, and other meteorological information to the public, businesses, and government agencies
- nuclear disaster
- range of catastrophic events involving the release of radioactive materials, each presenting unique challenges and risks to human health and the environment
- pandemic
- outbreak of a disease that affects a high proportion of the population across a large geographic location
- point source epidemic
- type of epidemic where a large number of individuals are exposed to the infectious agent at the same time and develop symptoms within a relatively short period
- preparedness phase
- stage in disaster management where proactive measures are taken to enhance readiness and response capabilities before a disaster occurs
- propagated epidemic
- type of epidemic where a disease is transmitted from person to person over an extended period, leading to sustained transmission within a population
- radiological disaster
- range of events involving the release of radioactive materials into the environment, posing risks to human health and the ecosystem
- recovery phase
- period following a disaster when efforts are made to restore affected communities, infrastructure, and economies to a state of normalcy or to a condition better than before the disaster occurred
- red tag
- patients with life-threatening injuries who require immediate medical attention to survive
- response phase
- immediate period following the occurrence of a disaster when emergency measures are activated to address the immediate needs of individuals, communities, and infrastructure affected by the disaster
- storm surge
- water from the ocean pushed ashore by the heavy winds and can cause widespread flooding and bring ocean life inland
- technological disaster
- broad range of events with far-reaching implications for public health and safety
- tornado warning
- urgent message issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) when a tornado has been detected by radar or spotted by trained observers, and there is an imminent threat to life and property in a specific area
- tornado watch
- alert issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) when weather conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes in a specified area; it is issued in advance to provide early notice and allow people to prepare for possible tornado activity
- triage tag
- color-coded or numbered identifiers used by health-care professionals during mass casualty incidents to categorize and prioritize patients based on the severity of their injuries or medical conditions
- tsunami
- series of large ocean waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of water, typically as a result of an underwater earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, or meteorite impact
- wildfire
- uncontrolled and often fast-spreading fire that occurs in forests, grasslands, or other wild land areas
- yellow tag
- patients with serious injuries that are not immediately life-threatening and can wait for medical care without compromising their survival chances