Documents that assess performance during disaster exercises and disaster incidents. After-action reports document successes and shortcomings and provide an improvement plan for resolving identified gaps.

Enacted in 1990, this law prohibits private employers, state and local governments, employment agencies, and labor unions from discriminating against individuals based upon disability and mandates accessibility of public facilities and public information.

A national association composed of public and private organizations that work to strengthen and improve public transportation and ensure availability and accessibility to all Americans in communities across the country.

The largest state transit association in the US with nearly 300 members, dedicated to promoting professional excellence, stimulating ideas and advocating for effective community transportation.

Established in 1988 within the University of South Florida, CUTR provides high-quality, objective transportation expertise in the form of technical support, policy analysis, and research support that translates directly into benefits for its project sponsors.

A major operating component of the US Department of Health and Human Services committed to protecting health and promoting quality of life through prevention and control of disease, injury and disability.

A host of hazards requiring the response of hazardous materials technicians to help isolate and mitigate the risk.

Licenses issued by the states, with minimum standards set by the federal government, to improve highway safety by ensuring that drivers of large trucks and buses are qualified to operate those vehicles and to remove unsafe and unqualified drivers from highways. Transit drivers have an additional "passenger endorsement" requirement.

A national association of organizations and individuals committed to removing barriers to isolation and improving mobility for all people.

A network of traditional and non-traditional providers of transportation services to the public. The Association headquarters are in Olympia, Washington.

A type of senior community from independent living to various kinds of assisted living.

Includes, but is not limited to, catheters, ostomy supplies, gloves, bandages, and padding. These supplies are usually disposable and used by one person.

A plan that outlines steps that an agency will take in the event a disaster interrupts business.

Established in the aftermath of 9/11, a cabinet-level department in the US government charged with securing the nation from security threats.

A state government agency charged with facilitating mobility within the state.

Established by a department or like jurisdiction to coordinate the emergency response activities within its purview.

Includes, but is not limited to, wheelchairs (multiple types), canes, white canes, walkers, shower chairs, toilet chairs, raised toilet seats, oxygen equipment, nebulizer tubing and machines, and speech-generating devices.

Established by a city, county, state, or federal oversight agency to marshal resources and facilitate interagency communication and coordination.

Document that describes who will do what, as well as when, with what resources, and by what authority, before, during, and immediately after an emergency.

The grouping of governmental and certain private-sector capabilities into an organizational structure to effectively coordinate and manage response activities needed to save lives, protect property, restore essential services and critical infrastructure, and assist individuals and communities to return to normal function.

An employee benefit program that is intended to help employees deal with personal problems that might adversely impact their work performance, health, and well being.

An independent US government agency established in 1934 that regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and US territories.

An agency within the US DHS charged with supporting citizens and first responders to build, sustain, and improve US capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

An agency within the US Department of Transportation charged with improving mobility on the nation's highways through national leadership, innovation, and program delivery.

An agency within the US Department of Transportation that provides technical and financial assistance to local, state, and public transit agencies; monitors performance and compiles statistics; and makes recommendations to the administration regarding US mass transit concerns.

A White House-directed emergency phone service provided by the National Communications System that provides emergency access and priority processing in the local and long-distance segments of the public switched telephone network.

A plan that sets out procedures for maintaining safe and secure transportation operations and service environment for passengers, employees and volunteers, and the surrounding community.

Enacted in 1996, HIPAA provides federal protections for personal health information and improves the portability and continuity of health insurance coverage.

A capabilities-and-performance-based exercise program that provides a standardized methodology and terminology for exercise design, development, conduct, evaluation, and improvement planning.

Serves to enhance the ability of the United States to manage domestic incidents by establishing a single comprehensive National Incident Management System.

A part of the American National Standards Institute, charged with identifying existing consensus standards or, if none exist, assisting the US DHS and those sectors requesting assistance to accelerate development and adoption of consensus standards critical to homeland security.

Suggested quick-response procedures that may help prevent or mitigate a terrorist or violent criminal act.

A homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action.

An oral or written plan containing general objectives reflecting the strategy for managing an incident that may include identifying operational resources and assignments, attachments that provide direction, and important information for management of the incident for the operational period.

The physical location of the tactical-level, on-scene incident command and management organization located near or in the immediate vicinity of an incident site or co-located with the Incident Base. In a FEMA response, this is normally the Joint Field Office (JFO).

A standardized, on-scene, all-hazards incident management approach.

Statements of guidance and direction necessary for the selection of appropriate strategies and the tactical direction of resources. Incident objectives are based on realistic expectations of what can be accomplished when all allocated resources have been effectively deployed. Incident objectives must be achievable and measurable, yet flexible enough to allow for strategic and tactical alternatives.

A non-profit educational organization dedicated to promoting the "Principles of Emergency Management" and representing those professionals whose goals are saving lives and protecting property and the environment during emergencies and disasters.

Individuals who do not speak English as the primary language and who have a limited ability to read, speak, write, or understand English.

Non-operational, quasi-governmental bodies, usually at the municipal level, that identify and catalog potential hazards, identify available resources, mitigate hazards when feasible, and support emergency preparedness.

Document describing a bilateral or multilateral agreement between parties. A prime vehicle for "contracting" between government agencies.

A work order issued by FEMA Operations to another federal agency directing completion of a specific task that is used to support federal operations in a Stafford Act major disaster or emergency declaration.

A single unified communications system that assists the President, the National Security Staff, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget in (1) the exercise of the telecommunications functions and responsibilities and (2) the coordination of the planning for and provision of national security and emergency preparedness communications for the federal government under all circumstances, including crisis or emergency, attack & recovery and reconstitution.

Created in 1962 as a means to conduct research in acute problem areas that affect highway planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance nationwide. Administered by the Transportation Research Board.

A comprehensive, national approach to incident management that is applicable at all jurisdictional levels and across functional disciplines. It enables seamless coordination to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity, in order to reduce the loss of life and property and harm to the environment.

Presents the guiding principles that enable all response partners to prepare for and provide a unified national response to disasters and emergencies.

Transportation services to people who need medical support but are medically stable. Trips to dialysis are a common form of non-emergency medical transportation in the United States.

The transportation of a person with non-emergency medical conditions in a supine position in a vehicle designed, constructed, or reconstructed for the purpose of safe conveyance.

Operates within the Directorate of Border and Transportation Security and has the primary responsibility within the executive branch of government for the preparedness of the United States for acts of terrorism. (It was formerly the Office for State & Local Domestic Preparedness, Department of Justice.)

The communication coordinator or spokesperson of an agency whose primary responsibility is to provide information to the media and the public, as required.

Licensed care facilities, congregate facilities, residential facilities, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, group homes, and intermediate care facilities.

A category of sensitive but unclassified information obtained in the conduct of security activities whose public disclosure would harm transportation security or reveal privileged or confidential information.

TCRP is funded by the public, through the FTA, and is governed by an independent board. Day-to-day management of the TCRP is the responsibility of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies.

Component of the US DHS charged with protecting the nation's transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce.

An Incident Command System application used when there is more than one agency with incident jurisdiction or when incidents cross political jurisdictions. Agencies work together through the designated members of the Unified Command to establish their designated Incident Commanders at a single Incident Command Post and establish a common set of objectives and strategies and a single Incident Action Plan.

A funding area of the US DHS aimed at coordinating preparedness efforts and building response capacity of the multiple jurisdictions within the thirty-one highest-threat/highest-density urban areas in the United States.