Glossary
Categories, Glossary and Acronyms
Categories
Glossary
| Topic | Definition | Broader Term (BT) |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture and Hazards |
A hazard that can be expected to have its primary impact on crops or livestock. (includes pests, diseases and some environmental and chemical hazards). |
Hazards |
| Air Transportation |
The movement of passengers and / or goods by aircraft. |
Technology and Hazards |
| Alert |
Message that advises people and organisations when an event is expected to affect a community, area or facility in the near future and that they should take action. A period when resources may require to be brought to a higher level of preparedness. | Early Warning |
| Building Codes | Ordinances and regulations controlling the design, construction, materials, alteration and occupancy of any structure for safety, welfare and integrity. Building codes include both technical and functional standards. | Mitigation |
| Chemical Pollution | Pollution of soil, water or air by chemical substances that may have an adverse effect on organic life or the environment. | Pollution |
| Civil Crisis | An emergency caused by the breakdown of normal law and order or the civil processes. | Hazards |
| Civil Disorder |
A riot, violent protest, demonstration or illegal assembly that may affect public safety. | Civil Crisis |
| Climate Change | The long-term significant change in the average weather for a region. | Climatology |
| Climatology |
Study of the effect of the elements of climate. | Hydro-Meteorology and Hazards |
| Coastal Erosion | The removal of earth from coasts by meteorological, hydrological or human action. |
Hydro-Meteorology and Hazards |
| Complex Emergency | A crisis in a country in which there is a breakdown of authority caused by conflict and where an international response is needed. |
Civil Crisis |
| Counselling |
The provision of psychological support and advice to persons who have been affected by an event. |
Recovery |
| Cyclone | A large-scale closed-circulation atmospheric system with low central barometric pressure rotating counter clockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere. |
Hydro-Meteorology and Hazards |
| Damage Analysis / Assessment | Damage Analysis-Survey of real or potential disasters to assess actual or expected damages and make recommendations relating to prevention, preparedness and response. Damage Assessement-The process of identifying and recording of the impacts of a damaging. |
Response |
| Deforestation |
The clearing or destruction of a previously forested area. |
Environment and Hazards |
| Dengue | A mosquito-borne disease of tropical and sub-tropical climates that may develop into dengue hemorrhagic fever. |
Health and Hazard |
| Development | The sustainable improvement of national, community and personal quality of life and capacity. |
Governance |
| Diabetes | A group of diseases marked by high levels of blood glucose. |
Health and Hazard |
| Disaster Management | Policy and administrative decisions and
operational activities at all levels to ensure preparedness for,
response to and recovery from potential disaster events. |
Disaster Risk Management |
| Disaster Risk Management | The systematic management of
organisations, resources, skills and abilities to reduce disaster risk
and alleviate the impacts of hazards and related disasters. |
|
| Disaster Risk Reduction | The development and application of measures
to reduce the likelihood and possible consequences of potential
disasters. |
Disaster Risk Management |
| Drought | The result of a lack of rain over an extended period of time. |
Hydro-Meteorology and Hazards |
| Early Warning | The provision of timely and effective information,
through identified and authoritative institutions, that allows action
to be takenbefore an event. |
Monitoring and Early Warning Systems |
| Early Warning Systems | Systems that are used to send emergency population warnings. |
Early Warning |
| Earthquake | A shaking of the earth caused by a sudden movement of
rock beneath the Earths surface, usually along a geological fault. |
Geology and Hazards |
| Emergency Operations Centre | The supply, handling, transportation
and distribution of resources. It includes all aspects of ordering,
receiving, packing, moving, storing and delivering. |
Response |
| Environment and Hazards | A natural or other hazard that can be
expected to have its primary impact on a part of the environment. |
Hazards |
| Environmental Vulnerability Index | An indicator-based method for
estimating the vulnerability of the environment to hazards. |
Vulnerability |
| Evacuation |
The short term transfer of people from their homes or
workplaces because of a threatened or actual hazard impact. |
Response |
| Fire |
Burning of all or part of the natural or built environment as a result of natural or human activity. |
Hazards |
| Flood |
The overflowing of water beyond its normal confines, or the
accumulation of water by drainage over areas that are not normally
submerged. |
Hydro-Meteorology and Hazards |
| Geology and Hazards | Study of the structure of the earth and the processes acting on it. |
Hazards |
| Governance |
The processes and systems by which an organization or society operates. | |
| Hazard Analysis / Assessment | Identification, study and monitoring of any hazard to determine its potential, origin, characteristics, behaviour and effects on the community. |
Disaster Risk Reduction |
| Hazard Mapping | The process of establishing geographically where and
to what extent hazards are likely to affect an area. |
Hazard Analysis / Assessment |
| Hazards | An event, activity or phenomenon that has the potential to
cause harm to life, health or property, damage to the environment or
some combination of these. |
|
| Health and Hazards | A hazard that has the potential to significantly affect the well-being of a community. |
Hazards |
| HIV / AIDS | HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus causes AIDS -
Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome and leads to failure of the human
immune system. |
Health and Hazards |
| Hydro-Meteorology and Hazards | Hydrology-Study of the movement,
distribution, and quality of water throughout the Earth.
Meteorology-The study of atmospheric phenomena. |
Hazards |
| Industrial | A hazard resulting from Industries (manufacturing of a good or service). |
Technology and Hazards |
| Land Degradation | Deterioration of land quality or land forms resulting from natural phenomena or human activity. |
Environment and Hazards |
| Land Use Planning | Branch of planning that determines the options
for land use, with the effects on the community. |
Mitigation |
| Landslide |
Downhill movement of natural soil and rock. |
Geology and Hazards |
| Legislation |
Acts and other legal instruments established at various levels of governments. |
Governance |
| Logistics | The supply, handling, transportation and distribution of
resources. It includes all aspects of ordering, receiving, packing,
moving, storing and delivering. |
Response |
| Malaria |
A potentially fatal mosquito born disease caused by parasites. |
Health and Hazards |
| Marine Pollution | Pollution of oceans, lakes or rivers resulting
from the discharge of hydrocarbons (often petroleum or crude oil),
chemicals or other potentially harmful matter from tanks, tankers or
pipelines during transportation or storage. |
Pollution |
| Mitigation |
Structural and non-structural measures undertaken to
eliminate or limit the adverse impact of hazards. |
Disaster Risk Reduction |
| Monitoring |
Observation, measurement and valuation of progress in
order to identify change. |
Monitoring and Early Warning Systems |
| Monitoring and Early Warning Systems | Monitoring-Observation,
measurement and valuation of progress in order to identify change.
Early Warning-The provision of timely and effective information,
through identified and authoritative institutions, that allows action
to be takenbefore an event. |
|
| Needs Analysis / Assessment | Needs Analysis-Examination and analysis
of information in order to make recommendations about the needs
required to improve the situation. Needs Assessment-Collection and
organisation of information to identify total needs. |
Response |
| Pandemic |
Epidemic disease that spreads across a large region or even worldwide. |
Health and Hazards |
| Planning |
The process of formulating goals and objectives and determinating strategies and activities to achieve them. | Governance |
| Policy |
A general statement or understanding that guides thinking in decision-making. |
Governance |
| Pollution |
Degradation of one or more elements or aspects of the
environment by noxious industrial, chemical or biological substances as
a result of human or mechanical failure or mismanagement of natural and
environmental resources. |
Environment and Hazards |
| Preparedness | Activities and measures taken in advance to ensure
effective community and national response to the impact of hazards. |
Disaster Management |
| Public Awareness | The process of informing the population, increasing consciousness of risks and spreading knowledge of how people can reduce the effects of hazards. |
Preparednes |
| Recovery | Decisions and actions taken after a disaster to restore the normal living conditions while encouraging and facilitating adjustments to reduce disaster risk. |
Disaster Management |
| Relief | The provision of immediate life support, shelter and other
survival needs to persons affected by, or responding to, a disaster. |
Response |
| Response |
Actions taken before, during, and immediately after a
disaster to ensure that its effects are minimised, and that people
affected are given immediate relief and support. |
Disaster Management |
| Risk Analysis | A systematic use of information to determine how
often specific events may occur and the extent of their likely
consequences. |
Disaster Risk Reduction |
| Risk Mapping | The process of establishing geographically the effects
a particular hazard may have, and related vulnerability. |
Risk Analysis |
| Road Transportation | The movement of passengers and / or goods on roads. |
Technology and Hazards |
| Sea Transportation | The movement of passengers and / or goods at sea, between two ports. |
Technology and Hazards |
| Standard Operating Procedures | Procedures showing in detail how
tasks are to be performed in specific situations. Commonly known as
SOPs. |
Preparedness |
| Stockpiling | Identifying and storing supplies to meet relief needs. |
Preparedness |
| Storm | Atmospheric disturbance involving strong agitation of
prevailing pressure and wind fields. |
Hydro-Meteorology and Hazards |
| Storm Surge | A sudden rise of sea level as a result of high winds
and low atmospheric pressure; sometimes called a storm tide, storm
wave, or tidal wave. |
Hydro-Meteorology and Hazards |
| Technology and Hazards | A hazard resulting from the use of
technology for manufacturing, mining, processing, transport or storage. |
Hazard |
| Traditional Knowledge | Long-standing traditions and practices of regional, indigenous, or local communities. |
|
| Training and Tools | Teaching defined skills. | |
| Tsunami | A seismic sea wave generated by displacement of the seafloor by a volcano, earthquake and or landslide, which causes the formation of a small group of water waves with a wavelength equal to the water depth at the point of origin that can be devastating when they reach low-lying coastal areas. |
Geology and Hazards |
| Tsunami Awareness Kit | A tailored collection of resources to help
Pacific Island countries prepare for the deadly and destructive
potential of tsunamis. |
Tsunami |
| Volcano | An opening in the earths crust that allows gas, ash or
molten lava to be ejected from the earths surface. |
Geology and Hazards |
| Vulnerability | The degree of sensitivity to the impact of hazards. | Disaster Risk Reduction |
| Weather Forecasting | Analysing existing atmospheric conditions to
forecast weather for a specified area and period. |
Monitoring and Early Warning Systems |
Acronyms
| ACP |
Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (countries assisted by the EU) |
| ACCT |
International Organization of the French-speaking World (OIF) |
| ACP |
African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States |
| ADB |
Asian Development Bank |
| ADPC |
Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (in Bangkok) |
| ADRC |
Asian Disaster Reduction Center |
| AEMC |
Australian Emergency Management Committee |
| AEMEG |
Australian Emergency Management Executive Group |
| AFAC |
Australasian Fire Authorities Council |
| AGCDTF |
Australian Government Counter Disaster Task Force (Australia) |
| AMSA |
Australian Maritime Safety Authority |
| APCEDI |
Australian-Pacific Centre for Emergency and Disaster Information |
| APEC |
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation |
| ARF |
ASEAN Regional Forum |
| AsDB |
Asian Development Bank |
| ASEAN |
Association of Southeast Asian Nations |
| AusAID |
Australian Agency for International Development |
| AusSAR |
Australian Search and Rescue |
| BOM |
Bureau of Meteorology, Australia |
| BPOA | Barbados Plan of Action |
| C |
Commonwealth |
| CA |
Cotonou Agreement |
| CADRI |
Capacity for Disaster Reduction Initiative (UNDP, OCHA, UN/ISDR) |
| CBDRM |
Community-based disaster risk management |
| CCCCC |
Caribbean Community Climate Change Center |
| CDEM | Civil Defence and Emergency Management (NZ) |
| CDERA |
Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency |
| CEG | Coordinating Executive Group (NZ) |
| CHARM | Comprehensive Hazard and Risk Management |
| CLO | Country Liaison Officer |
| CP | Colombo Plan |
| CRED | Centre for the Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters |
| CRMI |
Caribbean Risk Management Initiative (UNDP) |
| CROP | Comparative Research Programme on Poverty |
| CROP | Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific |
| CSO | Civil Society Organization |
| DAFF | Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Australia) |
| DFID | Department for International Development (UK) |
| DM | Disaster Management |
| DMC |
Disaster Management Center |
| DMC |
Disaster Management Council |
| DPMC | Department of the prime Minister and Cabinet (NZ) |
| DRM | Disaster Risk Management |
| DRR | Disaster Risk Reduction |
| EC | European Commission |
| EEZ | Exclusive Economic Zone |
| EMA | Emergency Management Australia |
| EMAI | Emergency Management Australia Institute |
| EMT | Emergency Management Training |
| EPA | Economic Partnership Agreement |
| EQC | Earthquake Commission (NZ) |
| EU | European Union |
| EWS | Early Warning System |
| FACT | Field Assessment and Coordination Team (Red Cross) |
| FAO | Food and Agriculture Organization |
| FFA | Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency |
| FSchM | Fiji School of Medicine |
| FSM | Federated States of Micronesia |
| FSPI | Foundation of the People of the South Pacific |
| G-77 | Group of 77 |
| GDACS | Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System |
| GDP | Gross Domestic Product |
| GEF |
Global Environment Facility |
| GFDRR |
Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery – World Bank |
| GLIDE |
Global Identification Number |
| GNS |
Institute for Geological and Nuclear Sciences (NZ) |
| GRIP |
Global Risk Identification Programme |
| HES |
Humanitarian and Emergencies Section (AusAID) |
| HFA |
Hyogo Framework for Action |
| IAEA | International Atomic Energy Agency |
| IBRD |
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development |
| ICAO |
International Civil Aviation Organization |
| ICCt |
International Criminal Court |
| ICFTU |
Confederation of Free Trade Unions |
| ICRC |
International Committee of the Red Cross |
| ICRM |
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement |
| IDA |
International Development Association |
| IDNDR |
International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (1990-2000) |
| IFAD |
International Fund for Agricultural Development |
| IFC |
International Finance Corporation |
| IFRC |
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |
| IHO |
International Hydrographic Organization |
| ILO |
International Labor Organization |
| IMF |
International Monetary Fund |
| IMO |
International Maritime Organization |
| INSMET |
Instituto de Meteorologica, Cuba |
| Intelsat |
International Telecommunications Satellite Consortium |
| Interpol |
International Criminal Police Organization |
| IOC |
International Olympic Committee |
| IOM |
International Organization for Migration |
| IPU |
Inter-Parliamentary Union |
| ISDR |
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction |
| ISO |
International Organization for Standardization |
| ITU |
International Telecommunication Union |
| ITUC |
International Trade Union Confederation |
| JICA |
Japanese International Cooperation Agency |
| MAF |
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (NZ) |
| MCDEM |
Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (NZ) |
| MFAT |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (NZ) |
| MIGA |
Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency |
| MOU |
Memorandum Of Understanding |
| MTR |
Mid Term Review |
| NAM |
Nonaligned Movement |
| NAP |
National Action Plan |
| NCCA |
National Council of Churches in Australia |
| NDC |
National Disaster Committee or Council |
| NDMCC |
National Disaster Management Coordination Committee |
| NDMO |
National Disaster Management Office |
| NDRA |
National Disaster Relief Arrangements (Australia) |
| NEMCC |
National Emergency Management Coordination Centre (Australia) |
| NEMEG |
National Emergency Executive Group (Australia) |
| NGO |
Non-Government Organisation |
| NIWA |
National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research (NZ) |
| NRCS |
National Red Cross Societies |
| NRIS |
National Registration and Inquiry System (Australia) |
| NZ |
New Zealand |
| NZAID |
New Zealand Agency for International Development |
| OCHA |
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |
| ODESC |
Officials’ Domestic and External Security Committee (NZ) |
| OFDA |
Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (of USAID) |
| OIF |
International Organization of the French-speaking World |
| OPCW |
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons |
| Pacific Plan |
Pacific Plan |
| PACPS |
Pacific ACP States |
| PACREIP |
Pacific Regional Economic Integration Programme |
| PCA |
Permanent Court of Arbitration |
| PCC |
Pacific Council of Churches |
| PCIDRR |
Pacific Community-focused Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction project |
| PCRC |
Pacific Concerns Resource Centre |
| PDC |
Pacific Disaster Center (Hawaii) |
| PDRMPN |
Pacific Disaster Risk Management Partnership Network |
| PEMTAG |
Pacific Emergency Management Training Advisory Group |
| PIANGO |
Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations |
| PICs |
Pacific Islands Countries |
| PICTA |
Pacific Islands Countries Trade Agreement |
| PIF |
Pacific Islands Forum |
| PIFS |
Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat |
| PPNI |
Pacific Partnership Network Initiative |
| PRNSAs |
Pacific Regional Non State Actors |
| PSRC |
Pacific Sub Regional Centre |
| RM |
Road Map |
| RSMC |
Regional Specialized Meteorological Center |
| SIDS |
Small Island Developing States |
| SIS |
Small Island States |
| SOPAC |
Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission |
| Sparteca |
South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement |
| SPC |
Pacific Community |
| SPC |
Secretariat to the Pacific Community |
| SPDRP |
South Pacific Disaster Reduction Programme (now closed) |
| SPPO |
South Pacific Program Office (of UNDRO) (now closed) |
| SPREP |
Pacific Regional Environment Programme |
| SPREP |
South Pacific Regional Environment Programme |
| SPTO |
South Pacific Tourism Organisation |
| TCCSP |
Tropical Cyclone Committee for the South Pacific (and South East Asia) |
| TCWC |
Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre |
| UN |
United Nations |
| UNCTAD |
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development |
| UNDAC |
United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination |
| UNDHA |
United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs (since replaced by OCHA) |
| UNDP |
United Nations Development Program |
| UNDRO |
Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator (since replaced by |
| UNEP |
United Nations Environment Programme |
| UNESCAP |
UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific |
| UNICEF |
United Nations Children's Fund |
| UNIDO |
United Nations Industrial Development Organization |
| UNOCHA |
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |
| UN-SPIDER |
United Nations Platform for Space-Based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response |
| UNWTO |
World Tourism Organization |
| UPU |
Universal Postal Union |
| USAID |
Unites States Agency for International Development |
| USP |
University of the South Pacific |
| WB |
World Bank |
| WCO |
World Customs Organization |
| WCPFC |
Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission |
| WFTU |
World Federation of Trade Unions |
| WHO |
World Health Organization |
| WIPO |
World Intellectual Property Organization |
| WMO |
World Meteorological Organization |
| WP |
Work Plan |
| WSSD |
World Summit on Sustainable Development |
| WTO |
World Trade Organization |
| WToO | see UNWTO |
| WWF | World Wildlife Fund |
