Talk the Talk: Disaster Response Acronyms & Terms

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When it comes to disaster response and preparedness, there is little room for miscommunication or misunderstanding. When precious resources are at risk, clear, concise communication is a top priority. But, like many industries, there’s no shortage of acronyms, unique phrases, and specific terms that make it difficult for outsiders or novices to “talk the talk” when stepping onto the scene. And while acronyms or shorthand certainly have their benefits – like being able to communicate quickly and clearly with those who have a comprehensive understanding of industry lingo and vocab – they can also be difficult to navigate.

Identifying the “basics” of an industry lingo can be difficult, not to mention overwhelming. Specific to the disaster response and preparedness space, the Prometheus team saw a need for a crash course collection of some of the most common terms, acronyms, and phrases one might encounter. By creating an ever-growing collection of acronyms and terms that are relevant and specific to our industry, we can begin to remove barriers and improve communication across the board.

While some might think that disaster response and preparedness lingo should be reserved for government employees, global leaders, and response teams, there’s actually a critical need for individuals across industries, occupations, and locations to familiarize themselves with relevant terms like the ones we’ll cover. Why? Because in times of crisis or need, the more people who can communicate clearly and understand or relay guidance and instruction, the better we can effectively respond to disaster.

International & Regional Association Acronyms

Most organizations have long, wordy names that are better shortened with acronyms. Here’s a list of a few of the most prominent and relevant organizations in the disaster response space and their subsequent acronyms:

ADPC: Asian Disaster Preparedness Center
APEC: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
ASEAN: Association of Southeast Asian Nations
AU: African Union
CAR: Central African Republic
CDEMA: Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency
DAC: Development Assistance Committee
EC: European Commission
ECLAC: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
ECOWAS: Economic Community of West African States
ESA: European Space Agency
ESCAP: Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
EU: European Union
Euratom: European Atomic Energy Community
FAO: Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations
FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Agency
GCF: Green Climate Fund
GEO: Group on Earth Observations
GFP: Global Flood Partnership
GWP: Global Water Partnership
IAEA: International Atomic Energy Agency
IDDRSI: Intergovernmental Authority on Development Drought Disaster Resilience and Sustainability Initiative
IFRC: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
IGAD: Intergovernmental Authority on Development
INSAG: International Nuclear Safety Group
ISO: International Organization for Standardization
JRC: Joint Research Center
LAS: League of Arab States
NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NEA: Nuclear Energy Agency
NOAA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
OCHA: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
OECD: Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
PCRAFI: Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative
PDRF: Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation
REC: Regional Economic Commission
SAARC: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
SADC: South African Development Community
UN DESA: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
UNECE: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNISDR: United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
USAID: United States Agency for International Development
WHO: World Health Organization
WMO: World Meteorological organization

There are various councils and committees involved in both global and local disaster preparedness and response efforts. Generally, these councils feature noteworthy experts, contributors, or leaders relevant to their area of focus:

ACHP: Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
ACT: American Council for Technology
CEA: Council of Economic Advisors
CEQ: Council on Environmental Quality
BICEPP: Business and Industry Council for Emergency Preparedness and Planning
DAC: Development Assistance Committee
EPPC: Emergency Prevention and Preparedness Council
FICC: Federal Interagency Coordination Council
HSAC: Homeland Security Advisory Council
IACRNE: Inter-Agency Committee on Radiological and Nuclear Emergencies
IRGC: International Risk Governance Council
ISCC: Information Sharing Coordinating Council
LEPPC: Local Emergency Prevention and Preparedness Council
NAC: National Advisory Committee/Council
NEPPC: National Emergency Prevention and Preparedness Council
NFIC: National Fire Information Council
NIAC: National Infrastructure Advisory Council
NIC: National Intelligence Council
NSAC: Navigation Safety Advisory Council
NSC: National Safety/Security Council
PPC: Prevention and Preparedness Council
UN-GGIM: United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management
UNSCEAR: United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation

New technology emerges every day, changing the landscape of disaster preparedness and response while opening doors for innovation. Instead of relying on exhaustive phrases like XYZ, many experts leverage their acronyms to communicate more efficiently:

AT: Advanced Technology
CRPT: City Resilience Profiling Tool
EM-DAT: Emergency Events Database
EWS: Early Warning System
GIS: Geographic Information System
GWIS: Global Wildfire Information System
INES: International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale
MHEWS: Multi-Hazard Early Warning System
SFM: Sendai Framework Monitor
VISUS: Visual Inspection for Defining Safety Upgrading Strategies
WASP: Weighted Anomaly of Standardized Precipitation

When it comes to assessments, Prometheus knows just how critical it is to take a look at the bigger picture before zeroing in on solutions to more specific concerns. There are a number of common assessments that stand out in the disaster preparedness and response space, including:

BNA: Baseline Needs Assessment
DA: Damage Assessment
DART: Disaster Assessment and Recovery/Response Team
DIDA: Detection, Identification, and Assessment
DINA: Drought Impact Needs Assessment
GAR: Global Assessment Report
GRAF: Global Risk Assessment Framework
GSHAP: Global Seismic Hazard Assessment Program
HIRA: Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
PCRAFI: Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative
PDNA: Post Disaster Needs Assessment
PTHA: Probabilistic Tsunami Hazard Assessment
PTRA: Probabilistic Tsunami Risk Assessment
RICCAR: Regional Initiative for the Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources and Socio-Economic Vulnerability in the Arab Region
VCA: Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment

Beyond assessments, organizations, and technology, there are thousands of other terms and acronyms that are commonly found throughout disaster response-related conversations and content. Here are a few of the most prominent or noteworthy: