United States National Search and Rescue Supplement

Regions Annex B-2: U.S. SAR Region Charts B-2-1 Appendix C: ESF #9 C-1 Appendix D: Model State SAR Plan D-1 Appendix E: Guidance for Mass Rescue Operations (COMSAR/Circ.31) E-1 xi Figure 1-1-1: Arctic Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Regions 1-7 Figure 1-1-2: SAR Convention Excerpt – SAR Regions 1-9 Figure 1-1-3: Chicago Convention Excerpt – SAR Regions 1-9 Figure 1-1-4: U.S. SAR System 1-10 Figure 1-1-5: SAR Organization Documents 1-12 Figure 1-2-1: NSARC Member Agencies 1-15 Figure 1-3-1: Types of SAR and Olive SAR Model 1-17 Figure 1-5-1: Overview: International SAR System 1-23 Figure 1-5-2: Incident Command with SAR Branch 1-25 Figure 1-6-1: Federal SAR Coordinators (SCs) 1-30 Figure 1-6-2: SAR Coordinator (SC) Duties 1-30 Figure 1-6-3: National Park Service and State SAR Responsibilities 1-31 Figure 1-6-4: SAR Mission Coordinator (SMC) Duties 1-32 Figure 1-6-5: On Scene Coordinator (OSC) Duties 1-33 Figure 1-6-6: Aircraft Coordinator (ACO) Duties 1-34 Figure 1-9-1: National Preparedness and ESF #9 1-46 Figure 1-9-2: NRF Annexes 1-48 Figure 1-9-3: NSARC Olive SAR Model with ESF #9 1-51 Figure 1-9-4: ESF #9 and National SAR Documents 1-52 Figure 2-2-1: Emergency Phases 2-9 Figure 2-3-1: SAR Operations Stages 2-14 Figure 2-7-1: 14 CFR 91.137 – TFR for SAR 2-38 Figure 2-7-2: Example TFR with NOTAM Text 2-41 Figure 2-10-1: Reasons to not Charge Survivors for SAR Services 2-50 Figure 3-1-1: Cospas-Sarsat System Overview 3-4 Figure 3-2-2: MEOSAR System 3-13 Figure 3-3-1: U.S. SARSAT System 3-20 Figure B-2-1: U.S. Aeronautical SAR Regions B-2-2 Figure B-2-2: U.S. Maritime SAR Regions B-2-3 Figure B-2-3: Atlantic Ocean Aeronautical SAR Regions B-2-4 Figure B-2-4: Atlantic Ocean Maritime SAR Regions B-2-5 Figure B-2-5: Boston Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Region B-2-6 Figure B-2-6: Norfolk Aeronautical SAR Region B-2-7 Figure B-2-7: Norfolk Maritime SAR Region B-2-8 List of Figures xii Figure B-2-8: Miami Aeronautical SAR Region B-2-9 Figure B-2-9: Miami Maritime SAR Region B-2-10 Figure B-2-10: New Orleans Aeronautical SAR Region B-2-11 Figure B-2-11: New Orleans Maritime SAR Region B-2-12 Figure B-2-12: Cleveland Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Regions (delimitation with Canada) B-2-13 Figure B-2-13: San Juan Aeronautical SAR Sub-Region B-2-14 Figure B-2-14: San Juan Maritime SAR Sub-Region B-2-15 Figure B-2-15: Pacific Ocean Aeronautical SAR Regions B-2-16 Figure B-2-16: Pacific Ocean Maritime SAR Regions B-2-17 Figure B-2-17: Alameda Aeronautical SAR Region B-2-18 Figure B-2-18: Alameda Maritime SAR Region B-2-19 Figure B-2-19: Seattle Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Region B-2-20 Figure B-2-20: Honolulu Aeronautical SAR Region B-2-21 Figure B-2-21: Honolulu Maritime SAR Region B-2-22 Figure B-2-22: Juneau Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Region B-2-23 Figure B-2-23: Guam Aeronautical SAR Sub-Region B-2-24 Figure B-2-24: Guam Maritime SAR Sub-Region B-2-25 Figure B-2-25: Langley Aeronautical SAR Region B-2-26 Figure B-2-26: Elmendorf Aeronautical SAR Region B-2-27 xiii Table 1-4-1: General SAR Principles 1-21 Table 1-4-2: General Principles for States, Tribes, Territories/Insular Areas, and Local 1-22 Authorities Concerning SAR Responsibilities Table 1-7-1: U.S. RCCs and RSCs 1-38 List of Tables xiv This page intentionally left blank. xv References CDC Radiation Dictionary: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Radiation Dictionary online. CDC Bioterrorism: CDC Bioterrorism overview; http://emergency.cdc.gov/ bioterrorism/overview.asp. CIA CBR Handbook: Chemical/ Biological/Radiological Incident Handbook (October, 1998). CISAR Addendum: Catastrophic Incident Search and Rescue Addendum to the National Search and Rescue Supplement to the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual. Cospas-Sarsat: COSPAS-SARSAT Terms and Acronyms Used in the United States (June, 1988); COSPAS-SARSAT Glossary, C/S G.0-04 (Draft), Issue 1, Revision 0 (January, 1990); or International Cospas-Sarsat Programme Acronyms and Terminology Website. DHS RDD/IND: Planning Guidance for Protection and Recovery Following Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) and Improvised Nuclear Device (IND) Incidents (Federal Register, Vol. 73, No. 149, August 1, 2008). DoD NARP: Nuclear Weapon Accident Response Procedures (NARP), DoD 3150.8-M (February 22, 2005). ESF #9: Emergency Support Function #9 (May, 2013) FAA AIM: Aeronautical Information Manual (April 3, 2014) FAA Op/Admin: Facility Operation and Administration, Order JO 7210.3. FEMA Be Ready: http://www.ready.gov/ document/be-informed-chemical-threat. FEMA IMH: FEMA Incident Management Handbook (B-761). FEMA NIMS: National Incident Management System (December, 2008). FEMA NIMS Guideline: National Incident Management System Guideline for Mutual Aid (November, 2017) FEMA Pet: 9523.19 Eligible Costs Related to Pet Evacuations & Sheltering. FEMA Glossary: FEMA Glossary online. IAMSAR: International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual. JP 1-02: Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms, Joint Publication 1-02 (November 8, 2010; as amended through February 15, 2016). JP 3-28: Defense Support to Civil Authorities, Joint Publication 3-28 (July 31, 2013). NGB: National Guard Bureau. NIOSH: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. NRF: National Response Framework (June, 2016) NSP: National Search and Rescue Plan of the United States (2016) Glossary References Glossary xvi NSS PGRND: Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation (June, 2010) NWCG Glossary: National Wildfire Coordination Group Glossary online. NWS Glossary: National Weather Service Glossary online. SAR Convention: International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (1979) Stafford Act: Robert T. Stafford Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. § 5121-5206). Type 3 QG: Type 3 All-Hazard Incident Management System Qualification Guide (September, 2010) UAS Roadmap: Federal Aviation Administration, Integration of Civil Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the National Airspace System (NAS) Roadmap (2013). USGS Glossary: U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Glossary online. Glossary A A-Probability: Percentage representing probability that the “A” rather than the “B” solution represents a real position. (Cospas-Sarsat) A-Solution: Of the two solutions derived from single satellite pass data, the one more likely to be related to the real position. (Cospas-Sarsat) Aeronautical Drift (Da ): Drift caused by bailout trajectory or aircraft gliding distance. (IAMSAR) Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP): A publication issued by or with the authority of a State and containing aeronautical information of a lasting character essential to air navigation. (FAA AIM) Aeronautical Position: Initial position of a distressed aircraft at the time of re-entry, engine failure, aircrew ejection or bailout. (IAMSAR) Aeronautical Search and Rescue (SAR): Search and rescue operations involving persons in distress aboard aircraft. Air Burst: A nuclear weapon explosion that is high enough in the air to keep the fireball from touching the ground. Because the fireball does not reach the ground and does not pick up any surface material, the radioactivity in the fallout from an air burst is relatively insignificant compared with a surface burst. (CDC Radiation Dictionary) Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC): A facility established to provide air traffic control service to aircraft operating on IFR flight plans within controlled airspace and principally during the en route phase of flight. When equipment capabilities and controller workload permit, certain advisory/assistance services may be provided to VFR aircraft. (FAA AIM) Air Search Area Definition (ASAD): A method of determining the POC for a missing aircraft using statistical information from a 2009 NASA study of crash locations. Air Traffic Control (ATC): A service operated by an appropriate authority to promote the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic. (FAA AIM) xvii Air Traffic Service: A generic term meaning: a. Flight Information Service. b. Alerting Service. c. Air Traffic Advisory Service. d. Air Traffic Control Service: 1. Area Control Service, 2. Approach Control Service, or 3. Airport Control Service. (FAA AIM) Aircraft Coordinator (ACO): A person or team who coordinates the involvement of multiple aircraft SAR operations in support of the SAR mission coordinator and onscene coordinator. (IAMSAR) Aircraft Glide: Maximum ground distance and aircraft could cover during descent. (IAMSAR) ALARA (As low as reasonably achievable): A process to control or manage radiation exposure to individuals and releases of radioactive material to the environment so that doses are as low as social, technical, economic, practical, and public welfare considerations permit. (NSS PGRND) Alert: Cospas-Sarsat report of an apparent distress routed to the search and rescue system. (Cospas-Sarsat) Alert Notice (ALNOT): A message sent by an FSS or an ARTCC that requests an extensive communications search for overdue, unreported, or missing aircraft. (FAA AIM) Alert Phase: (1) A situation wherein apprehension exists as to the safety of a person, vessel or other craft. (SAR Convention) Alerting Post: Any facility intended to serve as an intermediary between a person reporting an emergency and a rescue coordination center or rescue sub- center. (SAR Convention) Amver: Worldwide ship reporting system for search and rescue. (IAMSAR) Area Command (Unified Area Command): An organization established to oversee the management of multiple incidents that are each being handled by a separate Incident Command System organization or to oversee the management of a very large or evolving incident that has multiple Incident Management Teams engaged. An Agency Administrator/Executive or other public official with jurisdictional responsibility for the incident usually makes the decision to establish an Area Command. An Area Command is activated only if necessary, depending on the complexity of the incident and incident management span-of-control considerations. (FEMA NIMS) Assisting Agency: An agency or organization providing personnel, services, or other resources to the agency with direct responsibility for incident management. See Supporting Agency. (FEMA NIMS) Altitude Reservation (ALTRV): Airspace utilization under prescribed conditions normally employed for the mass movement of aircraft or other special user requirements which cannot otherwise be accomplished. ALTRVs are approved by the appropriate FAA facility. (FAA AIM) Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ): An organization, office, or individual having statutory responsibility for enforcing the requirements of a code or standard, or for approving equipment, materials, and installation, or a procedure. (Type 3 QG) xviii Automatic Direction Finding (ADF): Equipment that determines bearing to a radio station. Available Datum Effort (Za ): The amount of effort available for assignment to a particular datum. (IAMSAR) Awareness Range: distance at which a search scanner can first detect something different from its surroundings but not yet recognize it. (IAMSAR) Awareness Stage: A period during which the SAR system becomes aware of an actual or potential incident. (IAMSAR) B B-Probability: Percentage representing probability that the “B” rather than the “A” solution represents a real position. (Cospas-Sarsat) B-Solution: Based on single satellite pass data, the solution least likely to represent a real position. (Cospas-Sarsat) Beacon ID: Information coded into a 406 MHz distress beacon signal containing the beacon identification and other search and rescue information. (Cospas- Sarsat) Biological Incident: An event in which a biological agent harms or threatens to harm humans, livestock, or agricultural or economic assets. Bioterrorism: The deliberate release of viruses, bacteria, or other germs (agents) used to cause illness or death in people, animals, or plants. These agents are typically found in nature, but it is possible that they could be changed to increase their ability to cause disease, make them resistant to current medicines, or to increase their ability to be spread into the environment. Biological agents can be spread through the air, through water, or in food. Terrorists may use biological agents because they can be extremely difficult to detect and do not cause illness for several hours to several days. Some bioterrorism agents, like the smallpox virus, can be spread from person to person and some, like anthrax, cannot. (CDC Bioterrorism) Blast Effect: The impacts caused by the shock wave of energy through air that is created by detonation of a nuclear device. The blast wave is a pulse of air in which the pressure increases sharply at the front, accompanied by winds. (NSS PGRND) Blister Agent: A chemical agent which injures the eyes and lungs, and burns or blisters the skin. (JP 1-02) Blood Agent: A chemical compound, including the cyanide group, that affects bodily functions by preventing the normal utilization of oxygen by body tissues. (JP 1-02) Branch: The organizational level having functional or geographical responsibility for major aspects of incident and accident operations. A branch is organizationally situated between the section and the division or group in the Operations Section, and between the section and units in the Logistics Section. Branches are identified by the use of Roman numerals or by functional area (e.g., medical, security, etc.). (FEMA NIMS) Buffer Zone: Area of defined width overlapping adjacent search and rescue regions for which alerts will be provided to the Rescue Coordination Centers responsible of both regions. (Cospas- Sarsat) xix C Captive Animals: Captive animals live in zoos or aquariums and that might otherwise be endangered wild animals, and in research facilities, and which are totally dependent on humans for survival. Catastrophic Incident: Any natural or manmade incident, including terrorism that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the population, infrastructure, environment, economy, national morale, and/or government functions. (NRF) Catastrophic Incident Search and Rescue (CISAR): Civil SAR operations carried out as all or part of the response to an emergency or disaster declared by the President, under provisions of the NRF and ESF #9 Annex. (CISAR Addendum) Chemical Agent: A chemical substance which is intended for use in military operations to kill, seriously injure, or incapacitate mainly through its physiological effects. The term excludes riot control agents when used for law enforcement purposes, herbicides, smoke, and flames. (JP 1-02) Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, or High Yield Explosives (CBRNE) Emergency Response Force Package (CERFP): The CERFPs provide a regional response capability comprised of existing traditional National Guard units task organized to respond to Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) attacks. The CERFPs are capable of performing search and extraction, casualty/patient decontamination, mass medical triage, and treatment at a CBRNE incident. (NGB) Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, or High Yield Explosives (CBRNE) Incident: An emergency resulting from the deliberate or unintentional release of nuclear, biological, radiological, toxic, or poisonous chemical materials, or the detonation of a high yield explosive. (JP 1-02) Chemical Attack: The deliberate release of a toxic gas, liquid or solid that can poison people and the environment. (FEMA Be Ready) Chief: The ICS title for individuals responsible for functional Sections: Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration. (FEMA NIMS) Coastal Flooding: Flooding which occurs when water is driven onto land from an adjacent body of water. This generally occurs when there are significant storms, such as tropical and extratropical cyclones. (NWS Glossary) Command Center (CC): Multi-mission center that may perform the function of a rescue coordination center in addition to having staff and capabilities to perform other functions. Commence Search Point (CSP): Point normally specified by the SMC where a SAR facility is to begin its search pattern. (IAMSAR) Command Staff: The Command Staff consists of the Public Information Officer, Safety Officer, and Liaison Officer. They report directly to the Incident Commander. They may have an Assistant or Assistants, as needed. (FEMA NIMS) Commence Search Point (CSP): Point normally specified by the SMC where a search and rescue facility is to begin its search pattern. (IAMSAR) xx Common Operating Picture: An overview of an incident by all relevant parties that provides incident information enabling the Incident Commander/Unified Command and any supporting agencies and organizations to make effective, consistent, and timely decisions. (FEMA NIMS) Complex: Two or more individual incidents located in the same general area and assigned to a single Incident Commander or to Unified Command. (FEMA NIMS) Composite Solution: Computer generated position based on merging two or more matched single pass solutions. (Cospas- Sarsat) Conclusion Stage: A period during a search and rescue incident when search and rescue facilities return to their regular location and prepare for another mission. (IAMSAR) Confined Space: A space which by design has limited openings for entry and exit, unfavorable natural ventilation which could contain or produce dangerous air contaminants, and which is not intended for continuous employee occupancy. Confined spaces include but are not limited to storage tanks, compartments of ships, process vessels, pits, silos, vats, degreasers, reaction vessels, boilers, ventilation and exhaust ducts, sewers, tunnels, underground utility vaults, and pipelines. (NIOSH) Confinement: A search strategy (with many possible tactics) to limit the possible area into which the search objective might travel undetected, or to establish that the search objective has not already passed a desired search area boundary. Confirmed Position: A DOA or Doppler position that is confirmed by independent DOA, Doppler or encoded position data that matches within 20 kilometers. (Cospas-Sarsat) Contamination (radioactive): The deposition and/or absorption of radioactive or other hazardous or toxic material on or by structures, areas, personnel, or objects. (DoD NARP) Continuity of Government: A coordinated effort within the Federal Government's executive branch to ensure that National Essential Functions continue to be performed during a catastrophic emergency (as defined in National Security Presidential Directive 51/Homeland Security Presidential Directive 20). (FEMA NIMS) Continuity of Operations: An effort within individual organizations to ensure that Primary Mission Essential Functions continue to be performed during a wide range of emergencies. (FEMA NIMS) Coordinated Search Pattern: Multi-unit pattern using vessel(s) and aircraft. (IAMSAR) Cospas-Sarsat System: (1) A satellite system designed to detect distress beacons transmitting on the frequency 406 MHz. (IAMSAR) Course: The intended horizontal direction of travel. (IAMSAR) Coverage Factor (C): The ratio of the search effort (Z) to the area searched (A). C = Z/A. For parallel sweep searches, it may be computed as the ratio of sweep width (W) to track spacing (S). C = W/S. (IAMSAR) Credentialing: The authentication and verification of the certification and identity of designated incident managers and emergency responders. (FEMA NIMS) xxi Critical Incident Stress: Any event which overwhelms the capacities of a person to psychologically cope with an incident; the normal physical and psychological reactions of normal people experiencing an abnormal event or demand. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM): A comprehensive, integrated, systematic, multi-tactic form of crisis intervention that is applied to manage critical incident stress after traumatic events. Critical Infrastructure: Assets, systems, and networks, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacitation or destruction of such assets, systems, or networks would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters. (FEMA NIMS) Cumulative Probability of Success (POS cum): The accumulated probability of finding the search object with all the search effort expended over all searches to date. POS C is the sum of all individual search POS values. (IAMSAR) Cumulative Relative Effort (Zrc ): The sum of all previous relative efforts plus the relative effort for the next planned search effort. This value determines the optimal search factor. Zrc = Zr-1 + Zr-2 + Zr-3 +… Zr-next search . (IAMSAR) D Datum: A geographic point, line, or area used as a reference in search planning. (IAMSAR) Datum Area: Area in where it is estimated that the search object is most likely to be located. (IAMSAR) Datum Marker Buoy (DMB): Droppable floating beacon used to determine actual total water current, or to serve as a location reference. (IAMSAR) Datum Point: A point, such as a reported or estimated position, at the center of the area where it is estimated that the search object is most likely to be located. (IAMSAR) Decontamination: The process of making any person, object, or area safe within acceptable limits by absorbing, making harmless, or removing contaminated material clinging to or around it. (DoD NARP) Decontamination Station: A building or location suitably equipped and organized where personnel and material are cleansed of radiological and other hazardous or toxic contaminants. (DoD NARP) Defense Coordinating Officer (DCO): Department of Defense single point of contact for domestic emergencies. Assigned to a joint field office to process requirements for military support, forward mission assignments through proper channels to the appropriate military organizations, and assign military liaisons, as appropriate, to activated emergency support functions. (JP 1-02) Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA): Support provided by US Federal military forces, Department of Defense civilians, Department of Defense contract personnel, Department of Defense component assets, and National Guard forces (when the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the governors of the affected states, elects and requests to use those forces in Title 32, United States Code, status) in response to requests for assistance from xxii civil authorities for domestic emergencies, law enforcement support, and other domestic activities, or from qualifying entities for special events. (JP 1-02) Demobilization: The orderly, safe, and efficient return of an incident resource to its original location and status. (FEMA NIMS) Deputy: A fully qualified individual who, in the absence of a superior, can be delegated the authority to manage a functional operation or to perform a specific task. In some cases a deputy can act as relief for a superior, and therefore must be fully qualified in the position. Deputies generally can be assigned to the Incident Commander, General Staff, and Branch Directors. (FEMA NIMS) Direction Finding (DF): Homing on signals to pinpoint a position. (IAMSAR) Director: The Incident Command System title for individuals responsible for supervision of a Branch. (FEMA NIMS) Dirty Bomb: A device designed to spread radioactive material by conventional explosives when the bomb explodes. A dirty bomb kills or injures people through the initial blast of the conventional explosive and spreads radioactive contamination over possibly a large area – hence the term “dirty.” Such bombs could be miniature devices or large truck bombs. A dirty bomb is much simpler to make than a true nuclear weapon. (CDC Radiological Dictionary) Distress Beacon: Device operating on 406 MHz intended solely for distress signaling through the Cospas-Sarsat system. Distress Phase: A situation wherein there is reasonable certainty that a vessel or other craft, including an aircraft or a person, is threatened by grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance. (IAMSAR) Ditching: The forced landing of an aircraft on water. (IAMSAR) Division: The organizational level having responsibility for operations within a defined geographic area. Divisions are established when the number of resources exceeds the manageable span of control of the Section Chief. See Group. (FEMA NIMS) Difference of Arrival (DOA) Position: A position computed by a MEOLUT using differences in Time of Arrival (TOA) and/or Frequency of Arrival (FOA) data from multiple MEOSAR satellites. (Cospas-Sarsat) Domestic Event Network (DEN): A 24/7 FAA sponsored telephonic conference call network (recorded) that includes all of the air route traffic control centers (ARTCC) in the United States. It also includes various other Governmental agencies that monitor the DEN. The purpose of the DEN is to provide timely notification to the appropriate authority that there is an emerging air-related problem or incident. (FAA Op/Admin) Doppler Shift: Change in the apparent frequency of a wave as observer and source move toward or away from each other. Doppler Shift is used by the Cospas-Sarsat system to determine the position of a distress beacon that has been activated. Dose: Radiation absorbed by an individual’s body; general term used to denote mean absorbed dose, equivalent dose, effective dose, or effective equivalent dose, and to denote dose received or committed dose. (NSS PGRND) xxiii Drift: The movement of a search object cause by environmental factors. (IAMSAR) E Earthquake: Earthquake is a term used to describe both sudden slip on a fault, and the resulting ground shaking and radiated seismic energy caused by the slip, or by volcanic or magmatic activity, or other sudden stress changes in the earth. (USGS Glossary) Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP): A sharp pulse of radiofrequency (long wavelength) electromagnetic radiation produced when an explosion occurs near the earth’s surface or at high altitudes. The intense electric and magnetic fields can damage unprotected electronics and electronic equipment over a large area. (NSS PGRND) Elemental Solution: Single satellite pass solution upon which a composite solution is based. (Cospas-Sarsat) Emergency: (1) Absent a Presidentially declared emergency, any incident(s), human-caused or natural, that requires responsive action to protect life or property. Under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, an emergency means any occasion or instance for which, in the determination of the President, Federal assistance is needed to supplement State and local efforts and capabilities to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the United States. (FEMA NIMS) (2) Any incident, whether natural, technological, or human- caused, that necessitates responsive action to protect life or property. (FEMA NIMS Guideline) Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT): Aeronautical radio distress beacon for alerting and transmitting homing signals. (IAMSAR) Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC): A congressionally ratified organization that provides form and structure to interstate mutual aid. Through EMAC, a disaster-affected State can request and receive assistance from other member States quickly and efficiently, resolving two key issues up front: liability and reimbursement. (FEMA NIMS) Emergency Operations Center (EOC): The physical location at which the coordination of information and resources to support domestic incident management activities normally takes place. An EOC may be a temporary facility or may be located in a more central or permanently established facility, perhaps at a higher level of organization within a jurisdiction. EOCs may be organized by major functional disciplines (e.g., fire, law enforcement, and medical services), by jurisdiction (e.g., Federal, State, regional, county, city, tribal), or some combination thereof. (FEMA NIMS) Emergency Operations Plan: The plan that each jurisdiction has and maintains for responding to appropriate hazards. (FEMA NIMS) Emergency Phase: A generic term, as the case may be, uncertainty phase, alert phase, or distress phase. (IAMSAR) Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB): A device, usually carried aboard maritime craft, that transmits a signal that alerts search and rescue authorities and enables rescue units to locate the scene of the distress. (IAMSAR) xxiv Emergency Support Function (ESF) Coordinator: The ESF coordinator oversees the preparedness activities for a particular ESF and coordinates with its primary and support agencies. Emergency Support Function (ESF) Primary Agency: An ESF primary agency has significant authorities, roles, resources, and capabilities for a particular function within an ESF. Emergency Support Function (ESF) Support Agency: An agency that provides support and/or resource assistance to another agency. (FEMA Glossary) Emergency Support Functions (ESFs): A grouping of government and certain private-sector capabilities into an organizational structure to provide the support, resources, program implementation, and services that are most likely to be needed to save lives, protect property and the environment, restore essential services and critical infrastructure, and help victims and communities return to normal, when feasible, following domestic incidents. (JP 1-02) Epicenter: The point on the earth's surface vertically above the hypocenter (or focus), point in the crust where a seismic rupture begins. (USGS Glossary) Evacuation: Organized, phased, and supervised withdrawal, dispersal, or removal of persons from dangerous or potentially dangerous areas, and their reception and care in safe areas. (FEMA NIMS) Exposure (Radiation): The level of radiation flux to which a material or living tissue is exposed. (DoD NARP) Extended Communications (EXCOM) Search: Comprehensive communications search to find information or clues about the location of missing persons. Normally conducted after a PRECOM has yielded no results, or when the mission is upgraded to the Alert phase. Eye: The relatively calm center in a hurricane that is more than one half surrounded by wall cloud. The winds are light, the skies are partly cloudy or even clear (the skies are usually free of rain) and radar depicts it as an echo-free area within the eye wall. (NWS Glossary) Eyewall/Wall Cloud: It is an organized band of cumuliform clouds that immediately surrounds the center (eye) of a hurricane. The fiercest winds and most intense rainfall typically occur near the eye wall. VIP levels 3 or greater are typical. Eye wall and wall cloud are used synonymously, but it should not be confused with a wall cloud of thunderstorm. (NWS Glossary) F Fallout: The process or phenomenon of the descent to the earth’s surface of particles contaminated with radioactive material from the radioactive cloud. The term is also applied in a collective sense to the contaminated particulate matter itself. NSS PGRND) False Alarm: Distress alert initiated for other than an appropriate test, by communications equipment intended for alerting, when no distress situation actually exists. (IAMSAR) False Alert: Distress alert received from any source, including communications equipment intended for alerting, when no distress situation actually exists, and xxv a notification of distress should not have resulted. (IAMSAR) Fault: A fracture along which the blocks of crust on either side have moved relative to one another parallel to the fracture. (USGS Glossary) Federal Agency: Any department, independent establishment, Government corporation, or other agency of the executive branch of the Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service, but shall not include the American National Red Cross. (Stafford Act) Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO): The official appointed by the President to execute Stafford Act authorities, including the commitment of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) resources and mission assignment of other Federal departments or agencies. In all cases, the FCO represents the FEMA Administrator in the field to discharge all FEMA responsibilities for the response and recovery efforts underway. For Stafford Act events, the FCO is the primary Federal representative with whom the State Coordinating Officer and other State, tribal, and local response officials interface to determine the most urgent needs and set objectives for an effective response in collaboration with the Unified Coordination Group. (FEMA Glossary) Finance/Administration Section: The Section responsible for all incident costs and financial considerations. Includes the Time Unit, Procurement Unit, Compensation/Claims Unit, and Cost Unit. (FEMA NIMS) First Alert: First signal detection notification of a 406 MHz beacon. Typically, an initial 406 MHz unlocated alert is sent prior to position confirmation; however, positions may be confirmed on the first alert by encoded GPS position in the beacon. (Cospas- Sarsat) First Rescue Coordination Center (RCC): Rescue coordination center affiliated with the shore station that first acknowledges a distress alert, and which should assume responsibility for all subsequent search and rescue coordination unless and until responsibility is accepted by another rescue coordination center better able to take action. (IAMSAR) Flash Flood: A rapid and extreme flow of high water into a normally dry area, or a rapid water level rise in a stream or creek above a predetermined flood level, beginning within six hours of the causative event (e.g., intense rainfall, dam failure, ice jam). However, the actual time threshold may vary in different parts of the country. Ongoing flooding can intensify to flash flooding in cases where intense rainfall results in a rapid surge of rising flood waters. (NWS Glossary) Flash Flood Warning: Issued to inform the public, emergency management, and other cooperating agencies that flash flooding is in progress, imminent, or highly likely. (NWS Glossary) Flash Flood Watch: Issued to indicate current or developing hydrologic conditions that are favorable for flash flooding in and close to the watch area, but the occurrence is neither certain or imminent. (NWS Glossary) Flight Information Publication (FLIP): Sensitive flight critical mapping and charting type items produced by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), foreign governments, and xxvi commercial vendors that are distributed by Defense Distribution Mapping and varied civilian contractors. Flight Information Region (FIR): An airspace of defined dimensions within which Flight Information Service and Alerting Service are provided. (FAA AIM) Flight Plan: Specified information relating to the intended flight of an aircraft that is filed orally or in writing with an FSS or an ATC facility. (FAA AIM) Flight Service Station (FSS): An air traffic facility which provides pilot briefings, flight plan processing, en route radio communications, search and rescue services, and assistance to lost aircraft and aircraft in emergency situations. FSS also relays ATC clearances, processes Notices to Airmen, and broadcasts aviation weather and aeronautical information. In addition, at selected locations, FSS provides En Route Flight Advisory Service (Flight Watch) and Airport Advisory Service (AAS) and takes airport weather observations. (FAA AIM) Flood: Any high flow, overflow, or inundation by water which causes or threatens damage. (NWS Glossary) Flood Warning: (FLW) In hydrologic terms, a release by the NWS to inform the public of flooding along larger streams in which there is a serious threat to life or property. A flood warning will usually contain river stage (level) forecasts. (NWS Glossary) Flood Watch: Issued to inform the public and cooperating agencies that current and developing hydrometeorological conditions are such that there is a threat of flooding, but the occurrence is neither certain nor imminent. (NWS Glossary) Frostbite: Human tissue damage caused by exposure to intense cold. (NWS Glossary) Function: One of the five major activities in the Incident Command System: Command, Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration. A sixth function, Intelligence/ Investigations, may be established, if required, to meet incident management needs. The term function is also used when describing the activity involved (e.g., the planning function). (FEMA NIMS) G General Staff: A group of incident management personnel organized according to function and reporting to the Incident Commander. The General Staff normally consists of the Operations Section Chief, Planning Section Chief, Logistics Section Chief, and Finance/Administration Section Chief. An Intelligence/Investigations Chief may be established, if required, to meet incident management needs. (FEMA NIMS) Geographic Information System: A system which captures, stores, analyses, manages and presents data that is linked to a location (IAMSAR). Geostationary Earth Orbiting Local User Terminal (GEOLUT): A ground receiving station that detects, processes, and recovers the coded transmissions of 406 MHz distress beacons from Geostationary Earth Orbiting Search and Rescue (GEOSAR) satellites, and relays the appropriate information to a Mission Control Center. (Cospas-Sarsat) xxvii Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS): A global communications service based upon automated systems, both satellite-based and terrestrial, to provide distress alerting and promulgation of maritime safety information for mariners. (IAMSAR) Global Navigation Satellite System: World-wide position and time determination system that includes one or more satellite constellations and receivers. (IAMSAR) Global Positioning System (GPS): A specific satellite-based system used in conjunction with mobile equipment to determine the precise position of the mobile equipment. (IAMSAR) Governor: The chief executive of any State. (Stafford Act) Gray (Gy): a unit of measurement for absorbed dose. It measures the amount of energy absorbed in a material. The unit Gy can be used for any type of radiation, but it does not describe the biological effects of the different radiations. (CDC Radiation Dictionary) Grid: Any set of intersecting perpendicular lines spaced at regular intervals. (IAMSAR) Grid Cell: A square or rectangular area formed by pairs of adjacent, perpendicular grid lines. (IAMSAR) Ground Segment: Ground Segment comprises: a) Local User Terminals to receive signals related by the satellites and process them to determine radiobeacon location; and b) Mission Coordination Centers to accept output from the Local User Terminals and convey distress alert and location data to appropriate authorities. (Cospas-Sarsat) Ground Speed (GS): The speed an aircraft is making relative to the earth's surface. (IAMSAR) Group: An organizational subdivision established to divide the incident management structure into functional areas of operation. Groups are composed of resources assembled to perform a special function not necessarily within a single geographic division. See Division. (FEMA NIMS) H Half-Life: The time required for the activity of a given radioactive element to decrease to half of its initial value due to radioactive decay. The half-life is a characteristic property of each radioactive element and is independent of its amount or physical form. The effective or biological half-life of a given isotope in the body is the time in which the quantity in the body decreases to half because of both radioactive decay and biological elimination. (DoD NARP) H-Hour: H-hour is a hurricane planning factor used to develop plans for pre- hurricane actions and differs from hurricane landfall in that it is based on the onset of tropical storm force winds, not the arrival of the hurricane eye wall ashore. H-Hour provides a determination for when tropical storm force winds arrive ashore, normally requiring the reduction or cessation of operations due to bridge closures, crosswind limits for flight operations, sheltering requirements, and other safety related considerations. Based on the size and intensity of a hurricane, there can be an 8 to 16 hour time difference between H- hour and hurricane landfall. xxviii Hasty Search: Hasty Search (also known as initial reflex task) is a fast paced and methodical search of the assigned area of operation in an attempt to locate survivors that are in immediate need of evacuation from harm. Other considerations for Hasty Search include: 1) Can be accomplished by air, water craft or vehicles; 2) Size and make up of Hasty Search teams are incident driven and flexible; 3) If survivors are located and can be easily evacuated they will be immediately removed and moved to the identified casualty collection point; 4) If survivors are located and cannot be easily evacuated, additional resources will be called up to conduct extrication and or evacuation; and 5) Documentation of areas searched must be recorded and reported. A Hasty Search may be accomplished simultaneously with reconnaissance. Hazardous Material: Any material that is flammable, corrosive, an oxidizing, explosive, toxic, poisonous, radioactive, nuclear, unduly magnetic, or chemical agent, biological research material, compressed gas, or any other material that, because of its quantity, properties, or packaging, may endanger life or property. For the purposes of ESF #1, hazardous material is a substance or material, including a hazardous substance that has been determined by the Secretary of Transportation to be capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce, and which has been so designated (See reference (h)). For the purposes of ESF #10 and the Oil and Hazardous Materials Incident Annex, the term is intended to mean hazardous substances, pollutants, and contaminants as defined by the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan ( NCP). Heading: The horizontal direction in which a craft is pointed. (IAMSAR) Homeland Defense (HD): An activity undertaken for the military protection of the territory or domestic population of the United States, or of infrastructure or other assets of the United States determined by the Secretary of Defense as being critical to national security, from a threat or aggression against the United States (32 USC 901). Homing: The procedure of using the direction-finding equipment of one radio station with the emission of another radio station, where at least one of the stations is mobile, and whereby the mobile station proceeds continuously towards the other station (IAMSAR). Household Pet: A domesticated animal, such as a dog, cat, bird, rabbit, rodent, or turtle that is traditionally kept in the home for pleasure rather than for commercial purposes, can travel in commercial carriers, and be housed in temporary facilities. Household pets do not include reptiles (except turtles), amphibians, fish, insects/arachnids, farm animals (including horses), and animals kept for racing purposes. (FEMA Pet) Hurricane: A tropical cyclone in the Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, or eastern Pacific, which the maximum 1-minute sustained surface wind is 64 knots (74 mph) or greater. (NWS Glossary) Hurricane Season The part of the year having a relatively high incidence of tropical cyclones. In the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico, and central North Pacific, the hurricane season is the period from June through November; in the eastern Pacific, May 15 through November 30. Tropical xxix cyclones can occur year-round in any basin. (NWS Glossary) Hurricane Warning: An announcement that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are expected somewhere within the specified coastal area. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the hurricane warning is issued 36 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm- force winds. The warning can remain in effect when dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and waves continue, even though winds may be less than hurricane force. (NWS Glossary) Hurricane Watch: An announcement that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are possible within the specified coastal area. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the hurricane watch is issued 48 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds. (NWS Glossary) Hypothermia: Abnormal lowering of internal body temperature (heat loss) from exposure to cold air, wind, or water. (IAMSAR); (2) A rapid, progressive mental and physical collapse that accompanies the lowering of body temperature. (NWS Glossary) I Image (mirror image): Of the two positions associated with a single satellite pass, the one from which a signal is not emanating. (Cospas-Sarsat) Improvised Nuclear Device (IND): An illicit nuclear weapon that is bought, stolen, or otherwise obtained from a nuclear State, or a weapon fabricated by a terrorist group from illegally obtained fissile nuclear weapons material and produces a nuclear explosion. (DHS RDD/IND) Incident: (1) An occurrence or event, natural or human-caused, that requires an emergency response to protect life or property. Incidents can, for example, include major disasters, emergencies, terrorist attacks, terrorist threats, wildland and urban fires, floods, hazardous materials spills, nuclear accidents, aircraft accidents, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, tropical storms, war-related disasters, public health and medical emergencies, and other occurrences requiring an emergency response. (FEMA NIMS); (2) A SAR case involving investigation and telephone communications searches; generally associated with the Uncertainty Phase of a search. Incident Action Plan (IAP): An oral or written plan containing general objectives reflecting the overall strategy for managing an incident. It may include the identification of operational important information for management of the incident during one or more operational periods, resources and assignments. It may also include attachments that provide direction and important information for management of the incident during one or more operational periods. (FEMA NIMS) Incident Air Speed: The aircraft speed shown on the air speed indicator gauge. IAS corrected for instrument effort and atmospheric density equals true air speed. (IAMSAR) xxx Incident Annex: Incident Annexes describe coordinating structures, in addition to the ESFs, that may be used to deliver core capabilities and support response missions that are unique to a specific type of incident. Incident annexes also describe specialized response teams and resources, incident-specific roles and responsibilities, and other scenario- specific considerations. NRF Incident Annexes address the following contingencies or hazards: Biological Incident; Catastrophic Incident; Cyber Incident; Food and Agriculture Incident; Mass Evacuation Incident; Nuclear/ Radiological Incident; and Terrorism Incident Law Enforcement and Investigation. (NRF) Incident Command: The Incident Command System organizational element responsible for overall management of the incident and consisting of the Incident Commander (either single or unified command structure) and any assigned supporting staff. (FEMA NIMS) Incident Command Post (ICP): The field location where the primary functions are performed. The ICP may be co-located with the Incident Base or other incident facilities. (FEMA NIMS) Incident Command System (ICS): A standardized on-scene emergency management construct specifically designed to provide for the adoption of an integrated organizational structure that reflects the complexity and demands of single or multiple incidents, without being hindered by jurisdictional boundaries. ICS is the combination of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications operating within a common organizational structure, designed to aid in the management of resources during incidents. It is used for all kinds of emergencies and is applicable to small as well as large and complex incidents. ICS is used by various jurisdictions and functional agencies, both public and private, to organize field-level incident management operations. (FEMA NIMS) Incident Commander (IC): The individual responsible for all incident activities, including the development of strategies and tactics and the ordering and release of resources. The IC has overall authority and responsibility for conducting incident operations and is responsible for the management of all incident operations at the incident site. (FEMA NIMS) Incident Management: The broad spectrum of activities and organizations providing effective and efficient operations, coordination, and support applied at all levels of government, utilizing both governmental and nongovernmental resources to plan for, respond to, and recover from an incident, regardless of cause, size, or complexity. (FEMA NIMS) Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT): An interagency national- or regional-based team composed of subject-matter experts and incident management professionals from multiple Federal departments and agencies. Incident Management Team (IMT): An Incident Commander and the appropriate Command and General Staff personnel assigned to an incident. The level of training and experience of the IMT members, coupled with the identified formal response requirements and responsibilities of the IMT, are factors in determining “type,” or level, of IMT. (FEMA NIMS) xxxi Incident Objectives: Statements of guidance and direction needed to select appropriate strategy(s) 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 strategic and tactical alternatives. (FEMA NIMS) Initial Action Stage: A period during which preliminary action is taken to alert SAR facilities and obtain amplifying information. (IAMSAR) Initial Planning Point (IPP): The point that is initially used to plan the search incident. The IPP may be the original Point Last Seen (PLS) or the Last Known Position (LKP).The IPP may also be a point entirely separate based on the best available investigative information. IPP does not move after planning begins. Initial Reflex Search: See Hasty Search. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR): (1) Rules governing the procedures for conducting instrument flight. Also a term used by pilots and controllers to indicate type of flight plan. (FAA AIM); (2) ICAO: A set of rules governing the conduct of flight under instrument meteorological conditions. (FAA AIM) Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC): (1) Meteorological conditions expressed in terms of visibility, distance from cloud, and ceiling less than minima specified for visual meteorological conditions. (IAMSAR); (2) Meteorological conditions expressed in terms of visibility, distance from cloud, and ceiling less than the minima specified for visual meteorological conditions. (FEMA AIM) Insular Area: Means any of the following: American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and the Virgin Islands. (42 U.S.C. § 5204) Intelligence/Investigations: An organizational subset within ICS. Intelligence gathered within the Intelligence/Investigations function is information that either leads to the detection, prevention, apprehension, and prosecution of criminal activities—or the individual(s) involved—including terrorist incidents or information that leads to determination of the cause of a given incident (regardless of the source) such as public health events or fires with unknown origins. This is different from the normal operational and situational intelligence gathered and reported by the Planning Section. (FEMA NIMS) International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO): A specialized agency of the United Nations whose objective is to develop the principles and techniques of international air navigation and to foster planning and development of international civil air transport. (FAA AIM) Inundation: The process of covering normally dry areas with flood waters. (NWS Glossary) Investigation: The systematic inquiry and examination of all aspects and information surrounding a SAR case; includes all activities outside of the active field search for clues and for the search object. xxxii Isolated Person: In an ESF #9 incident, any non-distressed person or persons stranded within a specific area or residence by incident conditions where immediate assistance is determined not to be required. J Joint Field Office (JFO): The primary Federal incident management field structure. The JFO is a temporary Federal facility that provides a central location for the coordination of Federal, State, tribal, and local governments and private-sector and nongovernmental organizations with primary responsibility for response and recovery. The JFO structure is organized, staffed, and managed in a manner consistent with National Incident Management System principles. Although the JFO uses an Incident Command System structure, the JFO does not manage on- scene operations. Instead, the JFO focuses on providing support to on-scene efforts and conducting broader support operations that may extend beyond the incident site. (FEMA NIMS) Joint Information Center (JIC): A facility established to coordinate all incident- related public information activities. It is the central point of contact for all news media. Public information officials from all participating agencies should co- locate at the JIC. (FEMA NIMS) Joint Information System (JIS): Integrates incident information and public affairs into a cohesive organization designed to provide consistent, coordinated, timely information during crisis or incident operations. The mission of the JIS is to provide a structure and system for developing and delivering coordinated interagency messages; developing, recommending, and executing public information plans and strategies on behalf of the Incident Commander; advising the Incident Commander concerning public affairs issues that could affect a response effort; and controlling rumors and inaccurate information that could undermine public confidence in the emergency response effort. (FEMA NIMS) Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC): A rescue coordination center responsible for both aeronautical and maritime search and rescue incidents. (IAMSAR) Jurisdiction: A range or sphere of authority. Public agencies have jurisdiction at an incident related to their legal responsibilities and authority. Jurisdictional authority at an incident can be political or geographical (e.g., Federal, State, tribal, and local boundary lines) or functional (e.g., law enforcement, public health). (FEMA NIMS) K knot (kt): A unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour. (IAMSAR) L Leader: The ICS title for an individual responsible for a Task Force, Strike Team, or functional unit. (FEMA NIMS) Landfall: The intersection of the surface center of a tropical cyclone with a coastline. Because the strongest winds in a tropical cyclone are not located precisely at the center, it is possible for a cyclone's strongest winds to be experienced over land even if landfall does not occur. Similarly, it is possible for a tropical cyclone to make landfall and have its strongest winds remain over xxxiii the water. Compare direct hit, indirect hit, and strike. (NWS Glossary) Last Known Position (LKP): (1) It is the last substantiated position based on clues or evidence belonging to the missing subject and indicating that the missing subject was known to be at that location. (2) Last witnessed, reported, or computed position of a distress craft. (IAMSAR) Lateral Range Curve: Graph of the probability of detection as a function of lateral range. Leeway (LW): The movement of a search object through the water caused by winds blowing against exposed surfaces. (IAMSAR) Leeway Error (LW e ): The probable error of the leeway estimate. (IAMSAR) Lilly Pad: A lily pad is an interim stopping point during rescue operations where survivors can be accounted for, possibly have initial basic needs cared for, and from which they can be transported to a place of safety. Liquefaction: A process by which water- saturated sediment temporarily loses strength and acts as a fluid, like when you wiggle your toes in the wet sand near the water at the beach. This effect can be caused by earthquake shaking. (USGS Glossary) Livestock (Farm Animals): Livestock refers to horses, mares, mules, jacks, jennies, colts, cows, calves, yearlings, bulls, oxen, sheep, goats, lambs, kids, hogs, shoats and pigs. Mainly provide food for human or animal consumption. Local Government: Any county, municipality, city, town, township, public authority, school district, special district, intrastate district, council of governments (regardless of whether the council of governments is incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under State law), regional or interstate government entity, or agency or instrumentality of a local government; any Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, or Alaska Native village or organization; and any rural community, unincorporated town or village, or other public entity. (44 C.F.R. § 201.2; Stafford Act) Local User Terminal (LUT): An earth receiving station, part of the Cospas- Sarsat Ground Segment, established to receive signals relayed by the satellites and process them to determine radiobeacon location. (Cospas-Sarsat) Location: Exact geographical position of a beacon or other search object. (Cospas- Sarsat) Locating: The finding of ships, aircraft, units, or persons in distress. (IAMSAR) Logistics Section: (1) Incident Command: Section responsible for providing facilities, services, and material support for the incident. (FEMA NIMS) Low Earth Orbit Local User Terminal (LEOLUT): A ground receiving station that detects, processes, and recovers the coded transmissions of 406 MHz distress beacons from Low Earth Orbit Search and Rescue (LEOSAR) satellites, and relays the appropriate information to a Mission Control Center. (Cospas-Sarsat) M Major Disaster: any natural catastrophe (including any hurricane, tornado, storm, high water, wind driven water, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, or drought), or, regardless of cause, any fire, flood, or explosion, in any part of the United States, which in the determination of the President causes xxxiv damage of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant major disaster assistance under this Act to supplement the efforts and available resources of States, local governments, and disaster relief organizations in alleviating the damage, loss, hardship, or suffering caused thereby. (Stafford Act) Major Hurricane: A hurricane which reaches Category 3 (sustained winds greater than 110 mph) on the Saffir/Simpson Hurricane Scale. (NWS Glossary) Manager: Individual within an Incident Command System organizational unit who is assigned specific managerial responsibilities (e.g., Staging Area Manager or Camp Manager). (FEMA NIMS) Mass Rescue Operations (MRO): Search and rescue services characterized by the need for immediate response to large numbers of persons in distress, such that the capabilities normally available to search and rescue authorities are inadequate. (IAMSAR) MAYDAY: The international radiotelephony distress signal, repeated three times. (IAMSAR) MEDEVAC: Evacuation of a person for medical reasons. (IAMSAR) MEDICO: Medical Advice. Exchange of medical information and recommended treatment for sick or injured persons where treatment cannot be administered directly by prescribing medical personnel. (IAMSAR) Medium Earth Orbit Local User Terminal (MEOLUT): A ground receiving station that detects, processes, and recovers the coded transmissions of 406 MHz distress beacons from Medium Earth Orbiting Search and Rescue (MEOSAR) satellites, and relays the appropriate information to a Mission Control Center. (Cospas-Sarsat) Merge: Process of developing composite solutions by combining matched single pass (elemental) solutions. (Cospas- Sarsat) Meteorological Visibility: The maximum range at which a large object, such as landmasses or mountains, can be seen. Also referred to as Meteorological Range. (IAMSAR) Mission: A SAR case in which facilities have been committed to actively search; generally associated with the Distress Phase of a search. Mission Assignment (MA): The mechanism used to support Federal operations in a Stafford Act major disaster or emergency declaration. It orders immediate, short-term emergency response assistance when an applicable State or local government is overwhelmed by the event and lacks the capability to perform, or contract for, the necessary work. (FEMA IMH) Mission Control Center (MCC): (1) Part of the Cospas-Sarsat system that accepts alert messages from the local user terminal(s) and other mission control centers to distribute to the appropriate rescue coordination center or other search and rescue points of contact. (IAMSAR); (2) Ground system element of Cospas-Sarsat which receives data from Local User Terminals, exchanges information with other Mission Control Centers, and distributes alerts and other Cospas-Sarsat information primarily within its associated service area. (Cospas-Sarsat) Mitigation: Activities providing a critical foundation in the effort to reduce the loss of life and property from natural xxxv and/or manmade disasters by avoiding or lessening the impact of a disaster and providing value to the public by creating safer communities. Mitigation seeks to fix the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage. These activities or actions, in most cases, will have a long-term sustained effect. (FEMA NIMS) Mobilization: The process and procedures used by all organizations-Federal, State, tribal, and local-for activating, assembling, and transporting all resources that have been requested to respond to or support an incident. (FEMA NIMS) Mobilization Guide: Reference document used by organizations outlining agreements, processes, and procedures used by all participating agencies/organizations for activating, assembling, and transporting resources. (FEMA NIMS) Multiagency Coordination (MAC) Group: A group of administrators or executives, or their appointed representatives, who are typically authorized to commit agency resources and funds. A MAC Group can provide coordinated decision making and resource allocation among cooperating agencies, and may establish the priorities among incidents, harmonize agency policies, and provide strategic guidance and direction to support incident management activities. MAC Groups may also be known as multiagency committees, emergency management committees, or as otherwise defined by the Multiagency Coordination System. (FEMA NIMS) Multiagency Coordination System (MAC): A system that provides the architecture to support coordination for incident prioritization, critical resource allocation, communications systems integration, and information coordination. MACS assist agencies and organizations responding to an incident. The elements of a MACS include facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications. Two of the most commonly used elements are Emergency Operations Centers and MAC Groups. (FEMA NIMS) Multijurisdictional Incident: An incident requiring action from multiple agencies that each have jurisdiction to manage certain aspects of an incident. In the Incident Command System, these incidents will be managed under a Unified Command. (FEMA NIMS) Mutual Aid Agreement or Assistance Agreement: Written or oral agreement between and among agencies/ organizations and/or jurisdictions that provides a mechanism to quickly obtain emergency assistance in the form of personnel, equipment, materials, and other associated services. The primary objective is to facilitate rapid, short-term deployment of emergency support prior to, during, and/or after an incident. (FEMA NIMS) N National Airspace System: The common network of U.S. airspace – air navigation facilities, equipment, and services; airports or landing areas; aeronautical charts, information and services; rules, regulations, and procedures; technical information; and manpower and material. Included are system components shared jointly with the military. (FAA AIM) National Essential Functions: A subset of government functions that are necessary to lead and sustain the Nation during a catastrophic emergency and that, xxxvi therefore, must be supported through continuity of operations and continuity of government capabilities. (FEMA NIMS) National Incident Management System (NIMS): A set of principles that provides a systematic, proactive approach guiding government agencies at all levels, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to work seamlessly 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 or property and harm to the environment. (FEMA NIMS) National Response Framework (NRF): Guides how the Nation conducts all- hazards response. The Framework documents the key response principles, roles, and structures that organize national response. It describes how communities, States, the Federal Government, and private-sector and nongovernmental partners apply these principles for a coordinated, effective national response. And it describes special circumstances where the Federal Government exercises a larger role, including incidents where Federal interests are involved and catastrophic incidents where a State would require significant support. It allows first responders, decision makers, and supporting entities to provide a unified national response. (FEMA Glossary) National Search and Rescue Committee (NSARC): Federal committee comprised of the Departments of Homeland Security, Defense, State, Transportation, Interior, and Commerce, the Federal Communications Commission, National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Established to oversee the National Search and Rescue Plan and act as a coordinating forum for national search and rescue matters. National Search and Rescue Plan (NSP): An interagency agreement providing national arrangements for coordination of search and rescue services to meet domestic needs and international commitments. National Special Security Event (NSSE): A designated event that, by virtue of its political, economic, social, or religious significance, may be the target of terrorism or other criminal activity. (JP 3-28) National Track Analysis Program (NTAP): An FAA system for retrieval of computer-stored radar data to locate a missing aircraft's last position. National Urban Search and Rescue Response System: Specialized teams that locate, rescue (extricate), and provide initial medical stabilization of victims trapped in confined spaces. National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG): A group formed under the direction of the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to improve the coordination and effectiveness of wildland fire activities and provide a forum to discuss, recommend appropriate action, or resolve issues and problems of substantive nature. (NWCG Glossary) Natural Disaster: Any hurricane, tornado, storm, flood, high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, drought, fire, or other catastrophe in any part of the U.S. which causes, or which may cause, substantial damage or injury to civilian property or persons. (42 USC 5195) xxxvii Nerve Agent: A potentially lethal chemical agent which interferes with the transmission of nerve impulses. (JP 1-02) Nongovernmental Organization (NGO): An entity with an association that is based on interests of its members, individuals, or institutions. It is not created by a government, but it may work cooperatively with government. Such organizations serve a public purpose, not a private benefit. Examples of NGOs include faith-based charity organizations and the American Red Cross. NGOs, including voluntary and faith-based groups, provide relief services to sustain life, reduce physical and emotional distress, and promote the recovery of disaster victims. Often these groups provide specialized services that help individuals with disabilities. NGOs and voluntary organizations play a major role in assisting emergency managers before, during, and after an emergency. (FEMA NIMS) Notice to Airmen (NOTAM): Time-critical aeronautical information which is of either a temporary nature or not sufficiently known in advance to permit publication on aeronautical charts or in other operational publications receives immediate dissemination via the National NOTAM System. (FAA AIM) Nuclear Detonation: A nuclear explosion resulting from fission or fusion reactions in nuclear materials, such as from a nuclear weapon. (DoD NARP) Nuclear Radiation: Particulate and electromagnetic radiation emitted from atomic nuclei in various nuclear processes. The important nuclear radiations, from the weapons effects standpoint, are alpha and beta particles, gamma rays, and neutrons. (DoD NARP) O Officer: The Incident Command System title for a person responsible for one of the Command Staff positions of Safety, Liaison, and Public Information. (NIMS) On Scene: The search area or the actual distress site. (IAMSAR) On Scene Coordinator (OSC): A person designated to coordinate search and rescue operations within a specified search area. (IAMSAR) On Scene Endurance: The amount of time a facility is capable of spending at the scene engaged in search and rescue activities. (IAMSAR) Operational Period: The time scheduled for executing a given set of operation actions, as specified in the Incident Action Plan. Operational periods can be of various lengths, although usually they last 12 to 24 hours. (FEMA NIMS) Operations Section: (1) The Incident Command System (ICS) Section responsible for all tactical incident operations and implementation of the Incident Action Plan. In ICS, the Operations Section normally includes subordinate Branches, Divisions, and/or Groups. (FEMA NIMS) Operations Stage: A period during a SAR incident when SAR facilities proceed to the scene, conduct search, rescue survivors, assist distressed craft, provide emergency care for survivors, and deliver survivors to a suitable facility. (IAMSAR) Optimal Search Area: The search area which will produce the highest probability of success when searched uniformly with the search effort available. (IAMSAR) xxxviii Optimal Search Factor (fs): A value, based on the amount of relative effort available, which is used to estimate the optimal area to search so the chances of finding the search object are maximized. See Optimal Search Area. (IAMSAR) Optimal Search Plan: A plan that maximizes the probability of success of finding the search object using the available search effort. (IAMSAR) Optimal Search Radius: One-half the width of the optimal search area. Optimal search radius is computed as the product of the total probable error of position (E) and the optimal search factor (fs ). Ro = E X fs. (IAMSAR) Overdue: A situation where a craft (or search object) has failed to arrive at its intended destination when expected and remains missing. (IAMSAR) Overlap Zone: Area of predetermined width common to two or more service areas. (Cospas-Sarsat) P PAN-PAN: The international radiotelephony urgency signal. When repeated three times, indicates uncertainty or alert, followed by nature of urgency. (IAMSAR) Person in Distress: There is reasonable certainty that a person is threatened by grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance. Personal Locator Beacon (PLB): Personal radio distress beacon for alerting and transmitting homing signals. (IAMSAR) Personal Protective Equipment: Includes all clothing and other work accessories designed to create a barrier against hazards. Examples include safety goggles, blast shields, hard hats, hearing protectors, gloves, respirator, aprons, and work boots. (NSS PGRND) Place of Safety: Location where rescue operations are considered to terminate; where the survivors’ safety of life is no longer threatened and where their basic human needs (such as food, shelter and medical needs) can be met; and, a place from which transportation arrangements can be made for the survivors’ next or final destination. A place of safety may be on land, or it may be aboard a rescue unit or other suitable vessel or facility at sea that can serve as a place of safety until the survivors are disembarked to their next destination. (IAMSAR) Planning Section: (1) Responsible for the collection, evaluation, and dissemination of information related to the incident, and for the preparation and documentation of Incident Action Plans. The Section also maintains information on the current and forecasted situation, and on the status of resources assigned to the incident. Includes the Situation, Resources, Documentation, and Demobilization Units, as well as Technical Specialists. (FEMA NIMS) Planning Stage: A period during a SAR incident when an effective plan of operations is developed. (IAMSAR) Point Last Seen (PLS): It is the point where the search object was last seen by a witness, or captured on video at a specific time and location. Position (location): A geographical location normally expressed in degrees and minutes of latitude and longitude (Note: in the U.S.: can be expressed in U.S. National Grid Coordinates). (IAMSAR) Posse Comitatus: Prohibits search, seizure, or arrest powers to US military personnel. Amended in 1981 under Public Law 97-86 to permit increased xxxix Department of Defense support of drug interdiction and other law enforcement activities (18 U.S.C. 1385). (JP 1-02) Possibility Area: (1) The smallest area containing all possible survivor or search object locations. (2) For a scenario, the possibility area is the smallest area containing all possible survivor or search object locations that are consistent with the facts and assumptions used to form the scenario. (IAMSAR) Preliminary Communication (PRECOM) search: Initial limited communications check, normally directed by the SMC during the Uncertainty phase, of areas where the missing persons may be. pre-plan: Guidelines and current information established before a search that allow a quick, effective response, allow strategic decisions to be made outside the heat of the moment, and allow flexibility within a well thought- out boundary of reasonable actions. Decisions specific to a particular search, including tactical operations, should be contained in a search action plan or incident action plan, as opposed to a search pre-plan. Pre-Scripted Mission Assignment (PSMA): A mechanism used by the Federal Government to facilitate rapid Federal resource response. Pre-scripted mission assignments identify resources or capabilities that Federal departments and agencies, through various Emergency Support Functions (ESFs), are commonly called upon to provide during incident response. Pre-scripted mission assignments allow primary and supporting ESF agencies to organize resources that will be deployed during incident response. Preparedness: A continuous cycle of planning, organizing, training, equipping, exercising, evaluating, and taking corrective action in an effort to ensure effective coordination during incident response. Within the National Incident Management System, preparedness focuses on the following elements: planning; procedures and protocols; training and exercises; personnel qualification and certification; and equipment certification. (FEMA NIMS) Prevention: Actions to avoid an incident or to intervene to stop an incident from occurring. Prevention involves actions to protect lives and property. It involves applying intelligence and other information to a range of activities that may include such countermeasures as deterrence operations; heightened inspections; improved surveillance and security operations; investigations to determine the full nature and source of the threat; public health and agricultural surveillance and testing processes; immunizations, isolation, or quarantine; and, as appropriate, specific law enforcement operations aimed at deterring, preempting, interdicting, or disrupting illegal activity and apprehending potential perpetrators and bringing them to justice. (FEMA NIMS) Primary Agency: See Emergency Support Function (ESF) Primary Agency. Primary Mission Essential Functions: Government functions that must be performed in order to support or implement the performance of National Essential Functions before, during, and in the aftermath of an emergency. (FEMA Glossary) Primary Rescue Coordination Center (RCC): Rescue Coordination Center with an associated Search and Rescue Region into which a position falls. (Cospas-Sarsat) xl Principal Federal Official (PFO): The federal official designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security to act as his/her representative locally to oversee, coordinate, and execute the Secretary’s incident management responsibilities under Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 for incidents of national significance. (JP 3-28) Private Sector: Organizations and individuals that are not part of any governmental structure. The private sector includes for-profit and not-for- profit organizations, formal and informal structures, commerce, and industry. (FEMA NIMS) Probability Along Track (P T): The likelihood the missing craft is located between the last known position and the given percentage of the distance of the intended or expected route of flight; based on ASAD statistical data and assumes the entire length of the route of flight from last known position to intended destination, not just the portion being searched. Probability Density (pDen): Probability of containment per unit area; often POC/mi2 . pDen is constant throughout any given region. Probability Map: A set of grid cells covering a scenario’s possibility area where each grid cell is labeled with the probability of the search object being in that grid cell. That is, each grid cell is labeled with its own POC value. (IAMSAR) Probability of Area (POA): See probability of containment (POC). (Note: POA and POC are synonymous.) Probability of Containment (POC): The probability that the search object is contained within the boundaries of an area, sub-area, or grid cell. (IAMSAR) Probability of Detection (POD): The probability of the search object being detected, assuming it was in the areas that were searched. POD is a function of coverage factor, sensor, search conditions and the accuracy with which the search unit navigates its assigned search pattern. Measures sensor effectiveness under the prevailing search conditions. (IAMSAR) Probability of Offset (Po ): The likelihood the missing aircraft is located within the given offset distance from the centerline of the intended or expected track or route of flight; based on ASAD statistical data and assumes equal likelihood left and right of track centerline. Probability of Success (POS): The probability of finding the search object with a particular search. For each sub- area searched, POS = POC x POD. Measures search effectiveness. (IAMSAR) Protection: The capabilities necessary to secure the homeland against acts of terrorism and manmade or natural disasters. (NRF) Protective Action Guide (PAG): (1) The projected dose to a reference individual, from an accidental or deliberate release of radioactive material at which a specific protective action to reduce or avoid that dose is recommended. (DHS RDD/IND); (2) A guide that tells state and local authorities at what projected dose they should take action to protect people from exposure to unplanned releases of radioactive material into the environment. (CDC Radiation Dictionary) Public Information: Processes, procedures, and systems for communicating timely, accurate, and accessible information on xli an incident's cause, size, and current situation; resources committed; and other matters of general interest to the public, responders, and additional stakeholders (both directly affected and indirectly affected). (FEMA NIMS) Public Information Officer: A member of the Command Staff responsible for interfacing with the public and media or with other agencies with incident-related information requirements. (FEMA NIMS) R Rad (radiation absorbed dose): A basic unit of absorbed radiation dose. It is a measure of the amount of energy absorbed by the body. The rad is the traditional unit of absorbed dose. It is being replaced by the unit gray (Gy), which is equivalent to 100 rad. One rad equals the dose delivered to an object of 100 ergs of energy per gram of material. (CDC Radiation Dictionary) Radiation: Energy moving in the form of particles or waves. Familiar radiations are heat, light, radio waves, and microwaves. Ionizing radiation is a very high-energy form of electromagnetic radiation. (CDC Radiation Dictionary) Radiation Absorbed Dose (rad): A unit expressing the absorbed dose of ionizing radiation. Absorbed dose is the energy deposited per unit mass of matter. The units of rad and gray are the units in two different systems for expressing absorbed dose. 1 rad = 0.01 gray (Gy); 1 Gy = 100 rad. (NSS PGRND) Radioactive Contamination: the deposition of unwanted radioactive material on the surfaces of structures, areas, objects, or people. It can be airborne, external, or internal. (CDC Radiation Dictionary) Radiological Incident: An event or series of events, deliberate or accidental, leading to the release, or potential release, in to the environment of radioactive material in sufficient quantity to warrant consideration of protective actions. Use of an RDD or IND is an act of terror that results in a radiological incident. (DHS RDD/IND) Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD): Any device that causes the purposeful dissemination of radioactive material, across an area with the intent to cause harm, without a nuclear detonation occurring. (DHS RDD/IND) Ramp Check: Telephone call requesting the responsible agency at an airport physically check the field and hangars for a specific aircraft being sought. Recovery: The development, coordination, and execution of service- and site- restoration plans; the reconstitution of government operations and services; individual, private-sector, nongovernmental, and public-assistance programs to provide housing and to promote restoration; long-term care and treatment of affected persons; additional measures for social, political, environmental, and economic restoration; evaluation of the incident to identify lessons learned; post incident reporting; and development of initiatives to mitigate the effects of future incidents. (FEMA NIMS) Region: A delineated portion or subset of the search area within which there is a nearly uniform distribution of likelihood for containing the missing object; that is, the missing object is equally likely to be at any point in a given region, although different regions may have different likelihoods of containment. Thus, probability density (pDen) is constant xlii within any given region. Regions and region boundaries are based solely on the factors that affect the location and POC of the missing object; factors affecting searchers are considered in defining segments, not regions. Often, regions are further subdivided into segments in order to be effectively searched. Region boundaries should be distinguishable by searchers (e.g., stream, drainage, ridge, natural geographical feature, etc.). See also Segment. Region POC: The probability of containment of an individual region; often determined by a consensus of the on-scene leadership team. Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC): Located in each Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) region, these multiagency agency coordination centers are staffed by Emergency Support Functions in anticipation of a serious incident in the region or immediately following an incident. Operating under the direction of the FEMA Regional Administrator, the RRCCs coordinate Federal regional response efforts and maintain connectivity with State emergency operations centers, State fusion centers, Federal Executive Boards, and other Federal and State operations and coordination centers that have potential to contribute to development of situational awareness. Relative Effort (Zr ): The amount of available search effort (Z) divided by the effort factor. The relative effort relates the size of the effort available for a particular search to the size of the search object’s location probability distribution at the time of the search. Zr = Z/f z. (IAMSAR) Rem: A unit of absorbed dose that accounts for the relative biological effectiveness of ionizing radiations in tissue (also called equivalent dose). Not all radiation produces the same biological effect, even from the same amount of absorbed dose; rem relates the absorbed dose in human tissue to the effective biological damage of the radiation. The units of rem and Sievert are the units in two different systems of expressing equivalent dose. 1 rem = 0.01 Sieverts (Sv); 1 Sv = 100 rem. (NSS PGRND) Rescue: An operation to retrieve persons in distress, provide for their initial medical or other needs, and deliver them to a place of safety. (IAMSAR) Rescue Coordination Center (RCC): A unit responsible for promoting efficient organization of search and rescue services and for coordinating the conduct of search and rescue operations within a search and rescue region. (IAMSAR) Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) Controller: The SAR mission coordinator's duty officer in the RCC. Rescue Sub-Center (RSC): A unit subordinate to a Rescue Coordination Center, established to complement the latter according to particular provisions of the responsible authorities. (IAMSAR) Responder: A person designated by a responsible authority, that is trained, equipped, and qualified in a position to perform a specific task. Response: Activities that address the short- term, direct effects of an incident. Response includes immediate actions to save lives, protect property, and meet basic human needs. Response also includes the execution of emergency operations plans and of mitigation xliii activities designed to limit the loss of life, personal injury, property damage, and other unfavorable outcomes. As indicated by the situation, response activities include applying intelligence and other information to lessen the effects or consequences of an incident; increased security operations; continuing investigations into nature and source of the threat; ongoing public health and agricultural surveillance and testing processes; immunizations, isolation, or quarantine; and specific law enforcement operations aimed at preempting, interdicting, or disrupting illegal activity, and apprehending actual perpetrators and bringing them to justice. (FEMA NIMS) Responsible Authority: The government agency or agencies who have legal responsibility for finding missing persons and have jurisdiction over the area where the person becomes missing. Richter scale: The Richter magnitude scale was developed in 1935 by Charles F. Richter of the California Institute of Technology as a mathematical device to compare the size of earthquakes. The magnitude of an earthquake is determined from the logarithm of the amplitude of waves recorded by seismographs. Adjustments are included for the variation in the distance between the various seismographs and the epicenter of the earthquakes. On the Richter scale, magnitude is expressed in whole numbers and decimal fractions. For example, a magnitude 5.3 might be computed for a moderate earthquake, and a strong earthquake might be rated as magnitude 6.3. Because of the logarithmic basis of the scale, each whole number increase in magnitude represents a tenfold increase in measured amplitude; as an estimate of energy, each whole number step in the magnitude scale corresponds to the release of about 31 times more energy than the amount associated with the preceding whole number value. (USGS Glossary) Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (“Stafford Act”; PL 100-707): Stafford Act was signed into law November 23, 1988; amended the Disaster Relief Act of 1974, PL 93-288. This Act describes the programs and processes by which the Federal Government provides disaster and emergency assistance to State and local governments, tribal nations, eligible private nonprofit organizations, and individuals affected by a declared major disaster or emergency. The Stafford Act covers all hazards, including natural disasters and terrorist events. Roentgen (R): A unit of exposure to x-rays or gamma rays. One roentgen is the amount of gamma or x-rays needed to produce ions carrying 1 electrostatic unit of electrical charge in 1 cubic centimeter of dry air under standard conditions. (CDC Radiation Dictionary) S Safety Officer: A member of the Command Staff responsible for monitoring incident operations and advising the Incident Commander on all matters relating to operational safety, including the health and safety of emergency responder personnel. (FEMA NIMS) Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale: The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 categorization based on the hurricane's intensity at the indicated time. The scale provides examples of the type of damage and impacts in the United States associated with winds of xliv the indicated intensity. In general, damage rises by about a factor of four for every category increase. The maximum sustained surface wind speed (peak 1-minute wind at the standard meteorological observation height of 10 m [33 ft] over unobstructed exposure) associated with the cyclone is the determining factor in the scale. The scale does not address the potential for other hurricane-related impacts, such as storm surge, rainfall-induced floods, and tornadoes. (NWS Glossary) Sea: Condition of the surface resulting from waves and swells. (IAMSAR) Sea Current (SC): The residual current when currents caused by tides and local winds are subtracted from local current. It is main, large-scale flow of ocean waters. (IAMSAR) Sea Current Error (SC e): The probable error of the sea current estimate. (IAMSAR) Search: An operation, normally coordinated by a rescue coordination center or rescue sub-center using available personnel and facilities to locate persons in distress (IAMSAR). Note: in the U.S., a search can also be coordinated through the Incident Command System. Search Action Plan: Message, normally developed by the Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator, for passing instructions to search and rescue facilities and agencies participating in a search and rescue mission. (IAMSAR) Search and Rescue Case: Any potential or actual distress about which a facility opens a documentary file, whether or not SAR resources are dispatched. (IAMSAR) Search and Rescue Coordinator (SC): One or more persons or agencies within an Administration with overall responsibility for establishing and providing SAR services, and ensuring that planning for those services is properly coordinated. (IAMSAR) Search and Rescue Facility: (1) Any mobile resource, including designated search and rescue units, used to conduct search and rescue operations. (IAMSAR) Search and Rescue Incident: Any situation requiring notification and alerting of the search and rescue system and which may require search and rescue operations. (IAMSAR) Search and Rescue Mission: Any SAR situation involving dispatch of SAR resources. Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator (SMC): The official temporarily assigned to coordinate response to an actual or apparent distress situation. (IAMSAR) Search and Rescue Plan: A general term used to describe documents which exist at all levels of the national and international SAR structure to describe goals, arrangements, and procedures which support the provision of SAR services. (IAMSAR) Search and Rescue Point of Contact (SPOC): Rescue Coordination Centers and other established and recognized national points of contact which can accept responsibility to receive Cospas- Sarsat alert data to enable the rescue of persons in distress. (IAMSAR; Cospas- Sarsat) Search and Rescue Region (SRR): An area of defined dimensions, associated with a rescue coordination center, within which search and r