MORNINGTON PENINSULA SHIRE
MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
PUBLIC VERSION
Version: 3.0
Date of Last Amendment: 21OCT11
Glossary of terms V3.0
Page 2 of 10
Glossary of Terms
Activation
Staff resources are deployed to commence an allocated role and proceed with
required duties
AEP
Annual Exceedance Probability
Agency
A government or non-government agency with responsibility or ability to support
the provision of emergency management and / or resources
AHD
Australian Height Datum (The height of a location above mean seal level in metres)
AIEH
Australian Institute of Environmental Health
AIIMS
Australasian Inter-Service Incident Management System
AOCC
Area of Operations Control Centre / Command Centre
ARCV
Australian Red Cross Victoria
ARI
Average Recurrence Interval
ARMCANZ
Agricultural & Resource Management Council of Australia & New Zealand
AUSTVETPLAN Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan
AV
Ambulance Victoria
BMO
Bushfire Management Overlay
BOM
Bureau of Meteorology
CALD
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse
CBRN
Chemical, Biological, Radiological or Nuclear incident or weapon. A CBRN incident
differs from a hazardous material incident in both effect scope (i.e., CBRN can be a
mass casualty situation) and in intent. CBRN incidents are responded to under the
assumption that they are deliberate, malicious acts with the intention to kill,
sicken, and/or disrupt society. Evidence preservation and perpetrator
apprehension are of greater concern with CBRN incidents than with HAZMAT
incidents
CEO
Chief Executive Officer
CERA
Community Emergency Risk Assessment
CERM
Community Emergency Risk Management
CFA
Country Fire Authority
CFA Act
Country Fire Authority Act 1958
CMA
Catchment Management Authoity
Glossary of terms V3.0
Page 3 of 10
COMDISPLAN
Commonwealth Government Disaster Response Plan
Command
The direction of members and resources of an agency in the performance of the
organisation’s role and tasks. Authority to command is established in legislation or
by agreement within an agency. Command related to agencies and operates
vertically within an agency.
Consequences
The outcome of an event or situation expressed qualitatively or quantitatively,
being a loss, injury, disadvantage or gain (AS/NZS 4360:1995, p.5)
Control
The overall direction of response activities in an emergency response situation.
Authority for control is established in legislation or in an emergency response plan,
and carries with it the responsibility for tasking and coordinating other agencies in
accordance with the needs of the situation. Control relates to situations and
operates horizontally across agencies
Control
Agency
The agency identified in the Emergency Management Manual Victoria which is
primarily responsible or responding for emergencies to a specified emergency
Coordination
The bringing together of agencies and resources to ensure effective response to
and recovery from emergencies and is primarily concerned with the systematic
acquisition and application of resources (agency, manpower and equipment) in
accordance with the requirements imposed by the emergency or emergencies.
Coordination
relates
primarily
to
resources
and
operates:
* Vertically, within an agency, as a function of the authority to control
* Horizontally across agencies as a function of the authority of control
Coordinator
At Regional level, a police officer appointed by the State Emergency Response
Coordinator as Regional / Deputy Regional Emergency Response Coordinator. At a
local level, it shall be the Officer in Charge of the Police Station or the senior
member of the Police Force at the scene of the emergency who shall act as the
Emergency Response Coordinator
Counselling
The provision of psychological support and advice to persons affected by an
emergency
CRC
Community Recovery Centre - Defined as a building or place established to provide
a community point of reference in the recovery phase
DH
Department of Health
DHS
Department of Human Services
DOI
Department of Infrastructure
DOT
Department of Transport
DPI
Department of Primary Industry
DSE
Department of Sustainability & Environment
DTF
Department of Treasury and Finance (Victoria)
Glossary of terms V3.0
Page 4 of 10
EHO
Environmental Health Officer
EM
Emergency Management
EM Act
Emergency Management Act 1986 (Vic)
Emergency
The actual or imminent occurrence of an event which in any way endangers or
threatens to endanger the safety or health of any person in Victoria or which
destroys or damages, or threatens to destroy or damage, any property in Victoria or
endangers or threatens to endanger the environment or an element of the
environment in Victoria, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing:
a) An earthquake, flood, windstorm or other natural event
b) A fire
c) An explosion
d) A road or any other type of accident
e) A plague or an epidemic
f) A warlike act
g) A hi-jack, siege or riot
Emergency
Area
Means that part or those parts of Victoria which are declared emergency area(s)
under Section 36A of the Emergency Management Act 1986
Emergency
Coordination
Centre (ECC)
The centre established at Regional or Municipal level to coordinate resources and
conduct operations ancillary to the combat agency, during the response phase of
an event
Emergency
Relief
The provision of immediate shelter, life support and personal needs for the people
affected by, or responding to an emergency
Emergency
Relief Centre
A centre established to provide emergency affected persons with any or all the
services of the functional areas of emergency relief
EMLO
Emergency Management Liaison Officer
EMMV
Emergency Management Manual Victoria
EMT
Emergency Management Team
EMV
Emergency Management Victoria
EO
Executive Officer
EPA
Environment Protection Authority
EPBC Act
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwth)
ERC
Emergency Relief Centre
Escalation
Refer to a higher authority in order to make decisions or request assistance or
resources
ETA
Estimated Time of Arrival
Glossary of terms V3.0
Page 5 of 10
ETD
Estimated Time of Departure
Evacuation
The planned relocation of persons from dangerous or potentially dangerous areas
to safer areas and eventual return. The decision to evacuate rests with the combat
agency in conjunction with police and available expert advice
EMCG
Emergency Management Coordination Group - which is a municipal decision
making group within the MECC, comprising of the MERC, MERO and MRM
EMMV
Emergency Management Manual Victoria
EMLO
Emergency Management Liaison Officer - Representatives from other agencies that
work in the MECC
EMPST
Emergency Management Personal Support Team - The Shires on call psychosocial
response team
ERC
Emergency Relief Centre - Defined as a building or place established to provide life
support and essential needs to persons affected by (including affected persons) or
involved in the management of an emergency
ERC-LS
Emergency Relief Centre - Logistics Supervisor
ERC-M
Emergency Relief Centre - Manager
ESLO
Emergency Services Liaison Officer - Representatives from other agencies that work
in the MECC
FFG
Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988
FO
Flood Overlay
FSC
Fire Services Commissioner
FSC Act
Fire Services Commissioner Act 2010 (Vic)
FWS
Flood Warning System
FZ
Floodway Zone
GIS
Geographic Information System - a system for creating, storing, analyzing and
managing spatial data and associated attributes
Hazard
(Source of
Risk)
A source of potential harm or a situation with a potential to cause loss.
(AS / NZS 4360:1995, p.4)
HAZMAT
Hazardous Materials - are classified as Dangerous goods which are solids, liquids,
or gases that can harm people, other living organisms, property, or the
environment. They are often subject to chemical regulations.
HHS REOC
Health & Human Services Regional Emergency Operations Centre
Glossary of terms V3.0
Page 6 of 10
HHS SEMC
Health & Human Services State Emergency Management Centre
IC
Incident Controller
ICC
Incident Control Centre
ICT
Information & Communication Technology (Computers, Phones & Faxes)
IMT
Incident Management Team
IMS
Incident Management System
Incident
Controller
An officer appointed by the combat authority responsible for the resolution of an
emergency. This title shall also extend to the person appointed under the
provisions of Section 16 of the Emergency Management Act 1985
Likelihood
Used as the qualitative
(AS / NZS 4360:1995, p.4)
LGA
Local Government Authority
LSIO
Land Subject to Inundation Overlay
Material
Needs
The provision of clothing, bedding and personal requisites, during “Emergency
Relief”
MAV
Municipal Association of Victoria
MBS
Municipal Building Surveyor
MECC
Municipal Emergency Coordination Centre - A facility which acts as a centre for
acquiring, deploying and coordinating resources to support response and recovery
activities and emergency relief
MECC Central
MECC Central is a web based Incident Coordination and Recovery program. It
combines incident request tracking with agency logs, workspaces, geographical
mapping, workflow, resource cost tracking and recovery database.
MEMEG
Municipal Emergency Management Enhancement Group
MEMP
Municipal Emergency Management Plan
MEMPC
Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee
MERC
Municipal Emergency Response Coordinator (VicPol)
MERO
Municipal Emergency Resource Officer
MFMP
Municipal Fire Management Plan
MFPO
Municipal Fire Prevention Officer
MNSPP
Municipal Neighbourhood Safer Places Plan
Glossary of terms V3.0
description
of
probability
and
frequency
Page 7 of 10
MOH
Medical Officer of Health
MOU
Memorandum Of Understanding
MPIO
Media & Public Information Officer - both at the MECC and ERC
MPHP
The Municipal Public Health Plan, prepared by the Council under Section 29B of the
Health Act 1958
MPSC
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
MRM
Municipal Recovery Manager
Municipality
The area contained with the defined boundaries for local government responsibility
of a shire, borough, town or city
NBCD
Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Defence (Military)
NDFA
Natural Disaster Finance Assistance
NGO
Non-Governmental Organisation
NRIS
National Registration and Inquiry Service
NSP
Neighbourhood Safer Place - A Place of Last Resort
OESC
Office of the Emergency Services Commissioner
On Call
Staff resources are placed on alert to be ready to respond if needed. Staff will
continue their normal duties and maintain core business whilst on call.
PE Act
Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Vic)
Physical
Activation
The establishment of a MECC at a council chamber or ICC
Post-Impact
Assessment
Appraisal of the extent of damage, disruption and breakdown to the community
and its infrastructure as a result of the emergency
Practice
Notes
Specific instructions describing how an activity included in a SOP is conducted
(Can include fact sheets, references etc)
PHO
Public Health Officer
PMF
Probable Maximum Flood
PSO
Personal Support Officer
PST
Personal Support Team - Responds to the immediate psychological support needs
of community members impacted by significant emergencies
Rapid- Impact
Assessment
Is a standard process for collecting, confirming and distributing impact intelligence
within 24-48 hours of an emergency
Glossary of terms V3.0
Page 8 of 10
RCC
Regional Control Centre
RDO
Regional Duty Officer
Recovery
Assisting people and communities affected by emergencies to achieve a proper and
effective level of functioning
REDi Team
Red Cross REDi Team - These teams respond to emergencies and provide personal
support, catering, first aid and NRIS registration through an Emergency Relief
Centre
Registered
Premises
Premises registered with the Shire under the Health Act 1958, Food Act 1984,
Residential Tenancies Act
REHO
Regional Environmental Health Officer employed by DHS
RERC
Regional Emergency Response Coordinator
RERCC
Regional Emergency Response Coordination Centre
Residual Risk
The remaining level of risk after risk treatment measures have been taken
(AS / NZS 4360:1995, p.5)
Risk
The chance of something happening that will have an impact upon objectives*. It
may
be measured in terms
of likelihood and consequences
(AS / NZS 4360:1995, p.5) *e.g. A safe and healthy community
Risk
Management
The systematic application of management policies, procedures and practices to
the tasks of identifying, analysing, assessing, treating and monitoring risk
(AS / NZS 4360:1995, p.5)
ROEM
Regional Officer Emergency Management (VICSES)
RRC
Regional Recovery Coordinator
RRM
Regional Recovery Manager
SBO
Special Building Overlay
SCC
State Control Centre
SERM
State Emergency Relief Manager
SES
State Emergency Service
SES Act
Victorian State Emergency Services Act 2005 (Vic)
SEWS
Standard Emergency Warning System - SEWS is a wailing siren sound used
throughout Australia for various emergency events of major significance, such as
cyclones, flooding and severe storms. When you hear the signal on radio or
television, pay careful attention to the message that follows and act immediately
on the advice given.
Glossary of terms V3.0
Page 9 of 10
SHERP
State Health Emergency Response Plan
SITREP
Situation Report
SMEAC
An acronym that explains the format all briefings should follow. Situation, Mission,
Execution, Administration, Communications followed by a chance to ask questions.
SOP
Standard Operating Procedure
Standby
Staff is notified to be ready for activation and can be taken offline from their
normal work to provide some down time before they will be required to fulfil
emergency management roles.
Sub Plan
A plan that covers in depth only a small component of the emergency management
spectrum and is considered an annex of the municipal emergency management
plan, with additional statements of control / coordination arrangements and roles /
responsibilities
Support
Agency
A government or non government agency which provides essential services,
personnel, or material to support or assist a combat agency or affected persons
TIS
Telephone Interpreting Service
TPP
Township Protection Plan
TS&D
Team Support & Development - Mornington Peninsula Shire’s HR team
TSV
Transport Safety Victoria
VFRR
Victorian Fire Risk Register
VICPOL
Victoria Police
VICSES
Victoria State Emergency Service
VIP
Very Important Person
Virtual
Activation
Establishing an event in MECC Central for relevant staff to update from any web
enabled device via phone conferencing.
WorkSafe
Work Safe Victoria (Victorian Work Cover Authority)
WMO
Wildfire Management Overlay - now superseded by the BMO
Glossary of terms V3.0
Page 10 of 10