National Mutual Aid and Resource Management Initiative

Glossary of Terms and Definitions

Purpose
This glossary of terms and definitions provides a basic understanding of the resources commonly used and/or exchanged during a disaster.  These terms provide a basis for the Federal Emergency Manage­ment Agency’s (FEMA’s) resource typing initiative.  An annex of 11 Federal assets is also included in the glossary to provide a snapshot of the Federal capabilities available to State and local entities.  The glossary is a living document, and will continuously be updated and revised.  To provide additional information to the glossary, please e-mail Jonathan Jenkins at Jonathan.Jenkins@associates.dhs.gov.

Background
The National Mutual Aid and Resource Management Initiative supports the National Incident Management System (NIMS) by establishing a comprehensive, integrated national mutual aid and resource management system that provides the basis to type, order, and track all (Federal, State, and local) response assets.

For ease of ordering and tracking, response assets need to be categorized via resource typing.  Resource typing is the categorization and description of resources that are commonly exchanged in disasters via mutual aid, by capacity and/or capability.  Through resource typing, disciplines examine resources and identify the capabilities of a resource’s components (i.e., personnel, equipment, training).  During a disaster, an emergency manager knows what capability a resource needs to have to respond efficiently and effectively. Resource typing definitions will help define resource capabilities for ease of ordering and mobiliza­tion during a disaster.  As a result of the resource typing process, a resource’s capability is readily defined and an emergency manager is able to effectively and efficiently request and receive resources through mutual aid during times of disaster.