Covered Incident: An occurrence meeting the definition of an “emergency” for which the DEM invokes the EMCOP, usually following an occurrence such as those listed in the defining an emergency section.

Damage Assessment: An appraisal of the effect of the occurrence on the facilities, utilities, grounds, critical operations and support systems, and the public health and safety of the University.

Director of Emergency Management (DEM): The member of the University Executive Council, a Senior Administrator, or the University Chief of Police (Director of Public Safety) is appointed by the President to serve as the Incident Commander at the time of an emergency.

Disaster: Any event or occurrence that significantly impairs the ability of the University to fulfill its mission as an academic institution. The impact of a disaster may be assessed and categorized based on the length of time that the primary functions of the University are disabled.

Emergency Management & Continuity of Operations Plan (EMCOP): The Florida International University Plan that outlines how the University will restore essential functions at an alternate site and perform the functions for up to 30 days before returning to normal operations. Standard elements of a EMCOP include: Relocation Site; Essential Functions; Essential Personnel; Delegation of Authority; Order of Succession; Vital Records and Databases; Interoperable Communications; Critical Systems; Test, Training and Exercise; and Plan Maintenance.

Emergency: Any incident, potential or actual event, which affects an individual, a department or a division, which may have damaging consequences for the overall functioning capacity of the University. Such an incident may not require activation of the EMCOP.

• However, any incident, potential or actual, which affects an entire building or group of buildings, a person or group of persons, such that there is likely to be a disabling effect on the overall operation of the University, and if an incident is so severe that assistance from outside emergency services may be required and policy considerations and decisions are required from the University administration, that incident shall independently trigger the activation of the EMCOP. Click here for typical emergencies.

Emergency Management Group (EMG): Department representatives and their alternates whose coordinated efforts have been identified as integral to the University’s overall ability to effectively respond and recover from the impact of emergencies and disasters.

Emergency Management and Continuity of Operations Plan (EMCOP): The compilation of the various procedures, prepared and maintained by the University, which serve as the planning and response template for the management of emergency response.

Evacuation: The timely and mandatory relocation of all non-essential personnel from a campus, building or site with the specific intention to protect lives and to facilitate timely completion of property protection measures.

Help-line: The telephone system for disseminating Emergency information to the University community.

Occurrence: This is the generic term used throughout this Plan to describe the materialization of threat to the University.

On-Scene Commander: The senior EMG member who responds to an emergency and is the On-scene Commander for that incident. As an incident grows in size or becomes more complex, a Civil Authority, the Chief of Police, the DEM or a member of the University Executive Council. Depending on the type of incident and the authorities under which a response is coordinated, the On-Scene Commander could be individuals from any of the following responding agencies:

• A local law enforcement, emergency management, or fire official
• A State law enforcement, emergency management, or fire official
• An EPA or U.S. Coast Guard On-Scene Coordinator under an NCP response;
• A FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer during an FRP response;
• An FBI Special Agent-in-charge during a response to a terrorist incident; or
• An On-Scene Commander during a “Federal Radiological Emergency Preparedness

Radiological Dispersal Devices: A bomb that combines conventional explosives, such as dynamite, with radioactive materials in the form of powder or pellets. Beyond the damages of the explosion, the main purpose of a dirty bomb is to frighten people and make buildings or land unusable for a long period of time. Almost any radioactive material can be used to construct an RDD, including fission products, spent fuel from nuclear reactors, and relatively low-level materials, such as medical, industrial and research waste. The level of radioactivity associated with an RDD is not anticipated to present an acute radiological hazard.

Response Phases: The six incremental stages of emergency response used to organize the University’s response to the progressive intensity or escalation of the threats covered by this Plan.

Safety Officer: means the ICS function to assess hazardous and unsafe situations, and develop measures for assuring public and personnel safety. The Safety Office may exercise emergency authority to directly stop unsafe acts if personnel are in imminent, life-threatening danger. Only one Safety Officer will be named to an incident. The Safety Officer may have assistants as necessary, and the assistants may represent other agencies or jurisdictions. The designated Safety Officer at Florida International University is the Chief of Police or his designee.

Site-specific Safety and Health Plan (or HASP): means a written plan that identifies the site tasks and hazards, and the work practices and exposure controls to protect site workers.

Toxic Chemical (or Material) (TC or TM): means a chemical other than a chemical warfare agent that has harmful effects on humans. A TM is a specific type of industrial chemical - one that has a LCt50 (lethal concentration for 50% of the population multiplied by exposure time) less than 100,000 mg-min/m3 in any mammalian species and is produced in quantities exceeding 30 tons per year at one production facility. Examples include ammonia, chlorine, cyanogen chloride, and hydrogen cyanide. [National Institute of Justice Guide 100-00: Guide for Selection of Chemical Agent and Toxic Industrial Material Detection Equipment for Emergency Responders; publication provides a complete list of TMs.

Terrorism or terrorist act/incident/event/release: means any premeditated, unlawful act dangerous to human life or public welfare that is intended to intimidate or coerce civilian populations or governments.

Unified Command (or ICS/UC): means a component of an ICS that provides the organizational management tool to coordinate the effective involvement of the various agencies. The ICS/UC brings together the "incident commanders" of all major organizations involved in the response. The Unified Command is depicted as a triangle; the member placed at the top of the triangle has the final authority within the ICS for the response.

Weapons of Mass Destruction: means explosive, incendiary, nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. As defined in 18 U.S.C., Section 2332a, “the term ‘weapon of mass destruction’ means:

1. Any destructive device as defined in section 921 of this title;
2. Any weapon that is designed or intended to cause death or serious bodily injury through the release, dissemination, or impact of toxic or poisonous chemicals, or their precursors;
3. Any weapon involving a disease organism; or any weapon that is designed to release radiation or radioactivity at a level dangerous to human life.”