Acronyms and Technical Terms Used in PBEM Community Resilience Programs

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Frequently Used Acronyms in NET & BEECN

Acronym	...Stands for	Use frequency	Explanation	VSF
AED	Automated External Defibrillator	2.) Common		VSF 08: Medical
Animal MAC-G	Animal Multi-Agency Coordination Group	4.) Very uncommon
ARO	Amateur Radio Operator	1.) Very common		VSF 02: Communications
ARRL	American Radio Relay League	3.) Uncommon	National association for amateur radio, connecting hams around the U.S. with news, information and resources.	VSF 02: Communications
ATC	Applied Technology Council	4.) Very uncommon		VSF 09: Search and Rescue
ATL	NET Assistant Team Leader	1.) Very common
BCP	Business Continuity Planning	3.) Uncommon
BEECN	Basic Earthquake Emergency Communications Node	1.) Very common		VSF 02: Communications
BNT	Basic NET Training	1.) Very common	Approximately 26 hours of independent study, classroom sessions, and field training required to become an Active NET. NET training meets or exceeds the CERT standard.
BOEC	Bureau of Emergency Communications (Portland 911)	4.) Very uncommon
CBRNE	Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high yield Explosives	2.) Common		VSF 10: Hazmat Awareness
CCWG	Citizen Corps Working Group	3.) Uncommon
CERT	Community Emergency Response Team	1.) Very common	NET would be called CERT in most jurisdictions in the country. However, in Portland we avoid confusion with the Police Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) by naming the program NET.
CHAT	Community Health Assess & Treat	3.) Uncommon	A program of Portland Fire & Rescue. More information HERE.
COAD	Community Organizations Active in Disaster	2.) Common
CoP	City of Portland	2.) Common
COOP	Continuity of Operations Plan	2.) Common
CPT	Community Preparedness Team	2.) Common
CRT	Community Resilience Team	2.) Common	No longer used. Changed in 2024 to "Community Preparedness Team."
CSD	Community Safety Division	4.) Very uncommon
CSZ	Cascadia Subduction Zone	1.) Very common
DAFN	Disabilities, Access and Functional Needs	2.) Common
DAMM	Damage Assessment Mapping Module	2.) Common
DEI	Diversity, Equity and Inclusion	1.) Very common
DEMAC	Disability Emergency Management Advisory Council of Oregon	4.) Very uncommon
DHS	Department of Homeland Security	3.) Uncommon
DO	Duty Officer	3.) Common	PBEM staff who serve in the rotating 24x7x7 on-call all-hazard emergency response role for significant incidents.
EAS	Emergency Alert System	3.) Uncommon
ECC	Emergency Coordination Center	1.) Very common		All
EDU	Explosive Disposal Unit	3.) Uncommon
EMS	Emergency Medical Services	1.) Very Common
EMT	Emergency Medical Technician	1.) Very common
EOC	Emergency Operations Center	3.) Uncommon	A location where government officials and emergency response leaders convene to work during incidents.	All
EOP	Emergency Operations Plan	2.) Common
ESF	Emergency Support Function	3.) Uncommon	NETs are trained and certified using the aligned structure of Volunteer Support Functions.	All
FEMA	Federal Emergency Management Agency	1.) Very common		All
FLIR	Forward Looking Infared	4.) Very uncommon
FOG	Field Operations Guide	2.) Common
FPN	Friends of Portland NET	2.) Common		All
HAZMAT	Hazardous Materials	2.) Common		All
IC	Incident Commander	1.) Very common
ICS	Incident Command System	1.) Very common		All
IFAK	Individual First Aid Kit	3.) Uncommon		VSF 08: Medical
IPAWS	Integrated Public Alert & Warning System	4.) Very uncommon
ITL	Incident Team Leader	1.) Very common	The NET who leads their team during emergency response operations. The ITL is the first NET on-scene, until a more qualified person arrives and the two mutually agree to transfer the responsibility.
JIC	Joint Information Center	4.) Very uncommon
LEPC	Local Emergency Planning Committees	4.) Very uncommon
MCEM	Multnomah County Emergency Management	3.) Uncommon
MCP	Medical Care Point	3.) Uncommon
MHFA	Mental Health First Aid	2.) Common	Advanced NET Training which provides certification in the National Council for Mental Wellbeing curriculum.
MIP	MyImpactPage.com or the MyImpact app	1.) Very common	The name of the NET volunteer database, where volunteers log their hours, and sign up for trainings and deployments.
MOU	Memorandum of Understanding	2.) Common
MRC	Medical Reserve Corps	2.) Common	County-administered groups of volunteers with medical licenses.
NET	Neighborhood Emergency Team	1.) Very common	We use the term to refer to the entire program, to each local team, and also to each individual volunteer. So NETs are members of a NET within NET. :-)
NIMS	National Incident Management System	3.) Uncommon
OEM	Oregon Office of Emergency Management	3.) Uncommon
OMF	(City) Office of Management and Finance	4.) Very uncommon
OR-VOAD	Oregon Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster	3.) Uncommon
P&D	Portland Printing & Distribution	3.) Uncommon
PBEM	Portland Bureau of Emergency Management	1.) Very common
PBOT	Portland Bureau of Transportation	3.) Uncommon	Often the lead agency for winter weather emergencies.
PF&R	Portland Fire & Rescue	1.) Very common
PFA	Psychological First Aid	2.) Common	PFA is a topic of Basic NET Training Unit 5.
PIC	Person in Charge	2.) Common	Used almost exclusively in the context of mass care and shelter shifts. This is volunteer or employee leading the shift.
PIO	Public Information Officer	2.) Common
POD	Point of Dispensing or Distribution	2.) Common	FEMA has created a recommended procedure for setting up Points of Distribution during disasters.
PPB	Portland Police Bureau	3.) Uncommon
PPE	Personal protective equipment	1.) Very common	See Basic NET Response Packs in the Basic NET Training Syllabus.
PSR	Portland Street Response	3.) Uncommon	Program began January 11, 2021.
RDPO	Regional Disaster Policy Organization	2.) Common
RTL	Radio Training Liaison	2.) Common	Volunteer "radio sherpas" who mentor other NETs through ham radio classes, advanced trainings, and drills.	VSF 02: Communications
SAR (or S&R, or S+R)	Search and rescue	2.) Common		VSF 09: Search and Rescue
SERT	Special Emergency Reaction Team	4.) Very uncommon
SERV-OR	State Emergency Registry of Volunteers in Oregon	4.) Very uncommon
SHSP	State Homeland Security Program	4.) Very uncommon
StB	Stop the Bleed	2.) Common	Training to provide immediate, life saving assistance to staunch bleeding including compression and tourniquet application. Previously offered as Advanced Training, in October 2024 StB became a component of the Basic NET Training Final Field Exercise for all new NETs.
SUV	Spontaneous Unaffiliated Volunteer	1.) Very common		VSF 15: Volunteer/Donations Management
SV	Scenario Village	3.) Uncommon
THIRA	Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment	2.) Common
TL	NET Team Leader	1.) Very common	The NET responsible for "blue skies" organization of a local team, including scheduling trainings and establishing group priorities based on Team Development Arcs.
TTX	Tabletop Exercise	3.) Uncommon
TVF&R	Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue	4.) Very uncommon
UASI	Urban Area Security Initiative	3.) Uncommon	A federal grant program established after 2001 which has historically awarded funding for NET/CERT training in our region.
USAR or US&R	Urban Search and Rescue	3.) Uncommon
VIPS	Volunteers in Police Service	3.) Uncommon
VOAD	Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster	3.) Uncommon
VSF	Volunteer Support Function	1.) Very common

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RDPO's List of Emergency Management Acronyms

Acronym	...Stands for	Notes
AEL	Authorized Equipment List	FEMA
AHIMT	All-Hazards Incident Management Team
AMSC	Area Maritime Security Committee
ATC	Air Traffic Control
BCP	Business Continuity Planning
CBO	Community Based Organization
CBRNE	Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive
CERT	Community Emergency Response Team
CI/KR	Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources
CMS	Centers for Medicaid/Medicare Services
COG	Continuity of Government
COOP	Continuity of Operations Plan
COPLINK	Advanced Crime Analytics Platform	Organizes vast quantities of seemingly unrelated data to provide tactical, strategic, and command-level users with access to shared data in single or multiple consolidated repositories.
DAFN	Disabilities, Access and Functional Needs
DEI	Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
DHS	Department of Homeland Security
DHS	Department of Human Services
DO	Duty Officer
DWG	Discipline Work Group
EAS	Emergency Alert System
ECC	Emergency Coordination Center
EDU	Explosive Disposal Unit
EMS	Emergency Medical Services
EMT	Emergency Medical Technician
EOC	Emergency Operation Center
EOP	Emergency Operations Plan
EPI	Emergency Preparedness Information
ESB	Enterprise Services Bus
ETR	Emergency Transportation Route
EWDS	Emergency Watch Distribution System
FEMA	Federal Emergency Management Agency
FLIR	Forward Looking Infra Red	Thermal imaging device company
FOC	FEMA Operations Center
FOG	Field Operations Guide
HPP	Hospital Preparedness Program
HSIN	Homeland Security Information Network
IC	Incident Command / Incident Commander
ICS	Incident Command System
IED	Improvised Expolosive Device
IPAWS	Integrated Public Alert & Warning System
ITS	Information/Technological Services
JIC	Joint Information Center
JIS	Joint Information System
JPACT	Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation
LAA	Lead Administrative Agency
LEP	Limited English Proficiency
MAA	Mutual Aid Agreement
MAC	Multi-Agency Coordination
MAC Con Ops	Multi-Agency Coordination Concept of Operations
MCP	Medical Care Point
MEDU	Metropolitan Explosive Disposal Unit
MFI	Mass fatality incident	or MCI: mass casuality incident
MOUs	Memorandum of Understanding
MRC	Medical Reserve Corps
NIMS	National Incident Management System
NTOA	National Tactical Officers Association
PIC	Public Inquiry Center
PIO	Public Information Officer
POC	Point of Contact
POD	Point of Dispensing or Distribution
PPE	Personal protective equipment
PSA	Public Service Announcement
PSAP	Public Safety Answering Points
RFP	Request for Proposals
SAA	State Administrative Agency
SAP	Safety Assessment Program
SCAP	Safety-Net Clinics Acting to Prepare
SERT	State Emergency Response Team
SLA	Service Level Agreement
SOP	Standard Operating Procedures
SPR	Stakeholder Preparedness Review
SUV	Spontaneous Unaffiliated Volunteer
SWAG	Stranded Worker Agreement
SWG	Standing Work Group
TF	Task Force
THIRA	Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
TIC	Tactical Interoperable Communications
TITAN	Terrorism Information Threat Assessment Network
TTX	Tabletop exercise
UA	Urban Area
UASI	Urban Area Security Initiative
UAWG	Urban Area Working Group
USAR	Urban Search and Rescue	or US&R
VIPS	Volunteers in Police Service
WEA	Wireless Emergency Alerts

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RDPO's List of Local Acronyms

Acronym	...Stands for	Notes
Animal MAC-G	Animal Multi-Agency Coordination Group (RDPO)
AOC	Association of Oregon Counties
BEECN	Basic Earthquake Emergency Communication Node
BOEC	Bureau of Emergency Communications (Portland 911)
CCHC	Coalition of Community Health Clinics
CCOM	Clackamas Communications
CCWG	Citizen Corps Work Group (RDPO)
CEI Hub	Critical Energy Infrastructure (in NW Portland)
COAD	Community Organizations Active in Disaster
CRESA	Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency
DEMAC	Disability Emergency Management Advisory Council of Oregon
DMWG	Disaster Messaging Work Group (RDPO)
DRC	Disaster Resource Center	Term used by MultCo and others instead of "shelter"
EAWWG	Emergency Alert and Warning Work Group (RDPO)
EOCTES	EOC Training & Exercises Subcommittee of REMTEC (RDPO)	Might still see as EOCTS because was recently changed in 2021.
Fire/EMS WG	Fire and EMS Workgroup (RDPO)
HAN	Health Alert Network	Connects hospitals, clinics, laboratories, public safety, EMS and many other public health partners via secure web applications that facilitate information sharing throughout Oregon and SW Washington.
HOSCAP	Hospital Capacity	Oregon's hospital capacity web system, which allows health care and emergency preparedness partners to share real time status data.
HPO	Health Preparedness Organization	Sometimes referred to as NWHPO
JVIC	Joint Volunteer Information Center
LEWG	Law Enforcement Work Group (RDPO)
LOC	League of Oregon Cities
LOCOM	Lake Oswego Communications
MAST	Metropolitan Air Support Team
MCEM	Multnomah County Emergency Management
MESD	Multnomah Education Service District
Mit/Rec	Mitigation and Recovery Subcommittee of REMTEC (RDPO)
NET	Neighborhood Emergency Team (Portland's CERT)
NWHPO	Northwest Health Preparedness Organization	Sometimes simplified to HPO
NWRESD	Northwest Regional Education Service District
OACP	Oregon Association Chiefs of Police
ODF	Oregon Department of Forestry
ODOT	Oregon Department of Transportation
OEMA	Oregon Emergency Management Association
OEM	Oregon Office of Emergency Management
OERS	Oregon Emergency Response System
OHA	Oregon Health Authority
OR-VOAD	Oregon Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
OSFM	Oregon State Fire Marshall
OSP	Oregon State Police
OSSA	Oregon State Sheriff's Association
OSSPAC	Oregon Seismic Safety Policy Advisory Commission
OTFC	Oregon TITAN Fusion Center
PBEM	Portland Bureau of Emergency Management
PC	Policy Committee (RDPO)
PDCC	Portland Dispatch Communitions Constortium (RDPO)	911 centers
PF&R	Portland Fire & Rescue
PHWG	Public Health Work Group (RDPO)
PIO-WG	Public Information Officers Work Group (RDPO)
PMR	Portland Metropolitan Region
POEM	Portland Office of Emergency Management	Former name of PBEM
PrC	Program Committee (RDPO)
PUA	Portland Urban Area
PUAHSS	Portland Urban Area Homeland Security Strategy
PWWG	Public Works Work Group (RDPO)
RDPO	Regional Disaster Preparedness Organization
REMG	Regional Emergency Management Group
REMTEC	Regional Emergency Management Technical Committee (RDPO)	Emergency Managers Work Group
RFP	Request for Proposals
RMACS	Regional Multi-Agency Coordination System (RDPO)
RMC	Resource Management (sub) Committee of REMTEC (RDPO)
RUG	Regional Users Group (WebEOC)
RWPC	Regional Water Providers Consortium
SC	Steering Committee (RDPO)
SERV-OR	State Emergency Registry of Volunteers in Oregon
WASABE	Washington State Annual Biological Exercise
WCCCA	Washington County Consolidated Communications Agency
WCSO	Washington County Sheriff's Office

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Frequently Used Technical Terms in NET

	Definition	Use	VSF
Blue Skies and Grey Skies	In emergency management, refers to routine day to day operations and ongoing services. The antonym sometimes used is "grey skies"; those days when emergency managers are responding to a crisis and in response mode.	3.) Uncommon	All
Earthquake Plan	A local team's plan for self-deployment after a catastrophic earthquake, when it is not possible for PBEM to communicate deployment instructions. Plans are linked on teams' pages.	2.) Common	All
Operations Plan	See: "Earthquake Plan"

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