Frequently Used Acronyms

Under construction

	...stands for	use	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
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
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
CRT	Community Resilience Team	2.) Common
CSD	Community Safety Division	4.) Very uncommon
CSZ	Cascadia Subduction Zone	2.) 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
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		All
EOP	Emergency Operations Plan	2.) Common
ESF	Emergency Support Function	3.) Uncommon		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
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
MOU	Memorandum of Understanding	2.) Common
MRC	Medical Reserve Corps	2.) Common
NET	Neighborhood Emergency Team	1.) Very common
NIMS	National Incident Management System	3.) Uncommon
OEM	Oregon Office of Emergency Management	3.) Uncommon
OMF	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
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
PPB	Portland Police Bureau	3.) Uncommon
PPE	Personal protective equipment	1.) Very common
PSR	Portland Street Response	3.) Uncommon	Program began January 11, 2021.
RDPO	Regional Disaster Policy Organization	2.) Common
RTL	Radio Training Liaison	2.) Common		VSF 02: Communications
SAR (or S&R, or S+R)	Search and rescue	2.) Common
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
SUV	Spontaneous Unaffiliated Volunteer	1.) Very common
SV	Scenario Village	3.) Uncommon
THIRA	Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment	2.) Common
TL	NET Team Leader	1.) Very common
TTX	Tabletop Exercise	3.) Uncommon
TVF&R	Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue	4.) Very uncommon
UASI	Urban Area Security Initiative	3.) Uncommon
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	2.) Common

Frequently Used Technical Terms

	Definition	Use	VSF
Blue Skies	In emergency management, refers to routine day to day operations and ongoing services. The antonym sometimes used is "gray skies"; those days when emergency managers are responding to a crisis and in response mode.	3.) Uncommon	All