INSARAG Guidelines Glossary

AAR ​

After Action Report

AoO ​

Area of Operation

A-PoE ​

Abbreviated Portfolio of Evidence - The A-PoE must be submitted by all teams applying for an IEC or IER. The A-PoE, completed in English, is required to provide documented evidence that demonstrates the USAR team has been developed in accordance with the INSARAG Guidelines and has adopted the INSARAG methodology. A current IEC/R mentor assessment report is to be included in the A-PoE.

ASR ​

Assessment, Search and Rescue - USAR operations are divided into the five ASR levels listed in the table below. These levels are defined as sequential activities, but teams may receive assignments in any order. Especially in large scale operations where LEMA identifies worksites before teams arrive. Or when new areas are being opened throughout the response. Hence different levels of work are being carried out in different areas of the incident at the same moment. The five ASR levels are identified as:

• ASR Level 1: Wide Area Assessment
• ASR Level 2: Worksite Triage Assessment
• ASR Level 3: Rapid Search and Rescue
• ASR Level 4: Full Search and Rescue
• ASR Level 5: Total Coverage Search and Recovery

BMS ​

BoO Medical Station

BoO ​

Base of Operations

CHA ​

Cultural Ministries, Heritage Departments and Authorities

Con. ​

Construction

CP ​

Command Post

C-PoE ​

Comprehensive Portfolio of Evidence

DACC ​

Damage Assessment Coordination Centre

E-DACC ​

Engineer-Damage Assessment Coordination Centre

ERS ​

Emergency Response Section

EMS ​

Emergency Medical Services

EMT ​

Emergency Medical Team

EOC ​

Emergency Operations Centre

ERG ​

Emergency Response Guide

EXCON ​

Exercise Control

FIELDEX ​

Term used to define a 36-hour full field exercise

Flex-R ​

Flexible Response

GDACS ​

Global Disaster Awareness and Coordination System - GDACS services only aim at facilitating near real-time alerts, and connected information among all actors in support of decision-making and coordination. GDACS services build on the collective knowledge of disaster managers worldwide and the joint capacity of all relevant disaster information systems.

GIS ​

Geographic Information System

GPS ​

Global Position System

GRG ​

Guideline Review Group - To facilitate continuous improvement in classified teams, while maintaining the relevance of INSARAG in a rapidly evolving environment, the INSARAG Guidelines undergo a regularised five-year review cycle led by the INSARAG Guidelines Review Group (GRG). Formed under the mandate of the ISG during the INSARAG Global Meeting, the GRG’s tenure runs through the five-year review cycle and comprises members drawn from all three INSARAG regions, existing Working Groups and the INSARAG Secretariat. During this period, the GRG will work closely with the other Working Groups and consolidate feedback from the INSARAG community through different platforms. The review progress will be tracked at the annual ISG Meeting and the final version will be endorsed by the ISG for launch during the INSARAG Global Meeting

Hazmat ​

Hazardous material

HNPW ​

Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week

HNS ​

Host Nation Support - The overarching principle of international USAR assistance is that it supports and augments the LEMA and the national response capacity of the affected country. A well-established national coordination mechanism is essential for effectively managing and receiving international assistance during emergencies. This mechanism enables the affected country to respond swiftly and manage incoming international support by optimising national processes such as customs clearance, logistical assistance, and coordinating relief efforts. Effective coordination reduces delays, enhances resource allocation, and ensures that international teams integrate seamlessly into national operations.

IATA ​

International Air Transport Association

ICAO ​

International Civil Aviation Organisation

ICMS ​

INSARAG Coordination and Management System - The ICMS is a web-based information management tool which can be accessed by teams with an associated license. All classified teams pay a yearly fee for the licenses, development and educational tools. During a disaster temporary licenses will be provided to eligible teams and or entities. ICMS is used as a coordination tool for entities involved in disaster management in the affected area. It is managed by the Information Management Technical Support Team (IMTST), which is responsible for creating an “virtual incident” and supporting of the ICMS tools for the duration of the mission. The resulting ICMS dashboard will provide a visual summary of operations in the disaster area which can be viewed by relevant stakeholders such as LEMA, OSOCC, UCC.

ICS ​

Incident Command System

ICT ​

Information and Communication Technology

ID ​

Identification

IEC ​

INSARAG External Classification - Any USAR team having the mandate to deploy internationally is eligible to apply for an IEC, provided it has the endorsement of its member state’s INSARAG Policy Focal Point. Upon successful completion of an IEC, classified USAR teams are included in the USAR Directory at the classification level achieved. The IEC assesses and classifies two key components of response and technical capability of international USAR operations:

• Response capability
• Technical capacity

USAR teams are required to demonstrate their proficiency during a minimum 36-hour simulated, realistic structural collapse exercise, using their full range of USAR skills and equipment required for the desired classification level. Successful teams are recognised as having met universal USAR standards and are accorded a team patch to identify their professional level in the field.

IER ​

INSARAG External Reclassification - IER is the process a classified team is required to periodically undergo to maintain their classification status. If for whatever reasons a USAR team elects not to reclassify its INSARAG classification is voided and, thus the team loses the right to wear the INSARAG patch.
USAR teams may need to reclassify for the following reasons:

• Classification period of five years expires
• Change in the USAR team’s structure
• Change in classification level (IER for decrease, IEC for increase)
• Inappropriate international response conduct

IMT ​

Incident Management Team

IMTST ​

Information Management Technical Support Team

IOD ​

Injury on Duty

IRNAP ​

INSARAG-Recognised National Accreditation Process - NAPs can be recognised by INSARAG through an established and clearly defined process (including procedures, criteria and steps, verification checklists and evaluation methodology) through the IRNAP process. Regions are encouraged to form Technical Support Groups (TSGs) and Technical Recognition Groups (TRGs), as it is a peer-review process. At the global level, any NAP which has been accepted by the INSARAG Secretariat as meeting INSARAG standards, will be referred to as an IRNAP. Member states, whose accreditation processes are recognised by INSARAG, can issue nationally accredited teams with a standardised patch.

INSARAG ​

International Search and Rescue Advisory Group - INSARAG was created in 1990 following the initiatives of specialised international USAR teams who operated together in the Mexican earthquake of 1985 and Armenian earthquake of 1988. INSARAG is an intergovernmental humanitarian network of disaster managers, government officials, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and USAR practitioners operating under the umbrella of the UN. Within the realm of its mandate they contribute to the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.

ISG ​

INSARAG Steering Group - INSARAG is directed by a Steering Group, which consists of the INSARAG Chairman, INSARAG Regional Group Chairs and Vice-Chairs, the national focal points of INSARAG External Classification (IEC) classified countries, Chairs of any relevant INSARAG ad-hoc working groups and the INSARAG Secretariat. The Steering Group meets annually to determine the strategic direction and policies of INSARAG.

LEMA ​

Local Emergency Management Authority - The LEMA is the ultimate responsible authority for the overall command, coordination and management of the response operation. All responding USAR teams (regional and international, classified or non-classified) are required to report to the RDC upon arrival in the affected country, so that LEMA can be notified. Teams should then be briefed and deployed to the disaster site(s) by the UCC.

LO ​

Liaison Officer -

MAP ​

Medical Action Plan

MEDEVAC ​

Medical Evacuation

MIL ​

Medical Incident Log

NAP ​

National Accreditation Process - One of the critical aspects in developing the national capacity is the establishment of a NAP for the USAR teams. The process allows a country to manage, monitor and establish national standards and adhere closely to the INSARAG Guidelines in developing its USAR national response system. The national accreditation is a process in which the achievement of national standards is certified by an accrediting entity (i.e. the competent national authorities).

NDMA ​

National Disaster Management Authority - Crucial in managing significant emergencies. This agency may need to contribute to integrating international emergency services.

NGOs ​

Non-Governmental Organisations

OCHA ​

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - OCHA serves as the INSARAG Secretariat and is mandated to support national authorities in the coordination of international assistance in disasters and humanitarian crises exceeding the capacity of the affected country.

OSOCC ​

On-Site Operations Coordination Centre - Depending on the situation and in discussion with the national authorities, an OSOCC may be established by the UNDAC team close to the LEMA and support the national authorities in coordinating international responders. The OSOCC coordinates international responders and supports the initial inter-cluster coordination mechanisms such as health, water, sanitation, and shelter.

PPE ​

Personal Protective Equipment

PTSD ​

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

RC/HC ​

Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator

RCM ​

Rapid Clearance Marking - The triage category and marking system is mainly used for potential live rescue sites but can also include triage category D to allow triage teams to identify buildings that the teams have reason to believe that there are only deceased remaining in the building and no rescues are possible. This applies to ASR2. However, after having completed ASR5 where teams have established there are no live victims or “Deceased Only” it may be beneficial to mark the site accordingly. Leaving a recognised “Clear” marking will prevent duplication and have other advantages.

RDC ​

Reception and Departure Centre - As part of the needed support and if not already established by national authorities/LEMA, the RDC is established by the first arriving INSARAG classified USAR team or the UNDAC team, in collaboration with local airport/entry points authorities. The RDC is established to coordinate the incoming international USAR teams and other humanitarian assistance, and reports this to the LEMA through the OSOCC. The RDC also serves as a tool to coordinate the departure of the teams in a proper manner.

RSB ​

Response Support Branch

SAR ​

Search and Rescue - The organized effort to locate, extricate, and provide initial medical assistance to people in distress or trapped in hazardous situations, such as collapsed structures, natural disasters, or accidents.

SCC ​

Sector Coordination Cell - When a small number of teams responds to a mission, they are directly coordinated by the UCC. However, as the complexity of a mission grows due to the arrival of more teams, increased areas of operation, and/or direction from LEMA, the UCC may decide to divide the operations within the affected area into geographical sectors to increase the effectiveness of the USAR coordination. Based on the sectorisation plan and number of international USAR teams, UCC may appoint one classified team as sector coordinator to establish and manage the Sector Coordination Cell (SCC) in the required sector. In this case, the SCC becomes the representative for each of the teams to the UCC and engages in coordination activities for all teams within their sector. Communications between the UCC Manager and individual international USAR team leaders will be through the SCC.

SLS ​

Security Level System

SOGs ​

Standard Operating Guides

SOPs ​

Standard Operating Procedures

ToR ​

Terms of Reference

TRG ​

Technical Recognition Group

TSG ​

Technical Support Group

UC ​

USAR Coordination - Reports to the LEMA responsible for the disaster; provides a USAR SME assessment of USAR needs (ASR); prioritises work sites; assigns USAR assets; sectorises the disaster area if not completed by the LEMA; establishes USAR sector coordination based on needs and the available resources; requests additional resources (such as extra USAR assets, fire engines, heavy equipment, etc.) from LEMA if not already assigned to the USAR sector.

UCC ​

USAR Coordination Cell - The UCC is a specialised and integral part of the operation cell of the OSOCC during an earthquake or collapsed-structure emergency. If not already established by the national authorities/LEMA, it is established by the first incoming USAR team to assist and coordinate multiple international USAR teams during the search and rescue phase of a disaster.

UN ​

United Nations

UNDAC ​

United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination - The UNDAC team is an OCHA tool used for deployment to sudden-onset emergencies. OCHA dispatches an UNDAC team when requested to do so by the affected government or the UN Resident Coordinator in the affected country. UNDAC team personnel are available around the clock and are able to respond at very short notice. The UNDAC team is provided as in-kind help to the affected country.

UNDSS ​

United Nations Department of Safety and Security

UNJLC ​

United Nations Joint Logistics Centre

UNISDR ​

United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction

USAR ​

Urban Search and Rescue - USAR involves the location, extrication, and initial stabilisation of people trapped in a confined space or under debris due to a sudden-onset large-scale structural collapse such as an earthquake, in a coordinated and standardised fashion. This can occur due to disasters, landslides, accidents, and deliberate actions.

VHF ​

Very High Frequency -

VOSOCC ​

Virtual On-Site Operations Coordination Centre - The VOSOCC is a web-based information management tool. It is a virtual version of the OSOCC and is part of the GDACS platform. The VOSOCC is a crucial information sharing portal to facilitate near real-time information exchange amongst international responders and with the affected country, and the UN response mechanisms, following a sudden-onset disaster.

WHO ​

World Health Organisation -