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NM DOH All Hazard Incident Management Glossary
Intro | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W XYZ Sources
Download: NMDOH_IM_Glossary_May_2008 
Damage Assessment – the process used to appraise or determine the number of injuries and deaths, damage to public and private property resulting from a man-made or natural disaster, and the status of key facilities and services such as hospitals, fire and police stations, communication networks, water and sanitation systems, utilities, and transportation networks.
DCA – Department of Cultural Affairs (NM)
Decontamination – the process of making people, objects, or areas safe by absorbing, destroying, neutralizing, making harmless, or removing chemical, biological, or radiological material.
Delayed Health Effect – a disease or an injury that happens as a result of exposures that have occurred in the past.
Department of Operations Center (NMDOH) – the facility, when activated, as needed, from which New Mexico Department of Health personnel monitor, coordinate, and support health, medical, and mortuary response activities. (Contrast with emergency operations center).
Dermal – referring to the inner layer of skin. For example,
dermal absorption means
passing through the skin.
Descriptive Epidemiology – study of the amount and distribution
of a disease in a
specified population by person, place, and time.
Detection Limit – the lowest concentration of a chemical
that can reliably be
distinguished from a zero concentration.
DFA – Department of Finance and Administration (NM)
DHSEM – Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (NM)
DIA – Department of Indian Affairs (NM)
Dirty Bomb – the use of common explosives to spread radioactive materials over a targeted area. Also known as a radiation attack, a “dirty bomb” is not a nuclear blast, but rather an explosion with localized radioactive contamination.
Disaster (NM) – the damage or injury, caused by enemy attack, to persons or property in this state [NM] of such magnitude that a state of martial law is declared to exist in this state [NM] and disaster emergency is declared by the chief executive officer of the United States and the chief executive officer of this state [NM]. NMSA 1978, sections 12-11-3, 2-11-13, and 12-11-20.
Disaster (Major) (NM) – an event or imminent threat that causes or threatens widespread or severe damage, injury, loss of life or property resulting from a natural, technological, and/or national security incident or other disaster that may exceed the capabilities and resources of State, local government, or disaster relief organizations. Note: A disaster is of greater impact than an emergency. (New Mexico All Hazard Emergency Operations Plan 1999)
Disaster, major (federal) – “Major disaster” means any natural
catastrophe (including any hurricane, tornado, storm, high water, wind driven
water, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide,
snowstorm, or drought) or, regardless of cause, any fire, flood, or explosion,
in any part of the United States,
which in the determination of the President, causes damage of sufficient severity
and magnitude to warrant major disaster assistance under this [Stafford] Act
to supplement the efforts and available resources of States, local governments,
and disaster relief organizations in alleviating the damage, loss, hardship,
or suffering caused thereby. (From: Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act, as amended by Public Law 106-390, October 30, 2000, Sec. 102)
DISC - Disaster Information Systems Clearinghouse
Disease of Suspected Bioterrorism Origin – a disease caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, or toxins from living organisms that are used to produce death or disease in humans, animals, or plants. Many of these diseases may have nonspecific presenting symptoms.
Disease Prevention – measures used to prevent a disease or reduce its severity. Primary prevention is measures used to prevent the occurrence of disease; secondary prevention prevents near term complications of disease; tertiary prevention is applied to the distant complications of disease.
Disease Registry – a system of ongoing registration of all cases of a particular disease or health condition in a defined population.
DMAT - Disaster Medical Assistance Team
DMORT - Disaster Mortuary Team
DOC - Department Operations Center (NMDOH)
Documentation Unit* - functional unit within the Planning
Section responsible for
collecting, recording, and safeguarding all documents relevant to the incident.
DOD - Department of Defense (US)
DOE - Department of Energy (US)
DOH - Department of Health (NM)
DOI - Department of the Interior (US)
DOL - Department of Labor (US) and (NM)
DOS - Department of State (US)
Dose – the amount of a substance to which a person is exposed over some time period. Dose is a measurement of exposure.
DOT - Department of Transportation (US) and (NM)
DPMU - Deployable Portable Morgue Unit
DPS - Department of Public Safety (NM)
Dysphasia – difficulty in swallowing.
