Director - The Incident Command System title for individuals responsible for supervision of a Branch.
Disaster - According to FEMA, “An occurrence of a natural catastrophe, technological accident or human-caused event that has resulted in severe property damage, deaths and/or multiple injuries.”
Discussion-Based Exercises - An exercise, such as seminars, workshops or tabletops, that typically highlight existing plans, policies, mutual aid agreements and procedures, and can be used as tools to familiarize agencies and personnel with current or expected capabilities.
Dispatch - The ordered movement of a resource or resources to an assigned operational mission, or an administrative move from one location to another.
Division - According to FEMA, “The organizational level having responsibility for operations within a defined geographic area. Divisions are established when the number of resources exceeds the manageable span of control of the section chief.”
Drill - A coordinated and supervised operations-based exercise that is often used to test a single operation or function in a single agency. Drills are typically used to provide training on new equipment, develop or test new policies or procedures, or practice and maintain current skills.
Duplication of Benefits (DOB) - Under federal law, any person, business, or other entity cannot use federal funds to cover losses for which they have already received financial assistance for from any other source. Funding sources can include FEMA, the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), insurance, state and local governments and charitable institutions, among others.
Elevating - a home allows its living spaces to be above the level of most floods, which helps protect the home and its owners in the event of a disaster. Elevating a home often includes separating the house from its foundation, and lifting it so that the foundation can be extended or replaced beneath it.
Elevation Certificate - An important tool of the NFIP used to certify building elevations if the building is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area. The certificate determines the proper flood insurance premium rate for the building and supports a request of a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) or Letter of Map Revision based on fill (LOMR-F). Certificates are used by local communities and builders to ensure compliance with local floodplain management ordinances and also by insurance agents and companies in the rating of flood insurance policies. They are not mandatory in all areas or flood zones.
Elevation Certificate (EC) - A tool used by the NFIP to certify elevations of buildings located in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). The certificates are used by insurance agents to determine the proper flood insurance premium rate for the building, and also by localities and builders to ensure compliance with local floodplain management ordinances. They are not mandatory in all areas or flood zones.