Damage Assesment
The determination of the extent of physical damage to buildings and manmade structures. Two types of damage assessment are normally carried out. The first is to determine the gross damage to a community so that reconstruction planning can determine the aid level required. The second is a detailed structural analysis of typical buildings to determine the causes of failure and methods for modifying the structures so that during reconstruction, suitable steps can be taken to make the building safer. See Disaster Assessment.
DAST
An acronym for Disaster Assessment Teams. DAST units are provided by the United States Army to assist in the initial disaster assessment.
DEC
An acronym for Disasters Emergency Committee. DEC is the main coordinating body for the largest British charities. Members include the British Red Cross, CAFOD (Catholic Fund for Overseas Development), Christian Aid, OXFAM, Save the Children Fund, and War on Want.
Demining Operations
Any activity or operation related to humanitarian demining executed in support of the national HQ or NDO.
Demolition
The destruction of structures, facilities, or material with fire, water, explosives, or other means. This publication deals exclusively with explosive demolition as applied to mine clearance operations.
Detonating Cord
A flexible fabric tube containing a high explosive designed to transmit the detonation wave. (Joint Pub 1-02)
Detonating Cord Connector
A lead of det cord that initiates another when a good contact is between them. If junction clips or det cord connectors are not available, connections are to be made using a girth hitch with an extra turn.
Detonating Cord Fuzing System
A firing system that uses a det cord to transmit the shock wave from the means of initiation to the explosive charge. All det cord firing systems used in clearance operations are to be fired by nonelectric means. The det cord firing system is used in the line main.
Detonator
A device containing a sensitive explosive intended to produce a detonation wave. (Joint Pub 1-02)
Disaster Assessment
Surveys carried out to determine the effects of disaster on a community and a society. Disaster assessments has three sub-activities: Needs assessment, damage assessment and access survey.
Disaster "Continuum"
A conceptual framework for depicting disasters and showing how one phase leads into the next.
Disaster Resistant Construction
Used to denote the degree to which a structure can be made more resistant (or safe) to certain natural phenomena. The term recognized that no building can be made totally safe, but that certain steps can be taken to improve performance, or survivability.
Disaster Response
Refers to those activities that occur in the aftermath of a disaster to assist disaster victims and to rehabilitate or reconstruct the physical structures of the society.
Disaster Spectrum
A means of visualizing disasters, showing how pre-disaster and post-disaster activities relate to each other.
