Canadian Disaster Database Reference - Reference Table for Symbols and Definitions

Reference Table for Symbols and Definitions
Hazard Group Hazard Sub-Group Type Abbreviation Symbol Definition
Natural Biological Epidemic EP Epidemic A disease of high morbidity (rate of occurrence of disease) causing illness in a large number of those affected, which is only present occasionally in a human community. (Usually, an epidemic occurs when cases of a certain disease or symptom complex exceed what we would "expect" for a given population in a given geographic area over a specified time period. Lots of common cold in the winter does not equal an epidemic (even though many people are affected) because we expect it. Alternatively, one case of measles in Canada is usually considered an outbreak. Diseases that are epidemic are not required to be communicable, but different terminology is usually applied for non-communicable diseases (e.g. cancer cluster).
Infestation IN* Infestation A habitat or environmental invasion by a dramatic spread of an organism (plant or animal) that may cause problems or damages. Can also refer to bacterial invasions (e.g. mold).
Pandemic PA Pandemic A worldwide outbreak of a specific disease to which people have little or no immunity.
Meteorological - Hydrological Avalanche AV* Avalanche A mass of loosened snow, ice, and/or earth suddenly and swiftly sliding down a slope. In practice, assumed to be a snow avalanche unless another term such as ice, rock, mud, etc is used.
Cold Event CE Cold Event A period of significantly colder than normal temperatures lasting from days to weeks or longer and can occur at any time of the year.
Drought DR Drought A prolonged period of abnormally dry weather that depletes water resources.
    Flood FL* Flood Floods results when natural drainage channels, or human made facsimiles, cannot convey all the water supplied to them; excess water spills over the banks and inundates the surroundings. Overflow may be caused by many things, including ice jamming, snowmelt (spring freshet) or snowmelt plus rain. Flooding caused by hurricanes or tropical storms should be identified as a Hurricane (HU). Coastal flooding caused by storm surges should be identifies as Storm Surge (SS). Intense localized precipitation, typically of short duration (heavy rainstorm, with or without hail, over a smaller region, especially in urban/developed environments) which exceeds the drainage capacity of local infrastructure (sewer capacity, etc.) should be identified as Storms and Severe Thunderstorms (ST).
Geomagnetic Storm GS Geomagnetic Storm A disturbance or fluctuation in the earth's magnetic field, associated with solar flares.
Heat Event HE Heat Event A period of significantly warmer than normal temperatures lasting from days to weeks or longer and can occur at any time of the year. These events may accompanied by high humidity and/or poor air quality.
Hurricane/ Typhoon/ Tropical Storm HU* Hurricane/ Typhoon/ Tropical Storm Cyclonic storms (large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns in Atlantic, Caribbean or eastern Pacific (Hurricane) and western North Pacific (Typhoon)) which produce high, often damaging winds, heavy rain and flooding.
Storm Surge SS Storm Surge A deviation (either positive or negative) in the height of the sea surface from normal tidal levels. Triggered by wind stress and low atmospheric pressure. Often associated with tropical cyclones. Positive storm surges often cause coastal area flooding.
Storm-Unspecified/Other SO Storm-Unspecified/Other A type generally not used except in cases when supporting information on the nature of the storm is not available (generally the first to historical events).
Storm – Winter SW Storm – Winter A large scale storm having solid or mixed precipitation types occurring generally from the late Fall through the early Spring. These storms are accompanied by one or more of the following:
  • Heavy Snowfall/Blizzard
  • Heavy Rainfall
  • Prolonged Period of Freezing Rain
  • High Winds
Storms and Severe Thunderstorms ST Storms and Severe Thunderstorms Large scale storms accompanied by high winds and/or heavy rainfall. Severe thunderstorms, which are smaller scale storms typically occurring in the Spring through early Fall, are included. Severe thunderstorms are normally accompanied by one or more of the following:
  • Large Hail
  • Damaging Winds
  • Heavy Rainfall
Tornado TO Tornado A violent, rapidly rotating column of air that extends downwards from the base of a cumulonimbus cloud and reaches the ground. Generally associated with hail/thunderstorm events however, may develop directly from a rain free base or from a rotating wall cloud.
Wildfire WF* Wildfire A naturally triggered fire which affects forested or grassland regions. Wildfire in the wildland-urban interface can cause significant damage in developed areas, although it is an important natural component of ecosystem renewal.
Geological Earthquake EQ Earthquake A release of stress from within the earth's crust, resulting in ground shaking.
Landslide LS Landslide Downslope movement of soil, rock and debris.
Tsunami TS Tsunami A destructive wave, often many meters high, produced by a violent vertical motion of the sea floor (displacements).
Volcano VO Volcano The ejection of volcanic materials (lava, pyroclastics and volcanic gases) from a vent or fissure in the earth's crust.
Conflict Arson Non-Residential AI* Arson Non-Residential The willful destruction of non-residential property by fire.
Residential AR* Arson Residential The willful destruction of residential property by fire.
Vehicle VE* Vehicle The willful destruction of a vehicle by fire.
Civil Incidents Disturbances/ Demonstrations CD Disturbances/Demonstrations A tumultuous disturbance of the peace by three or more persons, assembling together of their own authority, with the intent to mutually assist each other against any who might oppose them in the execution of some enterprise of a private nature.
    Rioting CR Rioting A public disturbance involving (1) an act or acts of violence by one or more persons part of an assemblage of three or more persons, which act or acts shall constitute a clear and present danger of, or shall result in, damage or injury to the property of any other person or to the person of any other individual or (2) a threat or threats of the commission of an act or acts of violence by one or more persons part of an assemblage of three or more persons having, individually or collectively, the ability of immediate execution of such threat or threats, where the performance of the threatened act or acts of violence would constitute a clear and present danger of, or would result in, damage or injury to the property of any other person or to the person of any other individual.
Hijackings Air HA* Hijackings - Air The unexpected, unlawful and forceful seizure of control aboard an aircraft by an individual or group of individuals resulting in passenger and crew endangerment, injury or death, and/or the redirection of flight destination.
Marine HM* Hijackings - Marine The unexpected, unlawful and forceful seizure of control aboard a boat or ship by an individual or group of individuals resulting in passenger and crew endangerment, injury or death, and/or the redirection of destination.
Rail HR* Hijackings - Rail The unexpected, unlawful and forceful seizure of control aboard a wheeled or tracked vehicle by an individual or group of individuals resulting in passenger and crew endangerment, injury or death, and/or the redirection of destination.
Vehicle HV* Hijackings - Vehicle The unexpected, unlawful and forceful seizure of control aboard a vehicle by an individual or group of individuals resulting in passenger and crew endangerment, injury or death, and/or the redirection of destination.
Terrorist Biological TB* Terrorist - Biological terrorism using germ warfare, an intentional human release of a naturally-occurring or human-modified toxin or biological agent
Bomb Attacks TA Terrorist - Bomb Attacks Attacks using an explosive weapon detonated by impact, proximity to an object, a timing mechanism, or other means.
Chemical TC* Terrorist - Chemical Attacks meant to cause massive devastation in which terrorist organizations release toxins; chemical attacks are meant primarily to terrorize, blackmail, or cause economic damage.
False Alarm TF Terrorist - False Alarm A false alarm is a report of a perceived emergency that brings resources to a place that ultimately are determined to be unnecessary.
Hoax TH Terrorist - Hoax A plan to deceive others into believing a fabricated item or circumstance is authentic or has actually occurred
Kidnapping/ Murder TK Terrorist - Kidnapping/Murder The unlawful act of capturing and carrying away a person against their will and holding them in false imprisonment. The intentional killing of a human being. It includes causing serious physical injury leading to the deal of a human being.
Nuclear TN Terrorist - Nuclear The use of a nuclear device to cause massive devastation
Radiological TR* Terrorist - Radiological Method of warfare through which massive damage would be caused to persons through the dissemination of radioactive substances.
Shootings TT Terrorist - Shootings Use of a firearm to kill or injure or to damage property.
Techno-logical Explosion Non-Residential EI* Explosion - Non-Residential An explosion affecting a non-residential area, resulting in partial or total destruction of the structure and/or bodily injury, smoke inhalation or death.
Residential ER Explosion - Residential An explosion affecting a home or housing complex, resulting in partial or total destruction of the structure and/or bodily injury, smoke inhalation or death.
Fire Non-Residential FI* Fire - Non-Residential A fire affecting a non-residential area, resulting in partial or total destruction of the structure and/or bodily injury, smoke inhalation or death.
Residential FE* Fire - Residential A fire affecting a home or housing complex, resulting in partial or total destruction of the structure and/or bodily injury, smoke inhalation or death.
Vehicle FV* Fire - Vehicle A fire affecting a vehicle, resulting in partial or total destruction of the vehicle and/or bodily injury, smoke inhalation or death.
Hazardous Chemicals Fire ZF* Hazardous Chemicals A fire which causes a release of a chemical which poses a danger to human or ecosystem health.
Leak/Spill (Release) ZL Leak/Spill (Release) An accidental leak, spill or release of a chemical which poses a danger to human or ecosystem health.
Derailment/ Release ZD Derailment/Release A sudden, unexpected event involving a wheeled or tracked vehicle resulting in derailment, the release of hazardous chemicals, bodily injury, death and/or the disruption of transportation service.
Vehicle/Release ZV Vehicle/Release A sudden, unexpected event involving a vehicle resulting in damage, the release of hazardous chemicals, bodily injury, death and/or the disruption of transportation service.
Marine/Release ZM* Marine/Release A sudden, unexpected event involving a boat or ship, resulting in, the release of hazardous chemicals, vessel submerging, damage, bodily injury, death and/or the disruption of transportation service.
Infrastructure Failure Communications IC Infrastructure Failure - Communications The unavailability of services provided by the communications infrastructure resulting in significant inconvenience or disaster caused by human error, equipment malfunction or breakdown.
Energy IE Infrastructure Failure - Energy The unavailability of services provided by the energy infrastructure resulting in significant inconvenience or disaster caused by human error, equipment malfunction or breakdown.
Industry/ Manufacturing IM* Infrastructure Failure - Industry/Manufacturing The unavailability of services provided by the industry/manufacturing infrastructure resulting in significant inconvenience or disaster caused by human error, equipment malfunction or breakdown.
Transportation IT Infrastructure Failure - Transportation The unavailability of services provided by the transportation infrastructure resulting in significant inconvenience or disaster caused by human error, equipment malfunction or breakdown.
Water IW Infrastructure Failure - Water The unavailability of services provided by the water infrastructure resulting in significant inconvenience or disaster caused by human error, equipment malfunction or breakdown.
Accident-Transportation Air AA Accident-Transportation - Air A sudden, unexpected event involving aircraft resulting in fuselage damage, bodily injury, death and/or the disruption of transportation service; prompting emergency landing procedures or uncontrolled impact with the ground.
Marine MA Accident-Transportation - Marine A sudden, unexpected event involving a boat or ship resulting in vessel submerging, damage, bodily injury, death and/or the disruption of transportation service.
Rail RA Accident-Transportation - Rail A sudden, unexpected event involving a wheeled or tracked vehicle resulting in derailment, damage, bodily injury, death and/or the disruption of transportation service.
Vehicle VA Accident-Transportation - Vehicle A sudden, unexpected event involving a vehicle resulting in damage, bodily injury, death and/or the disruption of transportation service.
Space Events/ Incidents Space Debris SD Space Events/Incidents - Space Debris Debris from satellites and space vehicles, as well as natural objects like meteorites and planetary particles that travel through the solar system.
Space Launch SL Space Events/Incidents - Space Launch The act of releasing a self-propelled vehicle into Earth's upper atmosphere (with intent to reach a sustained orbit).

Please note that all boxes with an asterisk in the corner indicate symbols that were inspired or borrowed in part from the United States Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Homeland Security Working Group Symbology Reference Table.

Date modified: