§ 2. Definitions
As used in this chapter:
(1) “All-hazards” means any natural disaster, health or disease-related emergency, accident,
civil insurrection, use of weapons of mass destruction, terrorist or criminal incident,
radiological incident, significant event, and designated special event, any of which
may occur individually, simultaneously, or in combination and that poses a threat
or may pose a threat, as determined by the Commissioner or designee, to property or
public safety in Vermont.
(2) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Public Safety.
(3) “Director” means the Director of the Division of Emergency Management of the Department
of Public Safety.
(4) “Emergency functions” include services provided by the Department of Public Safety,
firefighting services, police services, sheriff’s department services, medical and
health services, rescue, engineering, emergency warning services, communications,
evacuation of persons, emergency welfare services, protection of critical infrastructure,
emergency transportation, temporary restoration of public utility services, other
functions related to civilian protection, and all other activities necessary or incidental
to the preparation for and carrying out of these functions.
(5) “EPCRA” means the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11001-11050 (1986).
(6) “Emergency management” means the preparation for and implementation of all emergency
functions, other than the functions for which the U.S. Armed Forces or other federal
agencies are primarily responsible, to prevent, plan for, mitigate, and support response
and recovery efforts from all-hazards. Emergency management includes the utilization
of first responders and other emergency management personnel and the equipping, exercising,
and training designed to ensure that this State and its communities are prepared to
deal with all-hazards.
(7) “First responder” means State, county, and local governmental and nongovernmental
personnel who provide immediate support services necessary to perform emergency management
functions during an emergency or all-hazards event, including:
(A) emergency management and public safety personnel;
(B) firefighters, as that term is defined in section 3151 of this title;
(C) law enforcement officers, as that term is defined in section 2351a of this title;
(D) public safety telecommunications and dispatch personnel;
(E) emergency medical personnel and volunteer personnel, as those terms are defined in
24 V.S.A. § 2651;
(F) licensed professionals who would provide clinical services and emergency care in hospitals
and medical facilities created to address an all-hazards event;
(G) public health personnel;
(H) public works personnel, including water, wastewater, and stormwater personnel; and
(I) equipment operators and other skilled personnel, who provide services necessary to
enable the performance of emergency management functions.
(8) “Hazard mitigation” means any action taken to reduce or eliminate the threat to persons
or property from all-hazards.
(9) “Hazardous chemical or substance” means:
(A) Any chemical covered by 42 U.S.C. §§ 11021 and 11022 and defined in 29 C.F.R. § 1910.1200(c) or in 18 V.S.A. § 1722.
(B) Any substance as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 9601(14) or designated hazardous by the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 9602(a) or 11002(a)(2).
(C) Any hazardous material pursuant to 5 V.S.A. § 2001.
(D) Fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, or rodenticides as defined in 6 V.S.A. § 911.
(E) Any hazardous waste or material as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 6602.
(F) Any of the dangerous substances defined in section 2799 of this title.
(10) “Hazardous chemical or substance incident” means any mishap or occurrence involving
hazardous chemicals or substances that may pose a threat to persons or property.
(11) “Homeland security” means the preparation for and carrying out of all emergency functions,
other than the functions for which the U.S. Armed Forces or other federal agencies
are primarily responsible, to prevent, minimize, or repair injury and damage resulting
from or caused by enemy attack, sabotage, or other hostile action.
(12) “Radiological incident” means any mishap or occurrence involving radiological activity
that may pose a threat to persons or property. (Amended 1971, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), eff. April 3, 1972; 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 2021, No. 20, § 112; 2023, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 5, eff. July 1, 2024; 2025, No. 57, § 16, eff. July 1, 2025.)