Glossary Term
Critical facilities
The primary physical structures, technical facilities, and systems which are socially, economically, or operationally essential to the functioning of a society or community, both in routine circumstances and in the extreme circumstances of an emergency. Critical facilities are elements of the infrastructure that support essential services in a society. They include such things as transport systems, air, and sea ports, electricity, water, and communications systems, hospitals and health clinics, and centers for fire, police, and public administration services.