Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§5122 Definitions

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 68— - DISASTER RELIEF › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - FINDINGS, DECLARATIONS, AND DEFINITIONS › § 5122

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines key words used in the chapter so it is clear when federal help applies and who or what is covered. Emergency means when the President decides federal aid is needed to help save lives, protect property or public health, or prevent a catastrophe. Major disaster means a serious natural event (including hurricanes, tornadoes, storms, high or wind-driven water, tidal waves, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, mudslides, snowstorms, droughts) or any fire, flood, or explosion that the President finds is severe enough to require major federal help. United States lists the fifty States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. State means any of those same places. Governor means the top executive officer of a State. Indian tribal government means the governing body of an Indian or Alaska Native tribe the Secretary of the Interior recognizes under the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 479a et seq.). Individual with a disability means as defined in section 12102(2) of this title. Local government includes counties, cities, towns, townships, school and special districts, councils of governments, regional or interstate entities, tribal or Alaska Native organizations that are not tribal governments, and rural or unincorporated public entities for which a State applies for help. Federal agency means any executive branch department, agency, or government corporation, including the U.S. Postal Service, but not the American National Red Cross. Public facility covers state or local-owned flood control, navigation, irrigation, reclamation, public power, sewage and water systems, watershed development, airports, non-Federal-aid streets and highways, other public buildings or systems (including schools, recreation, and cultural uses), and parks. Private nonprofit facility includes private nonprofit educational, childcare, utility, emergency, medical, rehabilitative, and custodial care facilities (including for the aged and disabled), facilities on Indian reservations, and nonprofit organizations that provide essential public social services (like museums, zoos, community centers, libraries, homeless shelters, senior centers, food banks, broadcasting facilities, and houses of worship); a house of worship cannot be excluded for limiting leadership or membership by faith. Chief Executive means the Chief, Chairman, Governor, President, or similar leader of an Indian tribal government.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §5122

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

As used in this chapter—
(1)“Emergency” means any occasion or instance for which, in the determination of the President, Federal assistance is needed to supplement State and local efforts and capabilities to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the United States.
(2)“Major disaster” means any natural catastrophe (including any hurricane, tornado, storm, high water, winddriven water, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, or drought), or, regardless of cause, any fire, flood, or explosion, in any part of the United States, which in the determination of the President causes damage of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant major disaster assistance under this chapter to supplement the efforts and available resources of States, local governments, and disaster relief organizations in alleviating the damage, loss, hardship, or suffering caused thereby.
(3)“United States” means the fifty States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
(4)“State” means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
(5)“Governor” means the chief executive of any State.
(6)The term “Indian tribal government” means the governing body of any Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or community that the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges to exist as an Indian tribe under the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 479a et seq.).11 See References in Text note below.
(7)The term “individual with a disability” means an individual with a disability as defined in section 12102(2) of this title.
(8)The term “local government” means—
(A)a county, municipality, city, town, township, local public authority, school district, special district, intrastate district, council of governments (regardless of whether the council of governments is incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under State law), regional or interstate government entity, or agency or instrumentality of a local government;
(B)an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, or Alaska Native village or organization, that is not an Indian tribal government as defined in paragraph (6); and
(C)a rural community, unincorporated town or village, or other public entity, for which an application for assistance is made by a State or political subdivision of a State.
(9)“Federal agency” means any department, independent establishment, Government corporation, or other agency of the executive branch of the Federal Government, including the United States Postal Service, but shall not include the American National Red Cross.
(10)“Public facility” means the following facilities owned by a State or local government:
(A)Any flood control, navigation, irrigation, reclamation, public power, sewage treatment and collection, water supply and distribution, watershed development, or airport facility.
(B)Any non-Federal-aid street, road, or highway.
(C)Any other public building, structure, or system, including those used for educational, recreational, or cultural purposes.
(D)Any park.
(11)(A)The term “private nonprofit facility” means private nonprofit educational (without regard to the religious character of the facility), center-based childcare, utility, irrigation, emergency, medical, rehabilitational, and temporary or permanent custodial care facilities (including those for the aged and disabled) and facilities on Indian reservations, as defined by the President.
(B)In addition to the facilities described in subparagraph (A), the term “private nonprofit facility” includes any private nonprofit facility that provides essential social services to the general public (including museums, zoos, performing arts facilities, community arts centers, community centers, libraries, homeless shelters, senior citizen centers, rehabilitation facilities, shelter workshops, food banks, broadcasting facilities, houses of worship, and facilities that provide health and safety services of a governmental nature), as defined by the President. No house of worship may be excluded from this definition because leadership or membership in the organization operating the house of worship is limited to persons who share a religious faith or practice.
(12)The term “Chief Executive” means the person who is the Chief, Chairman, Governor, President, or similar executive official of an Indian tribal government.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in introductory provisions and par. (2), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 93–288, May 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 143. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 5121 of this title and Tables. The Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994, referred to in par. (6), is title I of Pub. L. 103–454, Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4791, which was classified principally to section 479a et seq. of Title 25, Indians, prior to editorial reclassification as section 5130 et seq. of Title 25. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 5101 of Title 25 and Tables.

Amendments

2018—Par. (11). Pub. L. 115–123 amended subpar. (B) generally by substituting a second subpar. (A) and a subpar. (B) for former subpar. (B). Prior to amendment, subpar. (B) read as follows: “In addition to the facilities described in subparagraph (A), the term ‘private nonprofit facility’ includes any private nonprofit facility that provides essential services of a governmental nature to the general public (including museums, zoos, performing arts facilities, community arts centers, libraries, homeless shelters, senior citizen centers, rehabilitation facilities, shelter workshops, broadcasting facilities, and facilities that provide health and safety services of a governmental nature), as defined by the President.” Par. (11)(A). Pub. L. 115–254, § 1238(b)(2), struck out first subpar. (A) which read as follows: “The term ‘private nonprofit facility’ means private nonprofit educational, utility, irrigation, emergency, medical, rehabilitational, and temporary or permanent custodial care facilities (including those for the aged and disabled) and facilities on Indian reservations, as defined by the President.” Pub. L. 115–254, § 1238(b)(1), inserted “center-based childcare,” after “facility),” in second subpar. (A) as added by Pub. L. 115–123. Par. (11)(B). Pub. L. 115–254, § 1214, inserted “food banks,” after “shelter workshops,”. 2015—Par. (11)(B). Pub. L. 114–111 inserted “broadcasting facilities,” after “workshops,”. 2013—Par. (6). Pub. L. 113–2, § 1110(c)(3), added par. (6). Former par. (6) redesignated (7). Par. (7). Pub. L. 113–2, § 1110(c)(2), redesignated par. (6) as (7). Former par. (7) redesignated (8). Par. (7)(B). Pub. L. 113–2, § 1110(c)(1), substituted “, that is not an Indian tribal government as defined in paragraph (6); and” for “; and”. Pars. (8) to (11). Pub. L. 113–2, § 1110(c)(2), redesignated pars. (7) to (10) as (8) to (11), respectively. Par. (12). Pub. L. 113–2, § 1110(c)(4), added par. (12). 2006—Pars. (6) to (8). Pub. L. 109–295, § 688(2), added par. (6) and redesignated former pars. (6) and (7) as (7) and (8), respectively. Former par. (8) redesignated (9). Par. (9). Pub. L. 109–295, § 688(2), redesignated par. (8) as (9). Former par. (9) redesignated (10). Pub. L. 109–295, § 688(1), amended par. (9) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “ ‘Private nonprofit facility’ means private nonprofit educational, utility, irrigation, emergency, medical, rehabilitational, and temporary or permanent custodial care facilities (including those for the aged and disabled), other private nonprofit facilities which provide essential services of a governmental nature to the general public, and facilities on Indian reservations as defined by the President.” Par. (10). Pub. L. 109–295, § 688(2), redesignated par. (9) as (10). 2000—Par. (3). Pub. L. 106–390, § 302(1), substituted “and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands” for “the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands”. Par. (4). Pub. L. 106–390, § 302(1), substituted “and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands” for “the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands”. Par. (6). Pub. L. 106–390, § 302(2), added par. (6) and struck out former par. (6) which read as follows: “ ‘Local government’ means (A) any county, city, village, town, district, or other political subdivision of any State, any Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, or Alaska Native village or organization, and (B) includes any rural community or unincorporated town or village or any other public entity for which an application for assistance is made by a State or political subdivision thereof.” Par. (9). Pub. L. 106–390, § 302(3), inserted “irrigation,” after “utility,”. 1992—Pars. (3), (4). Pub. L. 102–247 inserted “the Northern Mariana Islands,” after “American Samoa,”. 1988—Par. (1). Pub. L. 100–707, § 103(b), inserted heading and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “ ‘Emergency’ means any hurricane, tornado, storm, flood, high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, drought, fire, explosion, or other catastrophe in any part of the United States which requires Federal emergency assistance to supplement State and local efforts to save lives and protect property, public health and safety or to avert or lessen the threat of a disaster.” Par. (2). Pub. L. 100–707, § 103(c), inserted heading and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “ ‘Major disaster’ means any hurricane, tornado, storm, flood, high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, drought, fire, explosion, or other catastrophe in any part of the United States which, in the determination of the President, causes damage of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant major disaster assistance under this chapter, above and beyond emergency services by the Federal Government, to supplement the efforts and available resources of States, local governments, and disaster relief organizations in alleviating the damage, loss, hardship, or suffering caused thereby.” Pars. (3), (4). Pub. L. 100–707, § 103(d), struck out “the Canal Zone,” after “American Samoa,”. Pars. (8), (9). Pub. L. 100–707, § 103(f), added pars. (8) and (9).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2018 Amendment Pub. L. 115–254, div. D, § 1238(c), Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3466, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (b)(1) [amending this section] shall apply to any major disaster or emergency declared by the President under section 401 or 501, respectively, of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170, 5191) on or after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 5, 2018].” Amendment by Pub. L. 115–254 applicable to each major disaster and emergency declared by the President on or after Aug. 1, 2017, and authorities provided under div. D of Pub. L. 115–254 applicable to each major disaster and emergency declared by the President on or after Jan. 1, 2016, except as otherwise provided, see section 1202 of Pub. L. 115–254, set out as a note under section 5121 of this title. Pub. L. 115–123, div. B, title VI, § 20604(c), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 86, provided that: “This section [amending this section and section 5172 of this title] and the

Amendments

made by this section shall apply— “(1) to the provision of assistance in response to a major disaster or emergency declared on or after August 23, 2017; or “(2) with respect to—“(A) any application for assistance that, as of the date of enactment of this Act [Feb. 9, 2018], is pending before Federal Emergency Management Agency; and “(B) any application for assistance that has been denied, where a challenge to that denial is not yet finally resolved as of the date of enactment of this Act.”

Regulations

Pub. L. 113–2, div. B, § 1110(e), Jan. 29, 2013, 127 Stat. 49, provided that: “(1) Issuance.—The President shall issue

Regulations

to carry out the

Amendments

made by this section [enacting section 5123 of this title and amending this section and section 5170 and 5191 of this title]. “(2) Factors.—In issuing the

Regulations

, the President shall consider the unique conditions that affect the general welfare of Indian tribal governments.” Local Government Pub. L. 100–707, title I, § 103(e), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4690, provided that: “(1) In general.—The term ‘local government’ is deemed to have the same meaning in the Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act [Pub. L. 93–288, see

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note set out under section 5121 of this title], as amended by this Act [see

Short Title

of 1988 Amendment note set out under section 5121 of this title], as that term had on October 1, 1988, under section 102(6) of the Disaster Relief Act of 1974 [par. (6) of this section] and

Regulations

implementing the Disaster Relief Act of 1974. “(2) Termination of effectiveness.—Paragraph (1) shall not be effective on and after the 90th day after the President transmits to the Committee on Public Works and Transportation of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report which includes an interpretation of the term ‘local government’ for purposes of the Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended by this Act.” [Functions of President under section 103(e)(2) of Pub. L. 100–707 delegated to Administrator of Federal Emergency Management Agency by section 3 of Ex. Ord. No. 12673, Mar. 23, 1989, 54 F.R. 12571, set out as a note under section 5195 of this title.] Definitions Pub. L. 115–254, div. D, § 1203, Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3438, provided that: “In this division [see

Short Title

of 2018 Amendment note set out under section 5121 of this title]: “(1) Administrator.—The term ‘Administrator’ means the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “(2) Agency.—The term ‘Agency’ means the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “(3) State.—The term ‘State’ has the meaning given that term in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122).”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 5122

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73