Disaster Law and Legal Definition
According to 15 USCS § 632 (k)(1) [Title 15. Commerce and Trade; Chapter 14A. Aid to Small Business], the term “disaster” means a sudden event which causes severe damage including, but not limited to, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, explosions, volcanoes, windstorms, landslides or mudslides, tidal waves, commercial fishery failures or fishery resource disasters (as determined by the Secretary of Commerce under section 308(b) of the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act of 1986 [16 USCS § 4107(b)]), ocean conditions resulting in the closure of customary fishing waters, riots, civil disorders or other catastrophes, except it does not include economic dislocations.
(2) For purposes of section 7(b)(2) [15 USCS § 636(b)(2)], the term "disaster" includes--
(A) drought;
(B) below average water levels in the Great Lakes, or on any body of water in the United States that supports commerce by small business concerns; and
(C) ice storms and blizzards.”
