Legal Definitions - disaster area

A disaster area is a place that has been officially declared to have experienced a catastrophic emergency, such as a flood, hurricane, earthquake, or wildfire. When a disaster area is declared, it becomes eligible for government aid to help with recovery efforts.

• After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, the city was declared a disaster area and received federal aid to help rebuild.
• When a wildfire swept through California in 2020, the affected counties were declared disaster areas and received assistance from the state government.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, some states and cities were declared disaster areas to help them access federal funding and resources to combat the virus.

These examples illustrate how a disaster area is a place that has experienced a significant emergency and needs help to recover. By declaring an area a disaster, governments can provide financial assistance, resources, and support to help communities rebuild and recover.