U.S. flag
        An official website of the United States government
          Here’s how you know
        Here’s how you know
        world globe
        Languages
      EnglishEspañolFrançaisKreyòlTiếng Việt简体中文한국어 **Official websites use .gov** A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS** A **lock** (
A locked padlock
) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
              .
  Apply for Assistance


                Toggle Menu

    close
            Disasters & Assistance
                  
                                                      Current DisastersCalifornia Severe StormsHermit's Peak/Calf Canyon FireMaine Severe StormsMichigan Severe StormsRhode Island Severe Storms (December 2023)Rhode Island Severe Storms (January 2024)Washington WildfiresWildfire ActionsWrangell Cooperative Association Severe StormAll Disaster Declarations
Assistance After a DisasterGovernments and Private Non-ProfitsIndividuals and Families
Tools to RecoverCommon RumorsDisaster Multimedia ToolkitDisaster-Related FAQFEMA in Your LanguageSave Your Family TreasuresVolunteer & Donate
General Disaster InformationSearch Your LocationHow a Disaster Gets DeclaredDisaster AuthoritiesHistoric DisastersGrants
                  
                                                      FEMA GrantsPreparedness GrantsHazard Mitigation Assistance GrantsResilience GrantsContinuing Training Grants ProgramEmergency Food and Shelter ProgramShelter and Services Program
Policy & GuidanceProcurement & Contracting"Buy America" PreferenceBipartisan Infrastructure LawLow-Carbon Goals2 CFR Policy Updates
ToolsAuthorized Equipment ListBenefit-Cost AnalysisEnvironmental & Historic Preservation GuidanceFEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO)Grants Management Technical AssistanceNon-Disaster Grants Management SystemFloods & Maps
                  
                                                      Flood InsuranceFind an Insurance FormWork with National Flood InsuranceNFIP’s Pricing ApproachInsurance Outreach PublicationsRules and LegislationFlood Insurance Advocate
Floodplain ManagementManage Floodplain RiskGet Financial HelpCommunity Assistance Program for StatesCommunity Rating SystemFloodplains & Wildlife ConservationIntergovernmental Collaboration
Flood MapsFlood Data Viewers & Geospatial DataChange Your Flood Zone DesignationRisk MAPProducts and ToolsGuidance & ReportsCooperating Technical Partners
Know Your RiskHomeowners, Renters or Business OwnersCommunity OfficialsEngineers, Surveyors or ArchitectsReal Estate, Lending or Insurance ProfessionalsState, Local, Tribal or Territorial GovernmentsEmergency Management
                  
                                                      National PreparednessTraining & EducationNational Incident Management System (NIMS)National Planning FrameworksNational Preparedness GoalContinuity Resource ToolkitEquityExercises
Risk ManagementHazard Mitigation PlanningClimate ResilienceBuilding ScienceEarthquake RiskDam SafetyHurricane, Wind & Water Surge HazardsHazardous Response Capabilities
Tools for PractitionersIntegrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS)Planning GuidesCommunity LifelinesEnvironmental Planning & Historic PreservationRecovery ResourcesCase Study LibraryPrepTalks
Individuals & CommunitiesPreparedness Activities, Research & WebinarsFaith-Based & Volunteer Partnership ResourcesYouth & Emergency PlanningCommunity Emergency Response Team (CERT)Activities to Reduce Risk for Your HomeAbout
                  
                                                      About UsHow FEMA WorksStrategic PlanOffices & LeadershipRegions, States & TerritoriesTribal AffairsHow to Pay FEMAHistory of FEMAContact Us
NewsroomBlogEventsFact SheetsFEMA LiveMobile ProductsNewslettersPress ReleasesPodcastSocial Media
Reports & DataAnnual ReportsData VisualizationsDisaster Relief Fund ReportsFEMA Guidance DocumentsGlossaryOpenFEMAResilience Analysis & Planning Tool
FEMA in ActionWe Are FEMADisaster ResilienceTwenty Years Later: 9/11Work With Us
                  
                                                      CareersBenefitsCareer PathsHow to ApplyRecruitment EventsFEMA Employee Resources
Business and OrganizationsDoing Business with FEMANational Business Emergency Operations Center
PartnershipsCommunity Disaster Resilience ZonesEmergency Manager ExchangeFederal Agency Mission AssignmentsResilient Nation Partnership NetworkApply for Assistance

world globe
        Languages
      EnglishEspañolFrançaisKreyòlTiếng Việt简体中文한국어  Glossary
alert - info**Download the FAAT List**Updated in 2023, the FEMA Acronyms,
Abbreviations and Terms (FAAT) PDF contains a full listing of commonly used terms.
Or use the search bar below to find terms.
        Search Glossary Terms and Definitions
        2
      (1)
  |   A
      (65)
  |   B
      (31)
  |   C
      (92)
  |   D
      (49)
  |   E
      (46)
  |   F
      (94)
  |   G
      (15)
  |   H
      (40)
  |   I
      (40)
  |   J
      (5)
  |   L
      (21)
  |   M
      (41)
  |   N
      (73)
  |   O
      (25)
  |   P
      (71)
  |   R
      (51)
  |   S
      (76)
  |   T
      (24)
  |   U
      (16)
  |   V
      (23)
  |   W
      (18)
  |   Z
      (40)
  
      Date of Construction
The date that the building permit was issued, provided the actual start of construction, repair, reconstruction or improvement was within 180 days of the permit date.

Glossary Section: NFIP - National Flood Insurance Program
    Deadline Date
The date by which an applicant must submit their discretionary grant (or cooperative agreement) application in order to be considered for funding by the federal agency.

Glossary Section: AFGP - Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program
    Debris
The remains of something broken down or destroyed.

Glossary Section: NDRF - National Disaster Recovery Framework
    Declarations Page
A computer-generated summary of information provided by the prospective policyholder in the application for flood insurance. The declarations page also describes the term of the policy and the limits of coverage and displays the premium and the insurer's name. The declarations page is a part of the flood insurance policy.

Glossary Section: NFIP - National Flood Insurance Program
    Deductible
The fixed amount of an insured loss that is the responsibility of the insured and that is incurred before any amounts are paid for the insured loss under the insurance policy.

Glossary Section: NFIP - National Flood Insurance Program
    Default
Failure to perform what is required or to fulfill an obligation such as the requirements of a grant. Defaulting on a federal grant may require the return of all or a portion of the federal funds disbursed under the grant.

Glossary Section: AFGP - Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program
    Delinquent Debt
Overdue or failure to satisfy a financial obligation to a person or entity. For the purposes of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants, the debt in question is debt to the federal government. The concern applies only to the applicant organization, not the individual or authorized representative who is completing the application. Categories of debt include delinquent audit disallowances, loans and taxes.

Glossary Section: AFGP - Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program
    Department of Homeland Security
The federal agency responsible for leading a unified national effort to secure the United States of America. Its mission is preventing and deterring terrorist attacks and protecting against and responding to, threats and hazards to the nation. DHS ensures safe and secure borders, welcomes lawful immigrants and visitors and promotes the free-flow of commerce.

Glossary Section: AFGP - Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program
    Dependent
Someone who is normally claimed as such on the Federal tax return of another, according to the Internal Revenue Code. It may also mean the minor children of a couple not living together, where the children live in the affected residence with the parent or guardian who does not actually claim them on the tax return. 44 CFR 206.111

Glossary Section: NDHS - National Disaster Housing Strategy
    Described Location
The location where the insured building or personal property is found. The described location is shown on the Declarations Page.

Glossary Section: NFIP - National Flood Insurance Program
    Diagram Number
Any of the numbers used in the instructions to the NFIP Elevation Certificate to identify the diagrams of the main types of buildings.

Glossary Section: NFIP - National Flood Insurance Program
    Direct Assistance
Assistance provided to disaster survivors by the Federal Government in the form of physical resources; essentially all assistance that is not provided monetarily. This includes housing units that are acquired by purchase or lease, directly for individuals or households who, because of a lack of available housing resources, would be unable to make use of financial assistance as well as direct activities by the government to repair or rent units, such as contracting with a company to repair a rental property.

Glossary Section: NDHS - National Disaster Housing Strategy
    Direct Physical Loss By or From Flood
Loss or damage to insured property, directly caused by a flood. There must be evidence of physical changes to the property.

Glossary Section: NFIP - National Flood Insurance Program
    Discretionary Grant
An award of financial assistance in the form of money, or property in lieu of money, by the federal government to an eligible grantee, usually on the basis of a competitive review process.

Glossary Section: AFGP - Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program
    Doublewide Manufactured (Mobile) Home
A manufactured (mobile) home that, when assembled as a nonmovable, permanent building, is at least 16 feet wide and has an area within its perimeter walls of at least 600 square feet.

Glossary Section: NFIP - National Flood Insurance Program
    Drag Rescue Device
The drag rescue device allows for rapid removal of downed firefighters. The strap is accessed through a flap found along the rear top of collar on structural firefighting coats. It is designed for dragging incapacitated firefighters and not rated for any vertical lifting. It creates a "Figure 8" around the chest.

Glossary Section: AFGP - Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program
    DUNS Number
The Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number is a unique nine-character identification number required for all federal grant recipients. DUNS numbers are provided by the commercial company Dun & Bradstreet. The federal government uses the DUNS number to identify related organizations receiving funding from grants and cooperative agreements and to provide consistent name and address data for electronic grant applications.

Glossary Section: AFGP - Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program
    Duplication of Benefits
Assistance provided from different sources for the same specific need.

Glossary Section: NDHS - National Disaster Housing Strategy
    Dwelling
A building designed for use as a residence for no more than 4 families or a single-family unit in building under a condominium form of ownership.

Glossary Section: NFIP - National Flood Insurance Program
    Dwelling Form
See Standard Flood Insurance Policy (SFIP)--Dwelling Form.

Glossary Section: NFIP - National Flood Insurance Program
  
        Pagination
    Current page1
              Page2
              Page3

            Return to top Disasters & Assistance
      
    
                  Grants
      
    
                  Floods & Maps
      
    
                  Emergency Management
      
    
                  About
      
    
                  Work With Us

Facebook

          Instagram


          Twitter

          YouTube

          LinkedIn

          Newsletter

        Contact FEMA

DHS logo
              FEMA.govAn official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
          Accessibility
                Accountability
                Careers
                Civil Rights
                Contact Us
                FOIA
                Glossary
                No FEAR Act
                Plug-Ins
                Privacy
                Report Disaster Fraud
                Website Information
                DHS.gov
                USA.gov
                Inspector General