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)
  
      General Property Form
See Standard Flood Insurance Policy–General Property Form.

Glossary Section: NFIP - National Flood Insurance Program
    Government Owned Property
Property that is owned by government for reasons including foreclosure and prior ownership. This applies to governments at all levels, including local, State and Federal, and applies to single family units as well as multi-family units.

Glossary Section: NDHS - National Disaster Housing Strategy
    Grade Elevation
The lowest or highest finished ground level that is immediately adjacent to the walls of the building. Use natural (pre-construction), ground level, if available, for Zone AO and Zone A (without BFE).

Glossary Section: NFIP - National Flood Insurance Program
    Grant Award Notification
Official document signed by the authorized official stating the amount, the terms and conditions of an award for a discretionary grant or cooperative agreement.

Glossary Section: AFGP - Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program
    Grant Programs
Programs of discretionary or formula grants and/or cooperative agreements administered by a federal agency.

Glossary Section: AFGP - Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program
    Grantee
An individual or organization awarded financial assistance under one of the federal discretionary grant programs.

Glossary Section: AFGP - Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program
    Group Flood Insurance
Issued by the NFIP Direct Program in response to a Presidential disaster declaration. Disaster assistance applicants, in exchange for a modest premium, receive a minimum amount of building and/or contents coverage for a 3-year policy period. An applicant may cancel the group policy at any time and secure a regular Standard Flood Insurance Policy (SFIP) through the NFIP.

Glossary Section: NFIP - National Flood Insurance Program
    GSA
General Services Administration.

Glossary Section: NDRF - National Disaster Recovery Framework
    Garages
**Attached Garages**
A garage attached to a residential structure or in an enclosed area below an elevated building may have the garage floor slab below the Base Flood Elevation (BFE). Because such a garage is an enclosed area below the BFE, openings are required either in the exterior walls of the garage or in the garage doors themselves.

**Below-grade Parking Garages**
Below grade parking garages are only allowed in non-residential buildings in Zones A1-30, AE, AH, and AO and must be dry floodproofed. The construction of below grade parking garages is prohibited beneath residential buildings. Below-grade parking garages are prohibited beneath all residential and non-residential buildings in V Zones.

**Detached Garages**
Small detached garages for residential uses may qualify as Accessory Structures under the NFIP.

***National Flood Insurance Program Requirements***

60.3 - Flood plain management criteria for flood-prone areas
	(a) (1) - Development Permit
		(a) (3) - Reasonably Safe From Flooding
		(c) (2) - A Zone Residential Buildings
		(c) (3) - A Zone Nonresidential Buildings
		(c) (4) - Floodproofing Certification
		(c) (5) - OpeningsGlossary Section: NFIP - National Flood Insurance Program
    GETS
Government Emergency Telecommunications Service
Glossary Section: Continuity
    Governor’s Authorized Representative
The individual, designated by the governor, who serves as the grant administrator for all funds provided under HMGP; the person empowered by the governor to execute, on behalf of the state, all necessary documents for disaster assistance.
Glossary Section: Hazard Mitigation Assistance Guidance
    Gray Infrastructure
Human-made structures that are engineered to provide a specific level of service under specific scenarios and generally addresses a single purpose. Gray infrastructure is also known as traditional infrastructure.
Glossary Section: Hazard Mitigation Assistance Guidance
    Green Infrastructure
A subset of nature-based solutions, which consists of a sustainable approach to natural landscape preservation and stormwater management that can be used for hazard mitigation activities as well as provide additional ecosystem service benefits. Green infrastructure methods use an ecosystem‐based approach to replicate a site’s predevelopment condition and function.
Glossary Section: Hazard Mitigation Assistance Guidance
    Green Open Space
Green open space is land that does not directly touch a natural body of water, such as a river, lake, stream, creek or coastal body of water.
Glossary Section: Hazard Mitigation Assistance Guidance
    Grid-Connected System
Solar photovoltaic system that comprises photovoltaic modules, required mounting hardware and inverters for conversion of direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) power, but no energy storage capacity, and must be interconnected to the local utility grid for power when the photovoltaic modules cannot generate sufficient power.
Glossary Section: Hazard Mitigation Assistance Guidance

            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