# 42 U.S.C. § 5122: Definitions

> Federal · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s5122

## Section

- **Citation:** 42 U.S.C. § 5122
- **Heading:** Definitions
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 9, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE > CHAPTER 68—DISASTER RELIEF > SUBCHAPTER I—FINDINGS, DECLARATIONS, AND DEFINITIONS

## Text

“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.

( Pub. L. 93–288, title I, § 102 , May 22, 1974 , 88 Stat. 144 ; Pub. L. 100–707, title I, § 103(b) –(d), (f), Nov. 23, 1988 , 102 Stat. 4689 , 4690; Pub. L. 102–247, title II, § 205 , Feb. 24, 1992 , 106 Stat. 38 ; Pub. L. 106–390, title III, § 302 , Oct. 30, 2000 , 114 Stat. 1572 ; Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 688 , Oct. 4, 2006 , 120 Stat. 1448 ; Pub. L. 113–2, div. B, § 1110(c) , Jan. 29, 2013 , 127 Stat. 49 ; Pub. L. 114–111, § 2(a) , Dec. 18, 2015 , 129 Stat. 2240 ; Pub. L. 115–123, div. B, title VI, § 20604(a) , Feb. 9, 2018 , 132 Stat. 85 ; Pub. L. 115–254, div. D , §§ 1214, 1238(b), Oct. 5, 2018 , 132 Stat. 3449 , 3466.)

## Nearby sections

- [42 U.S.C. § 5121 Congressional findings and declarations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s5121.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 5122 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s5122.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 5123 References](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s5123.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 5131 Federal and State disaster preparedness programs](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s5131.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 5132 Disaster warnings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s5132.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 5133 Predisaster hazard mitigation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s5133.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 5134 Interagency task force](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s5134.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 5135 Grants to entities for establishment of hazard mitigation revolving loan funds](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s5135.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 5136 Natural hazard risk assessment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s5136.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 5136a Assistance and training for communities with technological hazards and related emerging threats](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s5136a.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 5141 Waiver of administrative conditions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s5141.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 5142 Repealed. Pub. L. 100–707, title I, § 105(a)(2) , Nov. 23, 1988 , 102 Stat. 4691](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s5142.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 5143 Coordinating officers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s5143.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 5144 Emergency support and response teams](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s5144.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s5122. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.