Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 84 Part 2.djvu/415

 84 STAT. ]

PUBLIC LAW 91-606-DEC. 31, 1970

waters, tidal waves, earthquakes, droughts, fires, and other catastroplies; and (2) because such disasters disrupt the normal functioning of government and the community, and adversely affect individual persons and families with great severity; special measures, designed to assist the efforts of the affected States in expediting the rendering of aid, assistance, and emergency welfare services, and the reconstruction and rehabilitation of devastated areas, are necessary. (b) I t is the intent of the Congress, by this Act, to provide an orderly and continuing means of assistance by the Federal Government to State and local governments in carrying out their responsibilities to alleviate the suffering and damage which result from such disasters by— (1) revising and broadening the scope of existing major disaster relief programs; (2) encouraging the development of comprehensive disaster relief plans, programs, and organizations by the States; and (3) achieving greater coordination and responsiveness of Federal major disaster relief programs. DEFINITIONS

SEC. 102. As used in this Act— (1) "major disaster" means any hurricane, tornado, storm, flood, high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, earthquake, drought, fire, or other catastrophe in anj;^ part of the United States, which, in the determination of the President, is or threatens to be of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant disaster assistance by the Federal Government to supplement the efforts and available resources of States, local governments, and relief organizations in alleviating the damage, loss, hardship, or suffering caused thereby, and with respect to which the Governor of any State in which such catastrophe occurs or threatens to occur certifies the need for Federal disaster assistance under this Act and gives assurance of the expenditure of a reasonable amount of the funds of such State, its local governments, or other agencies for alleviating the damage, loss, hardship or suffering resulting from such catastrophe; (2) "United States" means the fifty States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands;

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