Texas Administrative Code
Title 1 - ADMINISTRATION
Part 15 - TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
Chapter 386 - DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Subchapter A - GENERAL INFORMATION
Section 386.103 - How are the terms in this chapter defined?

(1) The words "I," "my," "you," and "your" refer to an applicant for assistance with disaster-related losses or expenses.

(2) Assistance from other means--Assistance, including monetary or in-kind contributions, from:

(3) CFR--Code of Federal Regulations.

(4) DEM--Division of Emergency Management, the entity designated by the governor to administer and supervise disaster recovery operations in Texas. DEM is a division of the Texas Department of Public Safety. The director of the division serves as chairperson of the Disaster Emergency Management Council.

(5) DHS--Texas Department of Human Services.

(6) 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 if the children live in the residence with the parent who does not actually claim them on the tax return.

(7) FEMA--Federal Emergency Management Agency, a federal agency responsible for coordinating responses to disasters among other federal, state, local, and voluntary agencies.

(8) Family--Social unit living together and composed of:

(9) Flood hazard area--Area shown on a Federal Insurance Administration map as an area prone to flooding. These areas are designated:

(10) GFIP--Group Flood Insurance Policy, provided by the National Flood Insurance Program to disaster victims who must buy and maintain flood insurance in order to be eligible for future disaster aid for damages to flood insurable items caused by flooding.

(11) HA--Housing Assistance, funded and administered by FEMA.

(12) IHP--Federal Assistance to Individuals and Households Program, implemented by FEMA in October 2002, which has two provisions of assistance, the:

(13) Individual--Person who is not a member of a family as defined in this section.

(14) Major disaster--Includes:

(15) NFIP--National Flood Insurance Program, a federal program that provides flood insurance to people living in communities that are designated flood prone areas.

(16) National eligibility criteria--Standards prescribed by FEMA that state and federal governments must apply when determining eligibility for grants.

(17) Necessary expense--Cost of a serious need.

(18) ONA--Other Needs Assistance, a federal grant that assists disaster victims who have serious disaster-related needs and the following necessary expenses:

(19) Owner-occupied--Residence that is occupied by:

(20) Primary residence--Dwelling:

(21) SBA--U.S. Small Business Administration, a federal agency that loans money at a lower-than-usual interest rate to small businesses, individuals, and families to assist them in recovery from a disaster.

(22) Sanctioned communities--Communities NFIP designates as having special flood hazard areas but that do not participate in NFIP.

(23) Serious need--Requirement for an item or service essential to an individual or family to prevent, mitigate, or overcome a disaster-related hardship, injury, or adverse condition.

(24) State coordinating officer--Person appointed by the governor through the director of DEM to coordinate state and local disaster assistance efforts with those of federal government agencies. As the DEM director representative, the state coordinating officer exercises powers granted to the governor by the Texas Disaster Act of 1975, to the extent delegated for the disaster situation.