### Question
What does critical infrastructure mean?


### Answer
**Critical infrastructure** has the following meaning in *42 U.S.C. § 5195c*:

> systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters

#### Citation:
  - *42 U.S.C. § 5195c*
  - Heading: **CHAPTER 68-DISASTER RELIEF > SUBCHAPTER IV&ndash;B-EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS**

