### Question
How is the term qualified disaster area defined?


### Answer
The term **qualified disaster area** is defined in *15 U.S.C. § 657a* as the following:

> any census tract or nonmetropolitan county located in an area where a major disaster has occurred or an area in which a catastrophic incident has occurred if such census tract or nonmetropolitan county ceased to be qualified under subparagraph (A) or (B), as applicable, during the period beginning 5 years before the date on which the President declared the major disaster or the catastrophic incident occurred

#### Citation:
  - *15 U.S.C. § 657a*
  - Heading: **CHAPTER 14A-AID TO SMALL BUSINESS**

