### Question
How does the law define disaster?


### Answer
Under *15 U.S.C. § 632*, **disaster** is defined as:

> a sudden event which causes severe damage including, but not limited to, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, explosions, volcanoes, windstorms, landslides or mudslides, tidal waves, commercial fishery failures or fishery resource disasters (as determined by the Secretary of Commerce under section 4107(b) of title 16), ocean conditions resulting in the closure of customary fishing waters, riots, civil disorders or other catastrophes, except it does not include economic dislocations

#### Citation:
  - *15 U.S.C. § 632*
  - Heading: **CHAPTER 14A-AID TO SMALL BUSINESS**

