DEFINITION OF DISASTERS.

SEC. 119. DEFINITION OF DISASTERS. (a) Natural Disasters.— Section 7 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636) is amended by striking from paragraph (1) of subsection (b) “floods, riots or civil disorders, or other catastrophes:” and inserting in lieu thereof “natural or other disasters:”. (b) In General.— Section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632) is amended— (1) by adding the following new subsection: “(k) For the purposes of this Act, the term ‘disaster’ means 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, ocean conditions resulting in the closure of customary fishing waters, riots, civil disorders or other catastrophes, except it does not include economic dislocations.”; and (2) by redesignating the second subsection “(i)” as subsection “(1)”.