Assistant Administrator
(1) Assistant Administrator means the head of the Disaster Assistance Directorate; the official who approves or disapproves a request for assistance under section 416 of the Act, and is the final appeal authority. (2) Crisis means any life situation resulting from a major disaster or its aftermath which so affects the emotional and mental equilibrium of a disaster victim that professional mental health counseling services should be provided to help preclude possible damaging physical or psychological effects. (3) Crisis counseling means the application of individual and group treatment procedures which are designed to ameliorate the mental and emotional crises and their subsequent psychological and behavioral conditions resulting from a major disaster or its aftermath. (4) Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) means the person appointed by the Administrator or Deputy Administrator to coordinate Federal assistance in an emergency or a major disaster. (5) Grantee means the State mental health agency or other local or private mental health organization which is designated by the Governor to receive funds under section 416 of the Act. (6) Immediate services means those screening or diagnostic techniques which can be applied to meet mental health needs immediately after a major disaster. Funds for immediate services may be provided directly by the Regional Administrator to the State or local mental health agency designated by the Governor, prior to and separate from the regular program application process of crisis counseling assistance. (7) Major disaster means any natural catastrophe (including any hurricane, tornado, storm, high water, winddriven water, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm or drought), or, regardless of cause, any fire, flood, or explosion, in any part of the United States, which in the determination of the President causes damage of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant major disaster assistance under this Act to supplement the efforts and available resources of States, local governments, and disaster relief organizations in alleviating the damage, loss, hardship, or suffering caused thereby. (8) Project Officer means the person assigned by the Secretary, DHHS, to monitor a crisis counseling program, provide consultation, technical assistance, and guidance, and be the contact point within the DHHS for program matters. (9) Regional Administrator means the director of a regional office of FEMA, or the Disaster Recovery Manager, as the delegate of the Regional Administrator. (10) Secretary means the Secretary of DHHS or his/her delegate. (11) State Coordinating Officer (SCO) means the person appointed by the Governor to act in cooperation with the FCO.