In this chapter:
(1) “Disaster” means the occurrence or imminent threat of widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property resulting from any natural or man-made cause, including fire, flood, earthquake, wind, storm, wave action, oil spill or other water contamination, volcanic activity, epidemic, air contamination, blight, drought, infestation, explosion, riot, hostile military or paramilitary action, extreme heat, cybersecurity event, other public calamity requiring emergency action, or energy emergency.
(2) “Division” means the Texas Division of Emergency Management.
(3) “Energy emergency” means a temporary statewide, regional, or local shortage of petroleum, natural gas, or liquid fuel energy supplies that makes emergency measures necessary to reduce demand or allocate supply.
(4) “Interjurisdictional agency” means a disaster agency maintained by and serving more than one political subdivision.
(5) “Organized volunteer group” means an organization such as the American National Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the Civil Air Patrol, the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services, a volunteer fire department, a volunteer rescue squad, or other similar organization recognized by federal or state statute, regulation, or memorandum.
(6) “Political subdivision” means a county or incorporated city.
(6-a) “Public facility” has the meaning assigned by Section 102, Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. § 5122).
(7) “Temporary housing” has the meaning assigned by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Pub. L. No. 93-288, as amended.
(8) “Joint board” means a board created under § 22.074, Transportation Code, whose constituent agencies are populous home-rule municipalities as defined by § 22.071, Transportation Code.
(9) “Department” means the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas.
(10) “Local government entity” means a county, incorporated city, independent school district, public junior college district, emergency services district, other special district, joint board, or other entity defined as a political subdivision under the laws of this state that maintains the capability to provide mutual aid.
(11) “Mutual aid” means a homeland security activity, as defined by § 421.001, performed under the system or a written mutual aid agreement.
(12) “Requesting local government entity” means a local government entity requesting mutual aid assistance under the system.
(13) “Responding local government entity” means a local government entity providing mutual aid assistance in response to a request under the system.
(14) “System” means the Texas Statewide Mutual Aid System.