Glossary
Terms frequently used by FEMA. In a few instances, standard insurance industry terms have been added for additional focus and emphasis.
Fair Market Rent (FMR)
An amount determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to be the monthly cost of modest, non-luxury rental units in a specific market area, plus the cost of utilities, excluding telephone service. This amount is updated yearly based on accumulated data collected by HUD.
Fair Market Value
The price that the seller is willing to accept and the buyer is to pay on the open market and in an arm's length transaction.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
1) An agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security charged with responding to Presidentially-declared disasters. 2)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Federal agency under which the NFIP is administered. In March 2003, FEMA became part of the newly created U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Federal Policy Fee
A flat charge that the policyholder must pay on each new or renewal policy to defray certain administrative expenses incurred in carrying out the NFIP.
Federal Register
The Federal Register is the daily supplement to the Code of Federal Regulations. It serves as the mechanism providing official notification to the public about federal documents or proposals having general applicability. These include Presidential proclamations and Executive Orders and federal agency rules, regulations and notices. The FR also notifies the public and interested parties about an agency's intent to prepare an environmental impact statement or proposed changes to an agency's rules and regulations. In addition, it provides the mechanism for obtaining comments from affected parties regarding the proposed action by the agency.
Federal Share
The amount of project funding the federal government agrees to provide to a grantee on the assumption the applicant will provide a share of the total funding needed to complete the project.
Federally Funded Fire Department
A fire department receiving operational funding from the Congress of the United States or whose sole responsibility is providing fire suppression, fire prevention and rescue services on property owned or under the control of an agency or department of the federal government.
Financial Assistance
Monetary assistance provided to individuals and households to rent alternative housing accommodations, existing rental units, manufactured housing, recreational vehicles, or other readily fabricated dwellings. Such assistance may include the payment of the cost of utilities (excluding telephone service) or funds to be used for repair and replacement of housing and/or personal property.
Financial Assistance/Subsidy Arrangement
The arrangement between an insurance company and FEMA to initiate the company's participation in the Write Your Own (WYO) Program. It establishes the duties of the company and the government.
Finished (Habitable) Area
An enclosed area having more than 20 linear feet of finished interior walls (paneling, etc.) or used for any purpose other than solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage.
Fire Department
An agency or organization having a formally recognized arrangement with a state, territory, local or tribal authority (city, county, parish, fire district, township, town or other governing body) to provide fire suppression on a first-due basis to a fixed geographical area. Fire departments may be comprised of members who are all volunteer, all career or a combination of volunteer and career.
Fire Flow
The result of calculations made to determine the number gallons of water per minute needed to extinguish a fire.
Fire Inspectors/Fire Codes
Firefighters trained and certified to interpret national fire codes and standards.
Fire Prevention and Safety Grant
The primary goal of the AFG Fire Prevention and Safety Grants is to reach high-risk target groups to mitigate the high incidences of death and injuries. Additionally, for fiscal year 2005, Congress amended the authorization to include Firefighter Safety Research and Development. Examples of eligible projects for Fire Prevention Activities include the conduct of public education, arson prevention and awareness, code enforcement/awareness, wildfire prevention/education, juvenile fire setter intervention, burn prevention, media/PR campaigns, sprinkler awareness or smoke alarm distribution. Examples of eligible Firefighter Safety Research and Development projects include data collection and analysis, sociological projects and problem-focused technology studies.
Firefighter
An individual having the legal authority and responsibility to engage in fire suppression; employed by, or volunteering in, a fire department of a municipality, county or fire district; engaged in the prevention, control and extinguishment of fires and/or responding to emergency situations in which life, property or the environment is at risk. This individual must be trained in fire suppression but may also be trained in emergency medical care, hazardous materials awareness, rescue techniques and any other related duties provided by the fire department.
Firefighter I
A course leading to certification addressing the standards covered in NFPA 1001 (2002) Chapter 5, with the exception of those objectives related to response to hazardous materials at the awareness level (NFPA 472). The Firefighter I receives knowledge and skills to function as an integral member of a firefighting team under direct supervision in hazardous conditions.
Firefighter II
A course leading to certification addressing the standards covered in NFPA 1001 (2002) Chapter 6, with the exception of those objectives related to response to hazardous materials at the operational level (NFPA 472). The Firefighter II receives the knowledge and skills to function under general supervision.
Firefighter Safety Research and Development
For the purposes of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, an activity in the Fire Prevention and Safety Grants focusing on the improvement of firefighter health and life safety through research and development projects.
Firefighting
Fire suppression.
Firefighting Vehicles
For the purposes of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, firefighting vehicles include fire apparatus used as primary emergency response vehicles in fire suppression and/or rescue activities. Such apparatus would include pumpers; tanker/tenders; aerials, brush/attack units; mini-pumpers; rescue vehicles; combination vehicles (e.g., quint apparatus, rescue-pumpers) or other firefighting vehicles meeting applicable standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and other standards such as U.S. Department of Transportation standards.