Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) - According to FEMA, “A complete reference document or an operations manual that provides the purpose, authorities, duration and details for the preferred method of performing a single function or a number of interrelated functions in a uniform manner.” It’s important for localities to follow and document their SOPs during disaster response and recovery in order to be fully reimbursed by FEMA.
State Applicant Liaison (SAL) - The State representative responsible for providing state-specific information and documentation requirements for FEMA programs.
Status Report - Information specifically related to the status of resources (e.g., the availability or assignment of resources).
Stillwater Elevation - The height of coastal or tidally influenced floodwater, undisturbed by waves, from given datum.
Strike Team - According to FEMA, “A set number of resources of the same kind and type that have an established minimum number of personnel, common communications and a leader.”
Structural - Any component of the building whose primary function is to support the dead load (e.g., building, roof).
Subrecipient - Defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as, "A public or private non-profit agency, authority or organization or other eligible entity provided CDBG funds to carry out eligible activities on behalf of the Grantee."
Substantial Damage - Under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), damage that is equal to or exceeds 50 percent of a building’s fair market value prior to a disaster. Buildings located in designated flood hazard areas that are substantially damaged must be elevated above the base flood elevation (BFE) and be brought into compliance with the community’s floodplain ordinance, or be demolished.
Substantial Improvement (SI) - Under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition or other improvement of a structure which equals or exceeds the cost of 50 percent of the market value of the structure before the "start of construction" of the improvement. Substantially improved properties in Special Flood Hazard Areas must meet be brought into compliance with NFIP new construction requirements.
Substate Region - According to FEMA, “A grouping of jurisdictions, counties, and/or localities within a State brought together for specified purposes (e.g., homeland security, education, public health), usually containing a governance structure.”