disaster area

American  

noun

1. a region or locality in which the population is generally affected by the occurrence of a major disaster, as a widespread flood, an explosion causing extensive damage, or the like.

2. such a region or locality officially determined to be eligible, under statutory provisions, for emergency governmental relief.

---

Etymology

Origin of disaster area

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Small Business Administration, available to homeowners and renters in declared disaster areas even if they don’t own a business.

From Los Angeles Times

The lightweight, long-distance, autonomous drone takes off and lands like a helicopter and flies like a plane, allowing it to be deployed from within war zones and disaster areas.

From Barron's

Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared the island a "disaster area" on Tuesday, warning of "devastating impacts" and "significant damage" to hospitals, homes and businesses.

From BBC

Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared the island a "disaster area" late Tuesday, warning of "devastating impacts" and "significant damage" to hospitals, homes and businesses.

From BBC

The way to fix this is to change the way the tax law applies in presidentially declared disaster areas.

From Los Angeles Times