"Base amount" means the base year equalized assessed value of the residence.
"Base year" means the taxable year prior to the taxable year in which the natural disaster occurred.
"Chief county assessment officer" means the County Assessor or Supervisor of Assessments of the county in which the property is located.
"Equalized assessed value" means the assessed value as equalized by the Illinois Department of Revenue.
"Homestead property" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 15-175 of this Code.
"Natural disaster" means an occurrence of widespread or severe damage or loss of property resulting from any catastrophic cause including but not limited to fire, flood, earthquake, wind, storm, or extended period of severe inclement weather. In the case of a residential structure affected by flooding, the structure shall not be eligible for this homestead improvement exemption unless it is located within a local jurisdiction which is participating in the National Flood Insurance Program. A proclamation of disaster by the President of the United States or Governor of the State of Illinois is not a prerequisite to the classification of an occurrence as a natural disaster under this Section.
35 ILCS 200/15-173