The Disaster Relief Fund is a dedicated resource activated in response to natural disasters or emergencies. It specifically supports situations where areas of Texas are declared a natural disaster by the governor or the President of the United States. In these cases, the fund is used to provide Emergency Relief Grants to eligible applicants in the affected regions.

The fund is both a reactive and proactive tool: it is ready to be deployed when a disaster strikes or an emergency arises, but it also serves as a means of collecting donations during times of crisis. This ensures the fund can respond swiftly to urgent needs while also building resources in preparation for unforeseen events.