THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
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For Immediate Release
December 18, 2000
PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES A MAJOR DISASTER
EXISTS IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA
President Clinton today declared a major disaster exists in the State
of Alabama and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery
efforts in the area struck by severe storms and tornadoes on December 16,
2000, and continuing.
The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected
individuals and local governments in a nine-county area. The counties
include Dale, Etowah, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Limestone, Macon, St. Clair
and Tuscaloosa.
Assistance can include disaster housing, grants, low-cost loans to
cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and
business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
Federal funding also is available to eligible local governments on a
cost-sharing basis for debris removal and emergency protective measures.
Federal funding is also available on a cost share basis for hazard
mitigation measures.
James L. Witt, Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA), named John D. Hannah as the Federal Coordinating Officer for
Federal recovery operations in the affected area.
The Agency said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and
additional assistance and counties may be added after the assessments are
completed.
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