THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
___________________________________________________________________________
____
For Immediate Release
December 29, 2000
PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES A MAJOR DISASTER
EXISTS IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS
President Clinton today declared a major disaster exists in the State
of Arkansas and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery
efforts in the area struck by a severe winter ice storm beginning on
December 12, 2000, and continuing.
The President's action makes federal funding available to individuals
and local governments in a 22 county area. The counties include Arkansas,
Bradley, Calhoun, Cleveland, Columbia, Crittenden, Dallas, Desha, Drew,
Grant, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lincoln, Lonoke, Monroe, Nevada, Ouachita,
Polk, Prairie, Pulaski, St. Francis, and Union.
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.
Assistance is also available for debris removal (Category A) and
emergency protective measures (Category B), including direct Federal
assistance, at 75 percent Federal funding.
James L. Witt, Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA), named Joe Bray 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.
30-30-30
|
