| ACF LIHEAP Web Site |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, August 14, 1998
Contact: Michael Kharfen, (202) 401-9215
HHS RELEASES AN ADDITIONAL $50 MILLION IN EMERGENCY
COOLING ASSISTANCE FOR HEAT RAVAGED STATES
President Clinton today directed the release of an additional
$50 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
emergency funds for 11 states that continue to experience extreme
and life threatening hot weather. The 11 states are Alabama, Arkansas,
Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma,
South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
These states were previously awarded $100 million in emergency
funds on July 23rd. They will receive additional funds while they
continue to endure temperatures in excess of the normal weather
for this time of year.
"The extreme heat wave continues to endanger the health and
safety of our most vulnerable low income residents -- senior citizens,
children and people with disabilities," said HHS Secretary
Donna E. Shalala. "This critical support will help reduce
the risks of serious harm and relieve potential further tragic
loss of life."
States are expected to use the funds similarly to pay cooling
bills, purchase air conditioners and provide other energy assistance
to get through this summer's extreme heat. The amount of funds
for each state is based upon the severity of the heat wave and
the number of low income households in the state.
LIHEAP supports approximately 4 to 5 million households annually.
Nearly half are families with children under 18, with senior citizens
and person with disabilities as the remaining beneficiaries. Seventy
percent of the households who receive LIHEAP funds have incomes
below $8,000 per year.
The following is the amount of funds for each state:
Alabama $ 2,603,624
Arkansas 2,235,317
Florida 8,198,613
Georgia 3,831,621
Louisiana 3,408,107
Mississippi 1,393,213
North Carolina 2,741,374
Oklahoma 2,360,921
South Carolina 2,176,413
Tennessee 2,446,275
Texas 18,325,893
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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are
available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.
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