FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, August 8, 2002
Contact: ACF Press Office (202) 401-9215

HHS RELEASES $100 MILLION IN EMERGENCY ENERGY ASSISTANCE
TO STATES HIT HARDEST BY SUMMER HEAT

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced today that President Bush will direct HHS to release $100 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) emergency funds for 33 states and the District of Columbia, which have been much hotter than normal this summer.

"Severe heat can be devastating, especially for our children, older Americans and people with disabilities," Secretary Thompson said. "This emergency aid will help states that have recently experienced unusually high temperatures and need additional resources to support low-income families through the rest of the summer."

The $100 million is allocated to the states most affected by the extreme heat, based on the severity of the heat wave and the number of low-income households in the state.

The funds released today come from the fiscal year 2002 LIHEAP contingency fund, which allows HHS and states to respond to energy emergencies such as extreme weather conditions, supply disruptions or price spikes. States also received $1.7 billion this year in regular LIHEAP funds to provide ongoing assistance where it is most needed.

LIHEAP annually supports more than 4 million low-income households each year deal with energy costs related to extreme heat and cold. States determine which low-income families receive LIHEAP support. Many of the families who benefit from the program include small children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

The emergency funds are allocated as follows: Arizona, $1,822,338; Colorado, $1,996,587; Connecticut, $1,604,928; Delaware, $353,989; District of Columbia, $299,513; Idaho, $892,679; Illinois, $8,173,095; Indiana, $3,712,499; Iowa, $1,118,669; Kansas, $1,009,352; Kentucky, $3,196,722; Maryland, $1,579,579; Massachusetts, $4,197,135; Michigan, $7,728,714; Minnesota, $2,257,327; Missouri, $2,308,716; Montana, $587,648; Nebraska, $1,400,468; Nevada, $1,312,645; New Jersey, $4,798,972; New York, $15,853,393; North Carolina, $4,084,970; North Dakota, $470,675; Ohio, $8,732,990; Oregon, $1,636,835; Pennsylvania, $7,244,772; Rhode Island, $788,828; South Carolina, $1,940,719; South Dakota, $560,185; Utah, $954,211; Virginia, $3,139,645; West Virginia, $1,210,876; Wisconsin, $2,702,967; and Wyoming, $327,359.

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