For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 10, 2002
Statement by the Press Secretary
The President today declared a major disaster exists in the
State of Wisconsin and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and
local recovery efforts in the area struck by the severe storms,
tornadoes and flooding that occurred on September 2, 2002.
The President's action makes Federal funding available to
affected individuals in a 19 county area. The counties include
Barron, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon,
Polk, Portage, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Shawano, St. Croix, Taylor,
Washburn, Waupaca, and Wood Counties.
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 in the counties of Polk, Rusk, and Taylor, on a
cost-sharing basis for the repair or replacement of public facilities
damaged by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding. Federal funding
is also available on a cost share basis for hazard mitigation
measures.
Joe M. Allbaugh, Director of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA), named Gracia Szczech 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 counties may be added after the assessments are
completed.
The Agency said that residents and business owners who sustained
losses in the designated counties can begin applying for
assistance tomorrow by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362), or
1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The
toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven
days a week until further notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600.
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