For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 7, 2001
President Orders Federal Disaster Aid for Mississippi
Statement by the Press Secretary
December 7, 2001
STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY
The President today declared a major disaster exists
in the State of Mississippi and ordered Federal aid to
supplement state and local recovery
efforts in the area struck by
severe storms, tornadoes and flooding on November 24, 2001, and
continuing.
The
President's action makes Federal funding available to affected
individuals in a 10-county area. The
counties include Bolivar, DeSoto, Hinds, Humphreys, Madison, Panola,
Quitman, Sunflower, Tate and Washington.
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 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 assistance and 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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