For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 3, 2002
Statement by the Press Secretary
April 3, 2002
The President declared a major disaster exists
in the Commonwealth of
Virginia and ordered Federal aid to supplement
Commonwealth and local
recovery efforts in the area struck by
the severe storms and flooding on March 17-20, 2002.
The
President's action makes Federal funding available to affected
individuals in the counties of Dickenson, Lee,
Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, and Wise and the
independent city of Norton.
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 Louis H. Botta 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 areas 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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