For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 17, 2001
President Declares Several Mississippi Counties Disaster Areas
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 and flooding on April 3-5, 2001.
The
President's action makes Federal funding available to affected
individuals in Attala, Holmes and
Lee Counties and local governments in Attala, Holmes, Leake, Lee, and
Neshoba 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 on a
cost-sharing basis for the repair or replacement
of public facilities
damaged by the severe storms 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 John D. Hannah 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 1-800-462-9029, 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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