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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 16, 2001

Statement by the Press Secretary

The President today  declared  a  major  disaster  exists in the State of Minnesota  and  ordered  Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe winter storms, flooding, and tornadoes beginning on March 23, 2001, and continuing.

The   President's  action  makes  Federal  funding  available  to  affected individuals  in  the  counties  of  Benton,  Chippewa,  Freeborn,  Goodhue, Houston,  St.  Louis,  Stevens,  Wabasha,  Washington,  Winona,  and Yellow Medicine, and the Tribal governments of Prairie Island and Upper Sioux.

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  to eligible local governments in the counties  of  Big Stone, Carver, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Dakota, Freeborn, Goodhue,  Grant,  Houston, Lac qui Parle, McLeod, Meeker, Morrison, Norman, Polk, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, St. Louis, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Washington, Wilkin, Winona, and Yellow Medicine, and the Tribal  governments  of  Prairie  Island  and  Upper  Sioux.  Assistance is available  on  a cost-sharing basis for the repair or replacement of public facilities  damaged  by  the severe winter storms, flooding, and tornadoes. 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  James  L.  Roche  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  1-800-462-9029, 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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