For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 24, 2002
President Orders Federal Aid for Arkansas
Statement by the Press Secretary
The President today declared a major disaster exists
in the State of
Arkansas and ordered Federal aid
to supplement state and local recovery
efforts in the area struck by severe
storms and flooding beginning on December 15, 2001, and continuing.
The President's action makes
Federal funding available to affected local
governments in a 16 county area. The counties include
Ashley, Clay, Cleburne, Columbia, Crittenden,
Franklin, Jackson, Lincoln, Little River, Logan, Monroe, Poinsett,
Prairie, Scott, Stone, and Woodruff.
Federal funding 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 Joe Bray 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600.
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