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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 20, 2001

Emergency Declared for New Jersey
Statement by the Press Secretary

The President yesterday issued an emergency declaration for the State of New Jersey and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts in connection with the fires and explosions in the State of New York on September 11, 2001.

The  President's  action  authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts  which  have  the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance  for required emergency measures, as authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act.

Specifically,  FEMA  is authorized to pay 100 percent of the eligible costs for  emergency  protective measures undertaken in response to the fires and explosions  at  the  World  Trade  Center.   The  emergency  assistance  is available for all 21 counties in the State of New Jersey.

Joe M. Allbaugh Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), named  Peter  Martinasco  as  the  Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  FEMA (202) 646-4600.

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