For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 20, 2003
Statement by the Press Secretary
The President today declared a major disaster exists in the
State of Tennessee and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and
local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding
on February 14-26, 2003.
Federal funding is available to State and eligible local
governments on a cost-sharing basis for the repair or replacement of
public facilities damaged by the severe storms and flooding in the
counties of Anderson, Bledsoe, Campbell, Cannon, Carter, Claiborne,
Cumberland, Decatur, Fentress, Grainger, Hancock, Houston, Humphreys,
Jackson, Johnson, Lewis, Loudon, Marion, Meigs, Rhea, Roane, Scott,
Sequatchie, Stewart, Union and Van Buren.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-share basis
for hazard mitigation measures.
Representing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),
Michael D. Brown, Acting Under Secretary for Emergency
Preparedness and Response, Department of Homeland Security, named
Charles M. Butler 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 for assistance after the
assessments are completed.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATIION CONTACT: FEMA (202)646-4600.
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