For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 19, 2004
Statement by the Press Secretary
The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State
of Wisconsin and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local
recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding
beginning on May 19, 2004, and continuing.
The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected
individuals in the counties Columbia, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Jefferson,
Kenosha, Ozaukee, and Winnebago.
Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home
repairs, 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 State and eligible local
governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a
cost-sharing basis for the repair or replacement of facilities damaged
by the severe storms and flooding in the counties of Clark, Columbia,
Crawford, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green Lake, Kenosha, Ozaukee,
Vernon, and Winnebago.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-share basis for hazard
mitigation measures.
Representing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),
Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and
Response, Department of Homeland Security, named Ron Sherman as the
Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the
affected area.
The Agency said additional designations may be made at a later date
if requested by the State and warranted by the results of further
damage assessments.
The Agency said that residents and business owners who sustained
losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance
tomorrow by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362), 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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