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
Nebraska and ordered Federal aid
to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by
severe winter storms, flooding, and tornadoes on April 10-23, 2001.
The President's action makes Federal
funding available to affected local
governments in a 26 county area. The counties
include Banner, Blaine, Box Butte, Brown, Chase, Cherry,
Cheyenne, Deuel, Gage, Garden, Hayes, Hooker,
Johnson, Keith, Keya Paha, Kimball,
Lincoln, Logan, McPherson, Morrill, Nuckolls, Perkins, Rock, Saline,
Sioux, and Thomas counties.
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 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 Carlos Mitchell 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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