For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 17, 2001
Statement by the Press Secretary
The President today declared a major disaster exists in the
State of South
Dakota and ordered Federal aid to supplement
state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by
severe winter storms, flooding, and ice jams on March 1, 2001, through
April 30, 2001.
The President's action makes Federal funding available to local
governments
in an 11 county area. The counties include
Beadle, Brookings, Clark, Codington, Grant, Hamlin, Kingsbury,
Mellette, Roberts, Sanborn, and Spink.
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 ice jams. 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 Gracia Szczech 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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