For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 19, 2002
Statement by the Press Secretary
The President today declared a major disaster exists in the
State of Colorado and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and
local recovery efforts in the area struck by wildfires beginning April
23, 2002, and continuing.
The President's action makes Federal funding available to
affected individuals in Adams, Alamosa, Arapahoe, Archuleta, Baca,
Bent, Boulder, Broomfield City and County, Chaffee, Cheyenne,
Clear Creek, Conejos, Costilla, Crowley, Custer, Delta, Denver City
and County, Dolores, Douglas, Eagle, Elbert, El Paso, Fremont,
Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Huerfano, Jefferson,
Kiowa, Kit Carson, Lake, La Plata, Las Animas, Lincoln, Mesa,
Mineral, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Otero, Ouray, Park, Pitkin,
Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Rio Grande, Routt, Saguache, San Juan, San
Miguel, Summit, Teller, Washington, and Yuma Counties and the Southern
Ute and Ute Mountain Indian Reservations.
Assistance can include disaster housing, grants, 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 is also available on a cost share basis
for hazard mitigation measures.
Joe M. Allbaugh, Director of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA), named Steven R. Emory 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.
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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