THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES A MAJOR DISASTER IN NORTH CAROLINA
The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of North Carolina and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by a winter storm on February 2-9, 1996.
The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected local governments in a 19 county area. The counties include Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Cleveland, Davidson, Forsyth, Gatson, Guilford, Halifax, Henderson, Iredell, Lincoln, McDowell, Polk, Stokes, Wilkes, and Yadkin.
Federal funding also is available to eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis for the repair or replacement of public facilities damaged by the winter storm.
James L. Witt, Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), named Glenn C. Woodard of FEMA's regional office in Atlanta, Georgia to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected area.
The Agency said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and additional counties may be added after the assessments are completed.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600.