THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release April 23, 1996

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

President Clinton today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Arkansas and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and tornadoes on April 21-22, 1996.

The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Crawford and Sebastian Counties. 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 will also be made available to eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal and emergency protective measures under the Public Assistance program.

James L. Witt, Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), named Graham Nance of FEMA's regional office in Denton, Texas, to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

FEMA said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and additional counties may be added after the assessments are completed.

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