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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


For Immediate Release July 18, 1996

PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES MAJOR DISASTER IN NORTH CAROLINA

President Clinton 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 severe storms, high wind, flooding and related effects of Hurricane Bertha which impacted the State on July 10-13, 1996.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals and local governments in a seven county area. The counties include: Brunswick, Craven, Jones, Lenoir, New Hanover, Onslow and Pender.

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 to eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis for the repair or replacement of public facilities damaged by the severe storms, high wind, flooding and related effects of Hurricane Bertha. Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is continuing to conduct damage surveys and additional counties may be added after the assessments are completed.

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