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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


For Immediate Release September 11, 1996
            PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES MAJOR DISASTER IN THE 
                      COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO

President Clinton today declared a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by Hurricane Hortense beginning September 9, 1996, and continuing.

The President makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the following Municipalities: Guayama, Loiza, Ponce and Toa Baja.

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.

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

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