This is historical material, "frozen in time." The web site is no longer updated and links to external web sites and some internal pages will not work.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release October 25, 1996

              PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES MAJOR DISASTER IN THE 
                       COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

President Clinton today declared a major disaster in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and ordered Federal aid to supplement commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the areas struck by extreme weather conditions and flooding on October 20, 1996, and continuing.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals and local governments in a five county area. The counties include Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Suffolk.

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 available to eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis for the repair or replacement of public facilities damaged by the extreme weather conditions and flooding. 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.

-30-30-30-