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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release January 16, 1997

PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES MAJOR DISASTER IN MINNESOTA

President Clinton today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Minnesota and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe winter storms beginning January 3, 1997, and continuing.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to local governments in a 40 county area. The counties include Becker, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Clay, Clearwater, Cottonwood, Douglas, Faribault, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Roseau, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, Watonwan, Wilkin, and Yellow Medicine.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will provide reimbursement for the costs of equipment, contracts, and personnel overtime that are required to clear one lane in each direction along snow emergency routes (or selected primary roads in those communities without such designated roadways), and routes necessary to allow the passage of emergency vehicles to hospitals, nursing homes, and other critical facilities.

FEMA may provide additional assistance to the state, if warranted.

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