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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


For Immediate Release February 28, 1997

PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES MAJOR DISASTER IN SOUTH DAKOTA

President Clinton today declared a major disaster exists in the state of South Dakota and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by a severe winter storm beginning on November 13, 1996, and continuing through November 26, 1996.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to local governments in a 10 county area. The counties include Butte, Harding, Hutchinson, Lake, Meade, Minnehaha, Moody, Pennington, Perkins, and Turner.

Federal funding also is available to eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis for the repair or replacement of public facilities damaged by the severe winter storm. Federal funding is also available on a cost share 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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