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 The web site is no longer updated and links to external web sites and some internal pages will not work.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 March 4, 1997

            PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES MAJOR DISASTER IN THE 
                        COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY

     President Clinton today declared a major disaster exists in the

Commonwealth of Kentucky and ordered Federal aid to supplement commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding beginning on March 1, 1997, and continuing.

"I want to commend the National Guard, local and state police, firefighters and emergency volunteers who have responded to this emergency," President Clinton said. "There will be difficult times ahead for those who will have to rebuild. We will stand by you. God bless all of you."

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in a nine- county area. The counties include Bourbon, Braken, Bullitt, Franklin, Hardin, Harrison, Jefferson, Pendleton, and Powell.

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 Agency said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and additional counties may be added after the assessments are completed.

-30-30-30-