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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release April 9, 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 flooding, severe winter storms, snowmelt, high winds, rain, and ice on March 21, 1997, and continuing.

The President's action will make Federal funding available to affected individuals in the following counties: Benton, Big Stone, Brown, Chippewa, Clay, Kittson, Lac Qui Parle, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, Sherburne, Stearns, Swift, Traverse, Washington, Wilkin, Wright, and Yellow Medicine.

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 also available to eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal and emergency protective measures under the Public Assistance program for the counties of Benton, Big Stone, Brown, Chippewa, Clay, Kittson, Lac Qui Parle, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, Sherburne, Stearns, Swift, Traverse, Washington, Wilkin, Wright, and Yellow Medicine.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the counties of Benton, Big Stone, Brown, Chippewa, Clay, Kittson, Lac Qui Parle, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, Sherburne, Stearns, Swift, Traverse, Washington, Wilkin, Wright, and Yellow Medicine.

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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