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 The web site is no longer updated and links to external web sites and some internal pages will not work.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 January 13, 1998

                           PRESIDENT CLINTON 
                DECLARES DISASTER EXISTS IN TENNESSEE

                 Vice President Gore Says Tennesseans 
             Will Get Help They Need to Restore and Rebuild

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Tennessee and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding beginning January 6, 1998, and continuing. The Vice President praised the decision to provide disaster relief to the people of Tennessee.

The President and I are committed to providing the people of Tennessee with the assistance they need to restore their communities and rebuild their lives, the Vice President said. Tennesseans have been hit hard by this weather, but they are not alone. We will make sure that those who need it most get help so that they can get back on their feet as soon as possible.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in Carter County. 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 also is available to eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis for the repair or replacement of public facilities impacted by the severe storms and flooding in the counties of Carter, Cumberland, Jackson, and Johnson. Federal funding is also available on a cost share basis for hazard mitigation measures.

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-