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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release January 15, 1998

                   PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES DISASTER 
                           IN STATE OF VERMONT

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Vermont and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe ice storms, rain, high winds, and flooding beginning on January 6, 1998, and continuing.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected local governments in the counties of Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, Grand Isle, Orange, and Windsor. Federal funding is available to eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis for the repair or replacement of public facilities damaged by the severe ice storms, rain, high winds, and flooding.

Federal funding is also available on a cost share basis for hazard mitigation measures.

James L. Witt, Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), named Mr. Lawrence L. Bailey of FEMA's regional office in Chicago, Illinois to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

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

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