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THE WHITE HOUSE

                     Office of the Press Secretary
                           (Dover, Delaware)

For Immediate Release May 8, 1998

PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES DISASTER IN INDIANA

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Indiana and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by a severe winter storm on March 9-12, 1998.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals and local governments in a four county area. The counties include Jasper, Lake, LaPorte, and Porter.

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-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures.

James L. Witt, Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), named Mr. Gray Pierson 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 counties may be added after the assessments are completed.

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