THE WHITE HOUSE

                     Office of the Press Secretary
                (Shanghai, People's Republic of China)
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                       July 1, 1998

           PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES A MAJOR DISASTER EXISTS
                            IN WEST VIRGINIA

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of West Virginia and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, flooding and tornadoes beginning on June 26, 1998, and continuing.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals and local governments in a six-county area. The counties include Braxton, Gilmer, Jackson, Kanawha, Roane and Wood.

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 debris removal and emergency protective measures. 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.

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