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THE WHITE HOUSE

                     Office of the Press Secretary
                   (Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts)
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                    August 26, 1998

                        PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES 
                         DISASTER EXISTS IN TEXAS

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Texas and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by Tropical Storm Charley beginning August 22, 1998, and continuing.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in Val Verde 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 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 and assistance may be added after the assessments are completed.

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