View Header

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


For Immediate Release September 28, 1998
            PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES AN EMERGENCY EXISTS
                      IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

The President today declared an emergency exists in the State of Mississippi and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by Hurricane Georges beginning on September 28, 1998, and continuing.

The President's action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the disaster on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives, protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the counties of Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, Stone, George, Pike, Walthall, Marion, Lamar, Forrest, Perry, Greene, Lawrence, Jefferson Davis, Covington, Jones and Wayne.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the disaster. Direct Federal assistance and emergency protective measures will be provided for the first 72 hours at 100 percent Federal funding and debris removal at 75 percent Federal funding.

30-30-30