View Header

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


For Immediate Release May 21, 1999
                      PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES 
             A MAJOR DISASTER EXISTS IN THE STATE OF IOWA

     The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State 

of Iowa and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, flooding and tornadoes on May 16, 1999, and continuing.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in a ten county area. The counties include Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Harrison, Jones, and Linn.

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 areas and assistance may be added after the assessments are completed.

30-30-30