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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


For Immediate Release July 28, 1999
              PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES A MAJOR DISASTER 
                   EXISTS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Minnesota and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, winds, and flooding beginning on July 4, 1999, and continuing.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Cook, Itasca, and St. Louis. 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 the repair or replacement of public facilities damaged by the severe storms, winds and flooding. Federal funding is also available on a cost share basis for hazard mitigation measures. The counties include Aitkin, Cass, Cook, Clay, Hubbard, Itasca, Lake, and St. Louis.

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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