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THE WHITE HOUSE

                     Office of the Press Secretary
                   (Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts)
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                    August 22, 1999

              PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES A MAJOR DISASTER
                      EXISTS IN THE STATE OF 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 severe storms and flooding caused by Hurricane Bret beginning on August 21, 1999, and continuing.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to 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 counties include Aransas, Cameron, Kenedy, Kleberg, Nueces, San Patricio, and Willacy.

James L. Witt, Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), named Brad Gair as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

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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