THE WHITE HOUSE

                     Office of the Press Secretary
                      (Christchurch, New Zealand)
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                 September 14, 1999

            PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES AN EMERGENCY DISASTER
                     EXISTS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA

     The President today declared an emergency exists in the State of

Florida and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area impacted by Hurricane Floyd on September 14, 1999, 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 Broward, Brevard, Dade, Duval, Flagler, Indian River, Martin, Nassau, Palm Beach, St. Johns, St. Lucie, and Volusia.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the disaster. Emergency protective measures, which include direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.

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