THE WHITE HOUSE

                     Office of the Press Secretary
                         (New York, New York)
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                 September 21, 1999

              PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARES A MAJOR DISASTER 
                 EXISTS IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

     The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State 

of South Carolina and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by Hurricane Floyd beginning on September 14, 1999, and continuing.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in Charleston, Georgetown, and Horry Counties and to local governments in Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Georgetown, Horry, Jasper, and Marion Counties.

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 Hurricane Floyd. 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 counties may be added after the assessments are completed.

###